BROADCASTS.com

Published: Jan. 26, 2023, 4 p.m.

b'

A deep dive into the sensitive geopolitics at the Afghan-Pakistan border.

\\n

Synopsis: Each fourth Friday of the month, The Straits Times\' US bureau chief Nirmal Ghosh presents an Asian perspective of the biggest global talking points with expert guests.

\\n

After 20 years of war, in August 2021, the United States became the most recent superpower to be seen off by Afghanistan. After the US withdrew, the Taliban, whom the United States had kicked out in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks, swiftly seized power again.

\\n

But since then, the Taliban has challenged the status of the Afghan-Pakistan border and given haven to the anti-Pakistan insurgent group, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, TTP, which has killed thousands of Pakistanis and wants to establish a Taliban-style Sharia state in Pakistan.\\xa0

\\n

In this episode, to explain the complicated knot in that volatile region, Nirmal Ghosh hosts Javid Ahmad, a non-resident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council South Asia Center, and former ambassador of Afghanistan to the United Arab Emirates; and Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracy and editor of the foundation\'s Long War Journal.\\xa0

\\n

Highlights (click/tap above):\\xa0

\\n

2:35 The Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is a classic case of reverse insurgency

\\n

4:50 Many believe the Pakistani military is in a pre-war stage with the TTP

\\n

5:30 Pakistani state, elites seek \\u201cstrategic depth\\u201d within Afghanistan, against India \\u2013 and continue to support the Afghan Taliban

\\n

7:20 The risk from Al Qaeda to the region and the US is very great; the Taliban is not abandoning Al Qaeda

\\n

13:10 The Taliban, or Afghans in general, have nothing in common with China

\\n

16:10 The wheel of jihad keeps on turning \\u2013 and could turn into a major problem for the Pakistani state

\\n

21:17 Washington should diversify its approach toward the Taliban\\xa0

\\n

Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim and Fa\\u2019izah Sani

\\n

Edited by: Hadyu Rahim and Fa\\u2019izah Sani

\\n

Follow Asian Insider with Nirmal Ghosh every fourth Friday of the month:

\\n

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7

\\n

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8

\\n

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB\\xa0

\\n

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX

\\n

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

\\n

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

\\n

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

\\n

Follow Nirmal Ghosh on Twitter: https://str.sg/JD7r

\\n

Read Nirmal Ghosh\'s stories: https://str.sg/JbxG

\\n

Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters

\\n

Asian Insider videos: https://str.sg/wdcC

\\n

---

\\n

Discover ST\'s special edition podcasts:

\\n

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

\\n

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

\\n

Singapore\'s War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

\\n

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

\\n

---

\\n

Discover more ST podcast series:

\\n

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

\\n

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

\\n

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

\\n

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

\\n

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

\\n

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

\\n

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

\\n

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

\\n

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

\\n

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

\\n

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

\\n

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

\\n

#STAsianInsider

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'