Owing to its geo-strategic location and mineral wealth, Afghanistan has acquired significance in the inter-state politics of Asia as well as world politics during the past decades. This book discusses the Taliban's return which outlines the recent and current developments in contemporary Afghanistan.

Rajen Harshé has taught Political Science and International Relations for more than four decades in places such as University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, and South Asian University, New Delhi. He is a founding and the former Vice Chancellor of the Central University of Allahabad (2005-10), Prayagraj, India. He also worked as President of the G.B. Pant Social Science Institute (2014-20), Prayagraj. He has written extensively on African and International Affairs. His latest work is Africa in World Affairs Politics of Imperialism, the Cold War and Globalisation (Oxon, New York, New Delhi, Routledge, 2019).

Dhananjay Tripathi is Chairperson & Associate Professor (Senior Grade) at the Department of International Relations, South Asian University (SAU), New Delhi, India. His recent publications are (ed) Re-imagining Border Studies in South Asia (2020- Routledge Publication), Co-edited South Asia: Boundaries Borders and Beyond (2022- Routledge Publication), Afghanistan Post- 2014: Power Configurations and Evolving Trajectories (2016- Routledge Publication). Have contributed several articles to reputed international academic journals.

PART I: Engaging with Afghanistan 1. Introduction 2. Situating Afghanistan in Globalising World 3. 'Pragmatism' against 'Ideology' in Transnational vs Regional jihadist groups: Situating Taliban and Islamic State-Khorasan on a Conflict-Cooperation continuum. PART II: What about Taliban? 4. Through the Lens of Belief: Taliban's Worldview and Its Influence 5. Pieced Peace in Afghanistan: Evaluating the Peace Processes for Ending the Conflict in Afghanistan Post-2014 6. State building in Talibanized Afghanistan: lessons from History PART III: Afghanistan and Major Powers 7. The U.S. Role in Afghanistan: A Critical Overview 8. China's Engagement with Afghanistan: Quest for Security, Stability and Strategy 9. Is the Past a Prologue? Deciphering India's North-West Engagement