2019 is an important year for Afghanistan, with national elections scheduled for July. At the same time, the people and the State of Afghanistan continues to face grave threats to their national security, and the Taliban continue to remain relevant.

Afghanistan regained a lost spotlight in 2001 with the 9/11 attacks and the US War on Terror, but what was Afghanistan like in the 1980s and 90s? Who were the Taliban and how did they rise to power? How did India remain engaged with Afghanistan's legitimate government and the Northern Alliance when most of the world looked away?

Anand Arni and Pranay Kotasthane join host Pavan Srinath on Episode 86 of the Pragati Podcast to talk about Afghanistan before 9/11.

Mr Arni is a Distinguished Fellow and Advisor at the Takshashila Institution, and retired as Special Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India. He served for over 37 years in the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), India’s external intelligence agency. He was a part of the hostage rescue team during the Flight IC814 hijacking crisis. Pranay is Fellow and Head of the Geostrategy Programme at the Takshashila Institution.

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