The Daily

The Taliban’s Advance

Aug 10, 2021

Carlotta Gall, the Istanbul bureau chief for The New York Times, shares her extensive experience reporting from Afghanistan as the Taliban rapidly seizes control of cities. She discusses the Taliban's strategic maneuvers and the fear they instill among locals with the re-enforcement of harsh Sharia law. Gall highlights the stark contrast between American optimism for the Afghan government and the grim reality on the ground. The conversation reveals the critical challenges facing Afghan forces and the aspirations of a people yearning for peace amid chaos.

22:48

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Episode guests

Carlotta Gall

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Taliban's Rapid Territorial Gains

11min

The Unraveling: Understanding the Taliban's Surge Amidst U.S. Withdrawal

2min

Afghanistan's Tumultuous Turning Point

7min

Critical Insights on Climate Change and Legislative Impact

2min

Historic Expansion of the Social Safety Net

2min

The Taliban have made big moves in the last few days in their bid to take control of Afghanistan.

This weekend, they seized several cities and suddenly claimed a lot of the north. On Monday, they took another provincial capital.

What is the Taliban’s strategy, what will the United States do, and where does this leave the Afghan government?

Guest: Carlotta Gall, the Istanbul bureau chief for The New York Times. She previously reported from Afghanistan and Pakistan from 2001 to 2011.

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Background reading:

The seizure of five Afghan capitals has amplified fears about the nation’s future after the U.S. withdrawal.
What to know about the war in Afghanistan — how it started and how it is ending.

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