The situation created by the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan attracted world-wide scholarly attention. But though much was written on Afghanistan, little effort was made to understand the domestic roots of the confrontation and explain the linkages betweeen internal strife and externalinvasion. Dr Rasul Baksh Rais has, on the other hand, analysed all the factors that led to the Afghan tragedy. He examines the nature of the Afghan state and society, the dynamics of the regional and global power structure, the externalization of the civil strife and the resultant fragmentation ofpolitical power, thereby adding fresh perspective to the debate on the politics and security of Afghanistan.