Afghanistan Analysts Network – English

AAN in the Media

Should world leaders start talking to the Taliban?

< 1 min

BBC, 14 August 2023

Along with Afghan women and western diplomats, AAN’s Kate Clark is quoted here:

“There’s a lot of distrust, even disdain, between sides who fought each other for years,” says Kate Clark of the Afghanistan Analysts Network. “The Taliban think the West still wants to corrupt their nation and the West doesn’t like the Taliban policy on women’s rights and their authoritarian rule.”

Ms Clark highlights a fundamental disconnect: “The West may see issues like recognition as concessions, but the Taliban see it as their right, a God-given right to rule after they defeated the US superpower and returned to power, for a second time.”