Book Description
President Obama may have delivered on his campaign promise to kill Osama bin Laden, but as an Al-Qaeda strategist, bin Laden has been dead for years. This book introduces and examines the new generation of Al-Qaeda leaders who have been behind the most recent attacks.
Investigative journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad dedicated his life to revealing the strategies and inner workings of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. He had access to top-level commanders in both movements, as well as within the ISI, Pakistan’s intelligence service. Shahzad’s work was praised by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for “bringing to light the troubles extremism poses to Pakistan’s stability.” Inside Al-Qaeda and the Taliban explains the wider aims of both organizations and provides an essential analysis of major terrorist incidents, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
In May 2011, Shahzad was abducted and killed in Pakistan, days after writing an article suggesting that insiders in the Pakistani navy had colluded with Al-Qaeda in an attack on a naval air station. This book is a testament to his fearless reporting and analytical rigor. It will provide readers worldwide with invaluable insights into the new phase of the ongoing struggle against terrorism which threatens to tear apart the fragile fabric of so many countries.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“When Syed Saleem Shahzad talks, I listen. He is the most fearless and reliable journalist covering Pakistan and Afghanistan, and that’s why his work is read even in the halls of the Pentagon. No journalist passing through Pakistan should miss an opportunity to talk to him and nobody interested in the region, in Al-Qaeda or in the Taliban can afford to ignore his work.” –Nir Rosen, author of The Triumph of the Martyrs: A Reporter’s Journey Into Occupied Iraq
“Syed Saleem Shahzad has long been able to penetrate the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban organisations in a way that no other journalist has. His unique knowledge and contacts make his writing a ‘must read’ for anyone who wants to understand those movements.” –Gareth Porter, historian and author of Perils of Dominance: Imbalance of Power and the Road to War in Vietnam
“Whether it’s insights into the plans and ideologues driving Al-Qaeda, the low-down on militants across the Hindu Kush, the Taliban-led Afghan insurgency or political wheeling and dealing, Syed Saleem Shahzad is always first on the trail. The hallmark of his work is his uncompromising impartiality and unblinking courage to follow a story to its conclusion, no matter the dangers or sacrifices involved.” –Tony Allison, editor, Asia Times Online
“A path breaking book that enhances considerably our understanding of the complexities of Al-Qaeda. Not only is the author clearly familiar with the personalities that form the top tactical and strategy formulation tier today, but his ability to garner various strands of information due to an impressive field experience in Afghanistan makes it one of the most authentic and thought provoking memoirs that seek to throw light on new terrorist initiatives in the region.” — Hameed Haroon, CEO, The Dawn Media Group, Pakistan
About the Author
Syed Saleem Shahzad (1970-2011) was an investigative reporter who worked as Pakistan Bureau Chief at Asia Times Online. His persistence, courage, and reputation allowed him unparalleled access to leaders and fighters in Islamic movements, enabling him to secure interviews with figures such as Al-Qaeda commander, Ilyas Kashmiri. He had been both a hostage and a guest of the Taliban, which gave him a unique insight into the organization’s internal structures. He was abducted and killed in Pakistan in May 2011. He left a wife and three children aged 7, 12, and 14.
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