Abstract
The book In the Graveyard of Empires by Seth G. Jones is a politico-historical account of foreign invasions on Afghanistan. It includes invasion of Alexander the Great; Afghanistan’s conquest by Tamerlane; British-Afghan wars; Soviet invasion and defeat in Afghanistan and then American military intervention in this troubled land. The title of the book encompasses the theme of the political narrative that Afghanistan has been a quagmire for the invading powers from earlier times to the modern days. America, despite all its technological advancement and military might seems to be bound to meet the same fate. The book is an indepth account of reasons for resurgence of insurgency in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2009, and American policy dilemmas in that context.
Seth G Jones has conducted research in Afghanistan and stayed in that country from 2001 to 2008. During this period he interacted with US marines, NATO soldiers, Afghan and Pakistani government officials and Afghan leaders. While researching for the book he also interviewed influential policy makers and military personnel in Afghanistan and Pakistan, such as ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and Gen.Karl Eikenberry who held senior ambassadorial positions during the conflict days in Afghanistan. The author also consulted thousands of declassified government documents pertaining to Afghanistan and Pakistan.