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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
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Rachelle Abbott

Afghanistan: how the world got “sucker punched” by the Taliban

The Evening Standard’s Defence Editor Robert Fox and Political Correspondent Sophia Sleigh join the show to breakdown what’s happening in Afghanistan and what’s next?

Robert tells us how the US got “sucker punched” by a behind-the-scenes deal with the Taliban that was brokered without the Afghan government’s knowledge.

Sophia says the UK was so surprised at the pace of the country’s collapse that the Prime Minister was supposed to be going on holiday this week, but has now had to change his plans and recall Parliament.

Has the Taliban really “changed” like it’s promised? Will the UK and others open diplomatic relations? How are countries evacuating their own citizens from Afghanistan? And what’s next for those who live there?

Listen here:

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