Central Asia : The Great Game replayed

In the nineteenth century, The Great Game was played between twomajor colonial powers of the time-Tsarist Russia and Great Britain.The prize was "The Jewel in the Crown" - India, and the pathway toit ran through Afghanistan. Today, the pathway still runs throughAfghanistan but the players are different-the United States ofAmerica, Russia and China, with Iran, India, Pakistan on theperiphery. The prize is the oil and mineral wealth of Central Asiaand its geopolitical and strategic positioning. In the aftermath ofthe terrorist attack on the US in September 2001, this region hasbecome the field of intense competition among the major powers. Theresultant American military presence in Afghanistan and some of thestates of Central Asia, a new dimension has been added to thegeo-politics of the region. This book provides an in-depth analysisof the Indian perspective on the Great Game as it unfolds and itsgeopolitical ramifications for this country.