ABOUT THE BOOK
The Afghanistan File
The Afghanistan File offers an unprecedented insider view of Saudi Arabia’s intelligence operations in Afghanistan from 1979 to 2001. Written by Prince Turki AlFaisal, who served as head of the Saudi General Intelligence Department during this turbulent period, it reflects on two decades of covert involvement, diplomacy, and the unintended consequences of foreign intervention.
The book traces Saudi support for the Mujahideen resistance against the Soviet occupation, the complex and often fruitless attempts to broker peace between rival factions after the Soviet withdrawal, and the rise of the Taliban and their protection of Osama bin Laden. Prince Turki describes how the Mujahideen, despite their extraordinary courage in resisting the Sovet occupation, were fractured by rivalries and infighting that made them almost impossible to deal with. One striking episode describes how, after swearing unity inside the Kaaba in Mecca, Mujahideen leaders almost came to blows just hours later on the journey to Medina.
Turki details Saudi efforts in the 1990s to repatriate volunteers from Afghanistan and his tense negotiations with the Taliban for bin Laden’s extradition. The book also includes declassified intelligence documents, shedding light on how the nihilistic terrorism of al-Qaeda and its successors took root in Afghanistan.
The Afghanistan File reveals how the events of this era reshaped Saudi policy, security, and its approach to extremism after 9/11.
OUR NEW TITLES
Sea of Pearls
Before the discovery of oil, the sea was the Gulf’s greatest wealth. Each summer, fleets of wooden dhows sailed out into the turquoise waters, their crews diving deep on a single breath, armed only with a nose clip, a stone weight, and a rope. They returned to the surface clutching oysters, hoping for the prize within pearls so perfect they adorned the crowns of kings and captivated the luxury markets of India and Europe.
Lorimer
In 1908, the British government quietly commissioned a vast and meticulous record of the Arabian Gulf and surrounding regions. Compiled by John Gordon Lorimer, a senior political officer in the Indian Civil Service, The Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman and Central Arabia became one of the most extraordinary works of intelligence ever produced by a colonial administration.
Julius Euting
In the winter of 1883, German epigraphist Julius Euting and French-Alsatian geographer Charles Huber departed Damascus on a perilous journey into the heart of northern Arabia. Their mission: to uncover ancient inscriptions and reveal the region’s forgotten history.
In Praise of the Artisan
Across the Islamic world, artistry is not only preserved—it continues to evolve. From the rhythmic tapping of stone carvers in Rajasthan to the delicate calligraphy of Istanbul’s masters, from Cairo’s woodworkers to the skilled embroiderers of Makkah, crafts that have shaped homes, mosques, and cities for centuries are still vibrant today.
Bedouin Weaving
In the vast deserts of Arabia, where landscapes appear austere and endless, Bedouin women have for centuries created beauty from the simplest of materials. Using the wool of their camels, sheep, and goats, they wove vibrant textiles—bold geometric designs in deep reds, blacks, and whites—that adorned tents, protected families from the elements, and carried symbolic meaning.
A Journey to Arabia Felix
In the vast deserts of Arabia, where landscapes appear austere and endless, Bedouin women have for centuries created beauty from the simplest of materials. Using the wool of their camels, sheep, and goats, they wove vibrant textiles—bold geometric designs in deep reds, blacks, and whites—that adorned tents, protected families from the elements, and carried symbolic meaning.