title: The Origins of Conflict in Afghanistan
author: Jeffery Roberts
description: "Unlike many other recent books on the past 26 years of conflict and warfare in Afghanistan, this historical account begins well before the 1978 revolution. Roberts does not consider the three Anglo-Afghan wars and subsequent isolation of Afghanistan to be mere historical background for understanding alleged Afghan xenophobia and a stereotypical (and frequently invidious) reputation for 'ferocity.' Instead, he presents the thesis that Afghanistan might have become a willing ally of the West if more attention had been devoted to its national interests and economic needs.... This excellent historical study is a valuable antidote to the spate of instant-analysis publications that have typically underanalyzed the U.S.'s role in allowing the Taliban to take over Afghanistan and remain in power for six years. Highly recommended. All levels and libraries."-Choice<br /><br />"Historian Jeffery Roberts has written a detailed, fully researched political and diplomatic study.... With a scholarly thoroughness and attention to detail, Roberts documents the tentative, post-WWII steps taken by the United States to address a regional power vacuum created by the fading of the British Empire. He outlines the missed opportunities and limited visions of U.S. diplomacy and strategic thinking that contributed to the political context of Afghanistan's recent tragic past."-Middle East Journal<br /><br />?Historian Jeffery Roberts has written a detailed, fully researched political and diplomatic study.... With a scholarly thoroughness and attention to detail, Roberts documents the tentative, post-WWII steps taken by the United States to address a regional power vacuum created by the fading of the British Empire. He outlines the missed opportunities and limited visions of U.S. diplomacy and strategic thinking that contributed to the political context of Afghanistan's recent tragic past.?-Middle East Journal<br /><br />?Unlike many other recent books on the past 26 years of conflict and warfare in Afghanistan, this historical account begins well before the 1978 revolution. Roberts does not consider the three Anglo-Afghan wars and subsequent isolation of Afghanistan to be mere historical background for understanding alleged Afghan xenophobia and a stereotypical (and frequently invidious) reputation for 'ferocity.' Instead, he presents the thesis that Afghanistan might have become a willing ally of the West if more attention had been devoted to its national interests and economic needs.... This excellent historical study is a valuable antidote to the spate of instant-analysis publications that have typically underanalyzed the U.S.'s role in allowing the Taliban to take over Afghanistan and remain in power for six years. Highly recommended. All levels and libraries.?-Choice<br /><br />"[A] historical synopsis of Afghanistan's tortuous history from the beginning of the First Afghan War (1836-1842) through the eve of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979. The strength of this book is obvious from the start. Dr. Roberts provides a clear, concise background on how Afghanistan fragmented due largely in part to its geographic co-location with British-controlled India and the expanding Russian empire....Dr. Roberts is to be commended for writing this excellent book....This is, undoubtedly, the single best book on U.S.-Afghan relations and should be in every diplomat's library that deals with Afghanistan."-Journal of Slavic Military Studies
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  Afghanistan, a country study
  
  
  [PREFACE](Afghanistan%2c%20a%20country%20study_split_001.html#filepos24591)
  
  
  
  
  
  [CHAPTER 1. HISTORICAL
  SETTING](Afghanistan%2c%20a%20country%20study_split_002.html#filepos25856)
  
  
    
    
  [THE PRE-ISLAMIC
  PERIOD](Afghanistan%2c%20a%20country%20study_split_003.html#filepos28706)
  
  
    
    
  [Achaemenid Rule, ca. 550-331
  B.C.](Afghanistan%2c%20a%20country%20study_split_003.html#filepos29874)  
    
  [Alexander and Greek Rule, 330-ca. 150
  B.C.](Afghanistan%2c%20a%20country%20study_split_003.html#filepos30716)  
    
  [Central Asian and Sassanian Rule, ca. 150
  
  
  B.C.-700 A.D.
  
  
    
    
  [ISLAMIC
  CONQUEST](Afghanistan%2c%20a%20country%20study_split_004.html#filepos36585)
  
  
    
    
  [Ghaznavid and Ghorid
  Rule](Afghanistan%2c%20a%20country%20study_split_004.html#filepos38489)  
    
  [Mongol Rule,
  1220-1506](Afghanistan%2c%20a%20country%20study_split_004.html#filepos40186)  
    
  [Mughal-Safavid Rivalry, ca.
  1500-1747](Afghanistan%2c%20a%20coun