Mazar i-Sharif has fallen without much of a fight. The Taliban's grip on Afghanistan is looking all the more shaky. It seems as if the American policy to work with the warlords is paying dividends. Enemy fighters are surrendering to them. But is it all too rosy? In the centre of Mazar i-Sharif, the Americans take 400 Al-Qaeda captives to Qala-i-Jangi, the Fo ... Show More
Dec 2023
Ep. 351 - Ian Fritz (U.S. Air Force / 'What The Taliban Told Me')
At eighteen, Ian Fritz joined the Air Force out of necessity and was soon selected to become an Airborne Cryptologic Linguist in the war in Afghanistan. Over the course of two tours, Fritz listened to the Taliban for hundreds of hours, all over the country night and day, in momen ... Show More
1h 38m
Oct 2025
Will the ceasefire hold between Afghanistan and Pakistan?
After a week of cross-border violence, Pakistan and Afghanistan agree to an immediate ceasefire. Islamabad accuses its neighbour of harbouring armed groups, allegations that Kabul denies. So, will this lead to lasting peace? And how does the conflict play out regionally?In this e ... Show More
25m 4s
Dec 2021
Why Can’t The West Win Its Wars Any More?
After 9/11 the West invaded Afghanistan and Iraq to remake them as friendly, terror-free liberal democracies. But the unintended consequences were historic disaster, countless dead and the humbling of Western power, symbolised by the shameful evacuation of Kabul in 2021. How did ... Show More
1h 6m