War : At the Top of the World: The Clash for Mastery of Asia

Contents: Introduction. I. The Great Jihad: 1. Soldiers of Allah. 2. The bravest men of earth. 3. Dodge city meets the Arabian Nights. 4. Fadil the Kurd. 5. The secret war. II. Kashmir—war in paradise: Prologue. 6. The Kingdom of Sikander. 7. Revolt in the mountains. 8. The Afghani. 9. Deconstructing South Asia. 10. The world’s most dangerous border. 11. Paradise lost. III. War in the death zone: 12. The road to Siachen. 13. Musa the warrior. 14. The hatred of brothers. IV. The roof of the world: 15. The forbidden kingdom. 16. India awakes. 17. The clash of Titans. 18. China under siege. 19. The fate of Asia. Index.

"In 1998, India and Pakistan conducted nuclear tests that shocked the world. In spring 1999, both countries tested medium-range missiles. Recently, both countries have been engaged in heavy fighting over the disputed territory of Kashmir and Ladakh.

it is veteran journalist Eric Margolis contention that the remote province of Kashmir could be the next flashpoint for a possible nuclear war. Both India and Pakistan have claims on the territory and, armed with nuclear-tipped missiles, are locked in an increasingly tense military confrontation. According to the US Central Intelligence Agency, this confrontation is the world’s most dangerous dispute.

The author is a leading specialist on South Asia and his book takes the reader through the geopolitical complexities of this area: the disputes between India and Pakistan; China and India; as well as the rival interests of Russia, the United States, Iran, China, India and Pakistan. His book offers a clear, concise analysis of this complicated, little-understood, and neglected part of the world that contains 25 per cent of the world’s population.

Eric Margolis combines vivid first-hand accounts as a war correspondent in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Kashmir and Tibet, together with an historical and strategic overview of the region. Geopolitical tension is rife in the area and the author believes it will be the prime theatre of world conflict early in the next century.

Fascinating and chilling, War at the Top of the World is required reading for anyone interested in the current balance of world power." (jacket)