Afghanistan 6 Months after Taliban Takeover: Interview with Afghan Ambassador to the UN in Geneva

While the democratically elected government of Afghanistan has been ousted from power, its diplomats remain in position. Although they don't interact with the Taliban government, they continue issuing visas and represent the country in international organizations. In this interview, Nasir A. Andisha, who is himself a historian and an international relations scholar, discusses the current situation of Afghanistan as well as the structural problems that hinder the development of any centralized government from working properly—a problem, he says, that also the Taliban now are facing. Federalization, democratization, and neutralization are his recommendations. In the meantime, a looming famine, US sanctions on the country's institutions, and the seizure of Afghan funds need to be resolved with the US and the world community at large. The suffering of the Afghan people must not be the goal of US foreign policy.