THE GREAT GAME at the Tricycle Theatre, London
LAST SHOWINGS until Aug 29th
A superb series of plays covering Afghanistan’s history from the West’s involvement in the nineteenth century to the present. 
Olivier Award Nominated for ‘Outstanding Achievement’
 from The Independent, The Times, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph…

AFGHANISTAN’S TRAGEDY: A PROBLEM FOR THE WEST- a paper published by Understanding Global Issues
A superb, concise summary of Afghanistan’s history, its people and the problems facing the West. Available to download for 99p from UGI’s website.

THREE CUPS OF TEA : One man’s mission to promote peace… one school at a time, by Greg MortensonThis is probably one of the most inspirational books of recent times. Over a decade, Mortenson built fifty-five schools, especially for girls, in remote villages across the forbidding and breathtaking landscape of Pakistan and Afghanistan, just as the Taliban rose to power. His story is at once a riveting adventure and a testament to the power of the humanitarian spirit. A highly recommended read. 

 

… and the follow up to Three Cups of Tea
STONES INTO SCHOOLS- published in 2009 this is the continuing story of Greg Mortenson’s Central Asia Institute and covers their forays into Afghanistan where they have built 42 schools in the Northeastern part of the country. Another inspiring read.

THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION: The conquest of the Middle East, by Robert Fisk
A superbly written, personally witnessed history of the previous three decades in the Middle East.

DESCENT INTO CHAOSby Ahmed Rashid
Veteran reporter Ahmed Rashid has unparalleled access to the Central Asia region and knows its leading players, from presidents to warlords. Here he documents how closely Pakistan’s US-backed regime is linked with extremists and how broken promises in Afghanistan have led to a resurgent Taliban.

SEWING CIRCLES OF HERAT by Christina Lamb
This book is a window on that breathtaking yet tragic country - Afghanistan. It is a story of hope and remarkable people. Christina Lamb offers a unique perspective on the tortured landscape our retaliatory bombs have been striking.

OXFAM REPORT
The Cost of War, Afghan Experiences of Conflict 1978-2009