The Taliban have seized power in Afghanistan two weeks before the US was set to complete its troop withdrawal following a costly two-decade war. Listen as former CSIS intelligence veteran Phil Gurski looks at what we know and what’s next for Afghanistan.
Who are the Taliban?
Formed in 1994, the Taliban were former Afghan resistance fighters, known collectively as mujahedeen, who fought the Soviet forces in the 1980s. Their aim was to impose their interpretation of Islamic law on the country and remove any foreign influence. After the Taliban captured Kabul in 1996, the Sunni Islamist organization put in place strict rules: women had to wear full body coverings, weren’t allowed to work or study and were forbidden from traveling alone. TV, music and non-Islamic holidays were also banned.
An End to the War on Terrorism
Why are we still at ‘war’ with terror 16 years after 9/11? This book will discuss what we have collectively done well, what we have done poorly, what we have yet to try and how we get to the point where terrorism does not dominate public discourse and cause disproportionate fear around the world.
Buy An End to the War on Terrorism
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2 replies on “When Afghanistan fell to the Taliban”
Welcome back, Phil!
Hope you and your family are healthy and happy. Thank you for your informative podcast.
Thx Tova! Much appreciated!