Prof. Hanifi takes us through parts of Afghan history that are hardly ever covered in our news media. 

As the U.S. military leaves Afghanistan, the nightmare of the Taliban regaining control of that country is more and more becoming a real possibility. And President Biden remains resolute about his decision, because, as he emphasizes, we did not go to Afghanistan to nation-build. In a recent news conference, he has explained more, historically more. According to President Biden, no empire has been able to unify Afghanistan.  

To better understand the history of Afghanistan, we spoke with Mr. Shah Mahmoud Hanifi, a professor of Central and South Asia and Middle Eastern studies in James Madison University. Professor Hanifi has many publications regarding the history of Afghanistan since the 16th century, including his book "Connecting Histories in Afghanistan". 

Here is the link to Professor Hanifi's academic homepage, which includes a list and links to his many publications: https://www.jmu.edu/history/people/all-people/hanifi.shtml