The challenges facing the Taliban
Now that they鈥檝e won the war, are the Taliban capable of governing a changed Afghanistan?
The World Bank this week halted funding for projects in Afghanistan, following the lead of the IMF and US government which also froze payments and accounts. The increased financial pressure on the Taliban is just one of the many challenges they鈥檒l face now they've taken control of the country. Thousands of professionals who鈥檝e worked with foreigners are fleeing, prompting increasingly urgent calls from the Taliban for them to stay. Internal disagreements within the movement are also likely to make forming a stable government difficult, as will attacks from the Islamic State militant group and rebel forces amassing in the Panjshir Valley. So, does the Taliban have what it takes to preside over a relatively orderly transition? Is the group capable of keeping the lights on and the water flowing in cities that now have much more complex infrastructure than they did back in 2001? And when it comes to the potential for a humanitarian disaster to emerge, should Western powers help the new administration in Kabul or work against it?
Ritula Shah is joined by a panel of expert guests. Producers: Paul Schuster and Ellen Otzen.
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Contributors
Bilal Sarwary -聽Afghan journalist
Vanda Felbab-Brown - A senior fellow in the Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution
Roya Rahmani - Afghanistan's ambassador to the United States from 2018 to 2021, now a senior fellow at the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS)
Also featuring
Kamal Alam - The Massoud Foundation
Photo
Taliban fighters wait for their meals to be served as they lunch at a restaurant in Kabul - Credit: Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images
Broadcasts
- Fri 27 Aug 2021 09:06GMT大象传媒 World Service
- Fri 27 Aug 2021 23:06GMT大象传媒 World Service
- Sat 28 Aug 2021 03:06GMT大象传媒 World Service
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The Real Story
Global experts and decision makers discuss, debate and analyse a key news story.