Intelligence Squared Afghanistan After The Withdrawal: What Lessons Have We Learned?
Aug 17, 2022
Shabnam Nasimi, a UK Home Office policy advisor and founder of Conservative Friends of Afghanistan, joins veterans of Afghan reporting Jeremy Bowen from the BBC and filmmaker Paul Mason. They discuss the profound humanitarian crisis in post-withdrawal Afghanistan, highlighting the struggles of women and children amid Taliban rule. The guests analyze the impact of the chaotic withdrawal on Afghan institutions, the urgent need for international response, and the lessons learned on governance and human rights following two decades of foreign involvement.
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Episode notes
Personal Reflection on Taliban’s Return
- Shabnam Nasimi recalled the 1990s Taliban rule and the unexpected return in 2021.
- The swift takeover brought devastation and evoked a sense of betrayal, intensified by the contrasting global response to the Ukraine crisis.
Contrasting Withdrawals
- Jeremy Bowen, present at the 1989 Soviet withdrawal, contrasted its orderliness with the chaotic 2021 US withdrawal.
- He reflected on the waste of 20 years of efforts and the anticipated reversal of progress in Afghanistan.
NGO Evacuation Efforts
- Paul Mason's involvement began with a June 2021 email from an Afghan NGO facing collapse.
- He described frantic evacuation efforts, highlighting the chaos and lack of planning within the British government.
