The Fall of Kabul: What’s Next for Afghanistan?

On August 15, 2021, in the midst of the chaotic American military withdrawal, Taliban forces swept into Kabul largely unopposed, giving the rigidly fundamentalist group complete control of Afghanistan for the first time since 2001. But questions remain about what the future holds for the country in this second period of Taliban control, and whether this is even the same Taliban that ruled with a strict interpretation of Sharia, or Islamic law, in the 1990s. How did the Taliban move so swiftly in its takeover of Afghanistan? What is in store for the country and specifically for Afghanistan’s women, who have enjoyed two decades of progress under a Western-style democratic system? Has the Taliban really moderated during its 20 years in exile, and can it transition from fighting an insurgency to running a more modern and globally-connected economy? Our panel of journalists – here in Hong Kong, Kabul and New Delhi – will answer all these questions and more as we explore the topic of Afghanistan after the fall. Moderated by FCC President Keith Richburg.