773: Kabul Bombings: What Kind of Future is Afghanistan Headed Towards?

<div>The<a href="https://www.thequint.com/news/world/afghanistan-taliban-crisis-kabul-airport-evacuation-indians-live-updates-25-august-2021"> twin suicide attacks in Kabul</a> in the early hours of Friday, 27 August, have been as the deadliest day for US troops in Afghanistan in more than a decade.The bombings claimed the lives of at least 95 Afghan civilians, 13 US troops and injured dozens more.<br> <br> </div> <div>The first attack was reported at Abbey Gate, which is one of the entrances to the Kabul airport and the other at Baron Hotel, which has served as a bunker for evacuees, diplomats and civilians before they head to the airport for boarding the evacuation flights.<br> <br> </div> <div>The attack was claimed by the ISIL offshoot in Afghanistan, known as ISIS-K which reportedly singled out supporters and affiliates of the US Army. The group has been blamed for some of the worst attacks in the country since its formation in 2015.<br> <br> However, ISIS-K is not only a threat to the population of Afghanistan but also to the Taliban, who they have reportedly accused of abandoning principles of Jihad and favouring a peace settlement.<br> <br> </div> <div>These bombings in Kabul now pose a series of pressing questions on future of Afghanistan and its repercussions on the Biden administration:<br> <br> </div> <div>What precedent do the recent attacks set for Biden? How will the Taliban vs ISIS-K rivalry play out with the US out of the picture, and more importantly , what kind of future is Afghanistan headed towards?<br> <br> </div> <div>To answer these questions, for today’s episode, we spoke with Ajay Sahni, the Executive Director at the Institute for Conflict Management and South Asia Terrorism Portal.<br> <br> <br> <strong>Host and Producer: </strong>Himmat Shaligram</div> <div> <strong>Guest: </strong>Ajay Sahni, the Executive Director at the Institute for Conflict Management and South Asia Terrorism Portal.</div> <div> <strong>Editor:</strong> Shelly Walia</div> <div> <br> <strong>Also check out:<br