An Analysis of Taliban 'Night Letters'

Thomas H. Johnson, 'The Taliban Insurgency and an Analysis of Shabnamah (Night Letters)', Small Wars & Insurgencies, Volume 18, Issue 3 September 2007 , pages 317 - 344

ABSTRACT: "The Taliban has recently re-emerged on the Afghan scene with vengeance. Five years after being defeated in Afghanistan by a US coalition, the resurgent Taliban, backed by al-Qaeda, are mounting an increasingly virulent insurgency, especially in the east and south, near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. The Taliban now represents a significant challenge to the survival of President Hamid Karzai's government. This article assesses the narrative strategy the Taliban has employed to garner support with the Afghan people. Specifically, this paper assesses the narratives of Taliban shabnamah, commonly referred to as 'night letters' in an effort unravel what the Taliban represents."

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Related posts:
'Focus on Taliban Propaganda', 13 November 2007
'The Taliban’s Propaganda Activities', 2 August 2007