War and society in Afghanistan : from the Mughals to the Americans 1500 2013 Mughal Empire and warfare in Afghanistan 1500 1810 British Indian Empire and warfare in Afghanistan 1810 1947 The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan 1979 88 US and NATO intervention in Afghanistan Afghanistan and the nature of future conflicts This monograph analyses the rhythms of war and the geopolitical significance of Afghanistan with a focus on the interrelated concepts of weak rentier state great power rivalry and counter insurgency. It analyses why the Mughals the British the Soviets and the Americans won the conventional wars in Afghanistan but were defeated in the unconventional ones. It takes a comprehensive view of the history of the region and provides a political and military narrative of conventional and unconventional war in Afghanistan during the last five centuries. Provided by publisher