Apocalyptic Realm

This hard hitting and timely book explores the roots of militant Islam in South Asia and how it has grown to become a source of profound global alarm. Dilip Hiro tracks the growth of the jihadist movement from its first violent activities in Afghanistan in 1980 to the present day, challenging previous understandings of the roles of the main players in the region – Afghanistan, Pakistan, the U. S. , India, and the Soviet Union – and warning that the Line of Control in Kashmir, where jihadists seek to incite war between Pakistan and India, is today the most dangerous border in the world. With evidence from a full range of sources including newly released Kremlin archives and classified U. S. Embassy documents published by WikiLeaks, the author compiles the first complete and accurate history of Islamist terrorism throughout South Asia. He chronicles the historic links among Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India and sets forth their varying degrees of destabilization at the hands of the jihadists. He sheds fascinating light on such topics as the Al-Qaeda/Taliban alliance while also providing a broad analysis of the impact of international ambitions in the region. Compact, comprehensive, and fast-paced, this book lays bare the causes of today's escalating terrorist threat, corrects historical misunderstandings, and discusses fresh possibilities for breaking the hold of jihadi extremism.