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The Afghanistan File
The Afghanistan File, written by the former head of Saudi Arabian Intelligence, tells the story of his department’s involvement in Afghanistan, from the time of the Soviet invasion in 1979 to the attacks on September 11, 2001. It begins with the backing given by Saudi Arabia to the Mujahideen in their fight against the Soviet occupation, and moves on to the fruitless initiatives to broker peace among the Mujahideen factions after the Soviet withdrawal, the rise to power of the Taliban and the shelter the Taliban gave to Osama Bin Laden.
The extraordinary difficulties that Saudi Arabia and its allies faced in dealing with the Mujahideen are a central feature of the book. Prince Turki found them magnificently brave, but exasperating. On one occasion, in trying to arrange peace among them, he got permission from King Fahd to open the Kaaba in Makkah, and had the leaders go inside, where they were overcome with emotion and swore never to fight each other again. A few hours later on their way to Madinah, they almost came to blows on the bus.
Prince Turki’s account gives details of the Saudi attempts in the 1990s to bring its volunteers out of Afghanistan – with chequered success – and his negotiations with the Taliban for the surrender of Osama Bin Laden. The book includes a number of declassified Intelligence Department documents.
Prince Turki explains that the nihilistic, apparently pointless terrorism that has been seen in the Middle East in the last twenty years had its origins in Afghanistan with Osama Bin Laden’s deluded belief that he had helped defeat the Russians. There is no evidence that he ever fought them at all. Soon after the attacks on 9/11, Saudi Arabia discovered that it had a homegrown terrorist problem involving some of the returnees from Afghanistan. Many of the huge changes that have taken place in the Kingdom since have stemmed from the campaign to tackle this.
The extraordinary difficulties that Saudi Arabia and its allies faced in dealing with the Mujahideen are a central feature of the book. Prince Turki found them magnificently brave, but exasperating. On one occasion, in trying to arrange peace among them, he got permission from King Fahd to open the Kaaba in Makkah, and had the leaders go inside, where they were overcome with emotion and swore never to fight each other again. A few hours later on their way to Madinah, they almost came to blows on the bus.
Prince Turki’s account gives details of the Saudi attempts in the 1990s to bring its volunteers out of Afghanistan – with chequered success – and his negotiations with the Taliban for the surrender of Osama Bin Laden. The book includes a number of declassified Intelligence Department documents.
Prince Turki explains that the nihilistic, apparently pointless terrorism that has been seen in the Middle East in the last twenty years had its origins in Afghanistan with Osama Bin Laden’s deluded belief that he had helped defeat the Russians. There is no evidence that he ever fought them at all. Soon after the attacks on 9/11, Saudi Arabia discovered that it had a homegrown terrorist problem involving some of the returnees from Afghanistan. Many of the huge changes that have taken place in the Kingdom since have stemmed from the campaign to tackle this.
- GenresHistory
299 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 6, 2021
18 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 28, 2021
Important and timely perspective on the Afghan Problem
A Saudi perspective of the Afghan Problem. Prince Turki’s account is unique and supplemental to other works on the subject. Quite informative and great deal can be learnt. Highly recommend this to all those who are interested in the history of Afghan Jihad and what it actually ended up creating.
A Saudi perspective of the Afghan Problem. Prince Turki’s account is unique and supplemental to other works on the subject. Quite informative and great deal can be learnt. Highly recommend this to all those who are interested in the history of Afghan Jihad and what it actually ended up creating.
December 5, 2021
The book is well written and provides some "loopholes" to look into the behind the scenes operations of ANTI-USSR war, and to some degree exposes the dirty intentions of its warriors- the mujahedeen leaders. However, I felt the main purpose behind writing the book was not to give an honest and groundbreaking accounts of the war, but rather "justify" the role of the Saudi Arabia in the collapse of Najib government, rise of Taliban, and the bloody civil war that entailed. It also tries to recreate its image to the world, especially the western world, by criticizing the Muslim Brotherhood in particular for Bin Laden's fundamentalism; ignoring their own outward-directed Wahabism.
August 2, 2022
One of the best first-person accounts by a government official I have ever read
Prince Turki is not just one of the greatest public servants of Saudi Arabia, he his one of the most dedicated and effective public servants in government service anywhere in the world. How lucky we are therefore to have his first-hand account of the war in Afghanistan as as the parallel events of the period from the man who saw it all up close and personal.
Prince Turki is not just one of the greatest public servants of Saudi Arabia, he his one of the most dedicated and effective public servants in government service anywhere in the world. How lucky we are therefore to have his first-hand account of the war in Afghanistan as as the parallel events of the period from the man who saw it all up close and personal.
October 20, 2021
Authoritative
Offers great insights into the complications of attempting to establish peace and stability in Afghanistan and helps to understand Saudi-US relations. It also provides info, I have never read before, that OBL had an exaggerated view of his accomplishments.
Offers great insights into the complications of attempting to establish peace and stability in Afghanistan and helps to understand Saudi-US relations. It also provides info, I have never read before, that OBL had an exaggerated view of his accomplishments.
November 23, 2021
Firsthand account
Shows how the political and social realities in the country have not changed since the Amir of Timurid Empire in 1370.
Shows how the political and social realities in the country have not changed since the Amir of Timurid Empire in 1370.
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July 24, 2022interesting to read about Afghanistan war from Saudi Arabian perspective
October 30, 2023
Detailed and thorough
Fascinating account of Saudi Arabia’s key role in the Soviet involvement in Afghanistan and their continued close relationship with the US and particularly the CIA in tracking and pursuing Bin Laden.
Fascinating account of Saudi Arabia’s key role in the Soviet involvement in Afghanistan and their continued close relationship with the US and particularly the CIA in tracking and pursuing Bin Laden.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews