Talibanology: Power, People and Policies

SPECIAL EPISODE: The Unbroken Bond: Dr. Sara Harmouch on Taliban–Al Qaeda Alliance After Doha Agreement and Their Quest for Drones, WMDs and External Operations.

In this special episode of Talibanology, host Tamim Asey sits down with Dr. Sara Harmouch a leading terrorism expert and founder of H9 Defense and a Ph.D holder from the American University. She is a national security expert and counterterrorism researcher, she focuses on Islamist militant groups, irregular warfare, alliance dynamics, non-state actors’ behavior and their interactions with state actors. Raised in Lebanon and native in Arabic and French, she brings firsthand experience and fieldwork across the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe—engaging directly with members of extremist groups. Harmouch has briefed OSD, NATO, the State Department, Army Futures Command, and the Office of Net Assessment, and presented at West Point, Modern War Institute, and the 9/11 Memorial. Dr. Harmouch in this episode tries to unravel the dark and often overlooked dimensions of Taliban–Al-Qaeda relations. From their evolving partnership after the Doha Agreement to signs of Al-Qaeda’s rebuilding under Taliban protection Dr. Harmouch offers a rare and penetrating look at whether Afghanistan is once again becoming a global jihadist sanctuary. We also examine the risk of Al-Qaeda regaining external operational capability from Afghan soil and explore the long-standing ambitions of both groups to acquire weapons of mass destruction now potentially supercharged by emerging technologies such as LLMs and other amplifying technologies and in addition their quest to silently acquire long-range drones as well. This is a gripping and in-depth discussion on the nexus of ideology, strategy and technology in modern jihadist threats. Must listen.

Episode 8. The Emir’s Labyrinth: Dr. Vanda Felbab-Brown on the Taliban Emirate's Factions, Fiefdoms and Fragile Control

What keeps the Taliban’s grip on power so firm—and what might unravel it from within? In this gripping season finale of Talibanology, host Tamim Asey is joined by Dr. Vanda Felbab-Brown, a leading authority on non-state armed actors, insurgent governance and illicit economies. As Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and Director of several cutting-edge initiatives including: - Director of the Initiative on Nonstate Armed Actors - Director of The Fentanyl Epidemic in North America and the Global Reach of  Synthetic Opioids, and - Co-Director of the Africa Security Initiative.  Dr. Felbab-Brown has spent years analyzing the Taliban’s shadowy networks, battlefield adaptations and criminal survival strategies. Together, we lift the veil on: •The internal power dynamics of the Taliban leadership. •Hidden factional rifts, rivalries and generational divides. •The regime’s growing narco economy and its regional enablers. •The ISKP threat and Taliban counterterrorism posturing. •The implications of Russia’s recognition and other creeping legitimization efforts. •The U.S. policy dilemma: contain, engage or ignore? Tune in for a rare 360-degree diagnosis of Taliban rule—from a scholar who has studied their metamorphosis up close, from insurgency to statecraft, from jihad to geopolitics. 🎧 Available now on Apple, Spotify and all major platforms.

Episode 7. Mapping the Shadow Caliphate: Dr. Amira Jadoon on ISKP, the Taliban and the South Asian Militant Maze

In this episode of Talibanology, host Tamim Asey is joined by Professor Dr. Amira Jadoon, Associate Professor at Clemson University and one of the foremost authorities on terrorism and insurgency dynamics in South and Central Asia. Drawing from her groundbreaking book The Islamic State in Afghanistan and Pakistan: Strategic Alliances and Rivalries (2023), Dr. Jadoon guides us through the complex and shifting landscape of jihadist militancy across the region. We delve into the rise of the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), its evolving strategy, and its fierce rivalry with the Taliban, as well as the broader militant ecosystem shaping South Asia’s security future. From battlefield tactics to propaganda wars and from local alliances to international spillover attacks this episode maps the contours of an increasingly dangerous militant maze. Key Topics Covered: •ISKP’s current operational strength and territorial presence in Afghanistan and beyond •The Taliban’s intelligence and counterterrorism campaign — how effective is the GDI? •ISKP’s ideological and organisational links with Islamic State Central •The propaganda and narrative war between ISKP and the Taliban •The role of regional actors, including Pakistan, Iran, and Central Asian states, in shaping or responding to the ISKP-Taliban rivalry •ISKP’s transnational operations, including attacks in Russia, Iran, and potential future theatres Tune in for a timely, deeply analytical conversation that connects field research, strategic insight and regional complexity—only on Talibanology.

Episode 6. Abandoning the Frontlines: Annie Pforzheimer on U.S. Diplomacy, Taliban Rule and the Struggle for Afghan Futures

In this powerful episode of Talibanology, host Tamim Asey is joined by Ambassador Annie Pforzheimer — former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Afghanistan and South Asia, and former Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. Drawing on her three decades in U.S. diplomacy, Annie offers a candid and insightful critique of America’s engagement with the Taliban—from flawed assumptions to policy missteps—and explores what’s next for U.S. strategy in the region. The conversation dives deep into: •The long-term viability of the Taliban Emirate •U.S. policy options: isolation, engagement, or recognition? •The fate of Afghan women, girls, and civil society •Counterterrorism priorities and regional dynamics •Lessons from the U.S. withdrawal and legacy of international involvement This is a must-listen episode for anyone seeking clarity on where Afghanistan stands today—and where it may be headed tomorrow.

Episode 5. The Shadow Rulers: Inside the Lives and Legends of the Taliban Emirs

In this episode - Tamim Asey is joined by the world-renowned Taliban expert and Afghanistan historian Professor Michael Semple for a deep dive into the lives, leadership and legacy of the Taliban’s three Emirs: Mullah Omar, Mullah Akhtar Mansoor and Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada. Together, they explore how the Taliban craft myths around their leaders, the role of secrecy and decentralised governance and whether there’s any space for reform within the movement. The discussion also covers the worldviews of various Taliban Emirs, the prospects of a succession crisis, economic control and the group’s enduring oppression of women. A must-listen for anyone interested in the hidden world behind the Taliban’s rise, rule and resilience. Topics Covered: •Myth-making and charismatic authority of the Taliban emirs •Secrecy, decentralisation and internal power dynamics •The question of Taliban reform and moderation •Taliban foreign relations with Iran, China, Russia, and the West •Succession risks and internal fractures •How women’s rights are framed within Taliban ideology Tune in for an eye-opening conversation that goes beyond headlines to unpack the forces shaping Afghanistan today.