Episode 29: Intra-Afghan Talks - Obstacles and Prospects

The intra-Afghan dialogue is off to a rocky start. In recent developments, Kabul and the Taliban debated a prisoner swap, the Taliban rejected the Kabul government’s negotiation team, and attacks on Afghan forces continue amidst a draw-down of American  troops. President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Officer Abdulla Abdulla also both claimed the presidency after contentious elections, splintering consensus further.

In this episode, we speak with Dr Iftekhar Chowdhury, Principal Research Fellow, ISAS, and former Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, to understand what the Taliban wants now that the crown appears within reach. He argues that a Taliban in power may have good working relations with the international community, and that the world should engage the Taliban to ensure that certain universal rights and values are respected.