Skip to content

Anand Gopal – No Good Men Among the Living

    Global Dispatches | 02 July 2015 | 0h 42m | Listen Later | Podcasts | Spotify

    Interview with Anand Gopal about his book No Good Men Among the Living. Offers a unique perspective on the US intervention in Afghanistan by profiling individuals, both civilian and Taliban, in Khas Uruzgan. Describes his unconventional approach, living remotely and learning the language, revealed complexities often missed by journalists. Highlights how US troop presence destabilised regions, enabling local warlords to exploit them against rivals, contributing to the Taliban’s resurgence. Exposes how many detainees at Guantanamo Bay were innocent victims of these dynamics. Recounts his journey from science to journalism, driven by a desire to understand the conflict beyond mainstream narratives.

    Book cover

    Ahmed Rashid on the Future of the Taliban

      New Books in Islamic Studies | 11 October 2022 | 0h 31m | Listen Later | Podcasts | Spotify
      Interview with Ahmed Rashid about the updated edition of his book Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil and Fundamentalism in Central Asia. Discusses the Taliban’s history from its 1990s origins to its 2021 return to power. Explores the Deobandi sect’s influence, how the US’s broken commitments about ending opium production drove the Taliban alliance with Bin Laden, and the role of Pakistani intelligence in their rejuvenation. Concludes that while the international community denies recognition, the Taliban remain entrenched as the war-weary population prioritises stability over further conflict.