Introduction -- Afghan Peace Negotiations: Over the years -- Taliban Retaking of Afghanistan -- The Challenges Ahead -- Afghanistan under the Taliban Rule -- Security Threats and Regional Response -- US Post 9/11 Objectives and Policy in Afghanistan -- A Tale of Persistent Failures.

This book aims to analyze the rise of Taliban, terrorism/anti-terrorism, national reconciliation in Afghanistan, as well as the dynamics of great power rivalry in the country in the past decade and the great powers and neighboring countries’ policies towards the new regime in Afghanistan. Since Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan by overthrowing the democratic government (also perceived as a puppet regime protected by the United States) in September 2021, this mountain country has raised serious concerns over its uncertain future from the world. The volume is contributed by scholars from universities and think tanks of China, US, UK, South Asia. It is divided into 16 chapters, in which the first chapter briefly introduces the aims and scope of this book. The following 5 chapters look into the domestic politics in Afghanistan which mainly includes the rise of Taliban, terrorism/anti-terrorism, national reconciliation, and the regional implications and security threats from the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. The next 3 chapters examine China’s foreign policy towards Afghanistan, BRI in Afghanistan and China-Pakistan cooperation in Afghanistan. The final 7 chapters explore the US, EU, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran and Japan’s engagement with Afghanistan.