Afghanistan: Caught between drug cartels and the Taliban | DW Documentary

When international troops withdrew in 2021, the Taliban recaptured Afghanistan. The ‘forever war’ was over. But this documentary shows how western military forces were misled or acted on insufficient intelligence -- with fatal consequences for the Afghan civilians they were sent to protect.

The documentary "Winning Hearts and Minds” shows how western forces were deliberately misled and in many cases acted on the basis of inadequate information. The results were a disaster for the Afghan population.

In 2006, when Danish and British troops were deployed to Musa Qala in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan, the mission was clear. They were to defend their allies, the local police forces, against Taliban insurgents. But this plan was based on a misconception. While the local police in Musa Qala were seen as the allies of the West in the fight for democracy and human rights, in reality they supported a brutal and murderous drug cartel.

Filmmakers Martin Tamm Andersen and Nagieb Khaja uncover this scandal, as well as the local police’s alliance with the brutal brothers Koka and Issa Khan. The filmmakers also examine a corrupt ex-governor’s hold over the Musa Qala police and how this man exploited western involvement to help his drug trade. Musa Qala eventually fell to the Taliban, as the population faced a choice between a ruthless drug cartel and an extremist regime.

The film reveals the tragic betrayal of the international mission that ultimately left an entire country in chaos.

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[RobertJackson]

Pentagón will not allow you to make some documentaries about 🇮🇱😂😂

[Bulletguy]

Former interpreter for the Danish Army 21:00 who is Afghan himself said the child abuse is "not normal" and is "a warlord culture". This was a hard hitting documentary and excellent reporting from DW.

[somerandomfella]

Those journalists have balls of steel. Not sure what kind of answers they were expecting though. An admission of guilt? Like oh you got me..

[ajzab]

This is why dealing with any kind of drugs brings no good.

[marmalashah]

After 20 years of war, they still haven’t figured out what language is spoken in Helmand Province. I can’t believe that the interpreter needs another interpreter to speak the language.
😂

[rbrb]

How about US war crimes in Afghanistan

[RitvikMehta-kg]

"bro has guts
guts have bro"
first fighting them as a soldier and then returning back to the same country to interview your once enemy as an interviewer.

[ThePizzaGoblin]

They order you to win hearts and minds, but wont let you take down the guy assaulting kids. No wonder we lost

[HmdJms]

Why is this documentary posted 18 years after it was made?

[ehsankhorasani_]

I live in Afghanistan and since Taliban took the government the drug production reduced to almost zero, no corruption in the government and Taliban are rebuilding the country as fast as they can.
safety has improved a lot, I can guarantee you that Afghanistan is safer than most of western countries.
quality of life is growing everyday.
the only big problem we have right now is gril education so Taliban sort of removed women from society which is very sad, may God guide them to understand their ignorance

[jljlkjlkj-lnzb]

i am from Afghanistan and who ever says that Afghanistan is better now then 3 years ago is crazy.
Right now it is like living in worst place in the world, for women, kids and everyone.

[kyberite]

Imagine having boat loads of guns and ammo, seeing children getting r4 ped and you do nothing "oh it could have led to a confrontation" Great WHY TF YOU JOIN THE

[mehmoodkhankhattak]

For your kind infotmation afghanistan is safe. The drug cultivation has already be zeroed. They were high during NATO occupation. Why DW next documentary soon😂

[sebastianhauser]

Just amazing reporting. 50 mins well spent

[alessandrariussi]

Very brave journalists! There is no word strong enough to condemn the atrocities on children 😢 I Wish western troops did an effort to stop the violence

[hannibal]

Powerful documentary. Great job pushing and finding testimonials shedding light on this cruel situation.

[MImad-rvgt]

propaganda against Afganistan
there are plenty of other countries like mexico wht dont you expose them

[KimKim-rjst]

well, i bet Issa khan now must have been pickup by the Taliban, killed and his body is somewhere in the middle of the desert. most probably that is what happened. the other possibility is, he might have flee from Afghanistan, and now living in US or Europe. he for sure have to flee, as there is no way Taliban would not pick him up someday, and "disappeared" him from this earth. it is not matter of if, but it is matter of when.

[aliyabdulrahman]

Graveyard of empires, what an amazing and heartfelt documentary. Thank you for your service.

[jalijali]

That interpreter is lying, it is/was common in Afghanistan. See the documentary on here about Bacha Bazi- dancing boys, none of the people in that doc are "warlords"