Storming the World Stage by Stephen Tankel

Storming the World Stage by Stephen Tankel

On November 21, 2008, ten men boarded a boat in Karachi and hijacked an Indian fishing trawler, killing four of the vessel's crewmen and forcing its captain to sail toward India. Four miles off the coast of Mumbai, these men abandoned the trawler for inflatable speedboats, and within hours they began hitting multiple targets in Mumbai in a series of simultaneous and well-coordinated attacks. Over the course of three days, more than 170 people were killed and more than 300 injured. The victims included members of the Indian elite as well as Jews and Westerners. The Mumbai attacks placed Lashkar-e-Taiba high on the list of the world's most fearsome terrorist groups. A complex and powerful organization that rose to prominence with Pakistani state support, Lashkar has sent scores of fighters to Iraq and Afghanistan and provides them with essential strategic and tactical help. Lashkar was formed by men with years of training in the trenches of Kashmir, and its skill in executing efficient and effective insurgencies has made the organization extremely attractive to dissidents. Nevertheless, Lashkar is afraid to associate too closely with al-Qaeda, which is closely tied to Pakistan's government, and al-Qaeda is afraid to ally itself too intimately with Lashkar, which would jeopardize its partnership with the Pakistani state. Were the Mumbai attacks evidence of Lashkar's increasing infiltration of al-Qaeda's domain, or were they simply the latest in a series of attacks on Pakistan's historic rival? Stephen Tankel traces the development of Lashkar from a small resistance group to the largest, most feared organization operating in Kashmir, India, and Pakistan today. He considers the threat Lashkar now poses to Pakistan, India, and the West, and how this danger may evolve in coming decades.

An impressive volume for its reliance on interviews conducted in Pakistan and elsewhere with officials, journalists, and, on occasion, some of the participants in the jihadAll of this brings a level of freshness to this work that is often absent. This is the first work of social science research on Lashkar-e-Taiba, revealing its diverse activities, from jihad to social welfare, and its closeness to Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI). A vivid and detailed account of a major Islamist actor. Critique Internationale Storming the World Stage is the definitive account of one the most dangerous terrorist groups in the world. Stephen Tankel's research in Pakistan is prodigious and his analytical judgements are well-calibrated. Highly recommended. An important and insightful book about the world's most dangerous terrorists, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and their complex ties to al-Qaeda and Pakistan's intelligence service. A must read for understanding today's global jihad. Lashkar-e-Taiba is perhaps the most important terrorist group of global reach after al-Qaeda, yet it is, unfortunately, less understood. Stephen Tankel's book now eliminates all excuses for ignorance. Vividly taking the reader into Lashkar's milieu, describing its organization and activities, and exposing its worldview, Tankel shows how continued apathy toward Lashkar-e-Taiba is dangerous not only for South Asia but also the West. Storming the World Stage is an urgent wake-up call about a group that will neither fade away quietly nor be ignored. an impressive piece of detective work Sunday Times 8/7/2011 Storming the World Stage is one of those rare books that come out before their time is ripe. This militant Islamic group based in Pakistan and Afghanistan is the most dangerous in the world, and you will be hearing much more of it in the years to come. Mr. Tankel is ahead of his time. -- Ahmed Rashid Taliban and Descent Into Chaos His study explains why, for so much of the world, Pakistan's image is shaped by militant groups like [Lashkar-e-Taiba]. -- Dr. Marvin G. Weinbaum Middle East Journal Vol 65, No 4, 2011

Stephen Tankel is a visiting scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. His research focuses on insurgency, terrorism, the evolution of armed groups and militancy in South Asia. Tankel has researched conflicts on the ground in Pakistan, India, Algeria, Lebanon, and the Balkans. He lives in Washington, DC.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780231701525
ISBN 10	0231701527
Title	Storming the World Stage
Author	Stephen Tankel
Series	Columbia Hurst
Condition	Unavailable
Publisher	Columbia University Press
Year published	2011-07-01
Number of pages	288
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.