The Taliban is a predominanthly Pashtun, Islamic fundamentalist group that ruled Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001, when a U.S.-led invasion toppled the regime for providing refuge to al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. The Taliban regrouped across the border in Pakistan, where its central leadership, headed by mullah Mohammed Omar, leads an insurgency against the Western-backed government in abul. Both the United States and Afghanistan have pursued a negotiated settlement with the Taliban, but talks have little momentum as international forces prepare to conclude combat operations in December 2014 and withdraw by the end of 2016. The book therefore, merits attention of experts on South Asian Conflict, diplomats and policymakers of the developing countries.