Time to engage (very carefully) with the Taliban
Isolating the mullahs is not working. The West needs a more constructive approach
For two decades, America and its NATO allies squandered vast amounts of blood and treasure on a wildly optimistic state-building project in Afghanistan. It ended 20 months ago, when the Taliban’s black-turbaned fighters swept back into Kabul, while American diplomats frantically burned their files and NATO troops held back a tide of terrified Afghans at the airport.
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Engage (very carefully) with the Taliban”
From the May 6th 2023 edition
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