Born out of the ashes of the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1990s, the Taliban emerged as a force promising stability. But their rule was marked by severe restrictions and human rights abuses, particularly against women and girls.

Despite their overthrow in 2001 in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks on New York City and Washington D.C, the Taliban made a shocking comeback two decades later, seizing control of Afghanistan once again.

The world watched in disbelief. Nations scrambled to evacuate their citizens, and aid organisations warned of a looming humanitarian crisis.

Was it that unexpected though? Some analysts and experts highlighted intelligence failures that underestimated the Taliban's capabilities and overestimated the resilience of Afghan government forces. These failures certainly contributed to the surprise experienced by Western nations.

The Taliban takeover also raised questions about the effectiveness and success of the Western military intervention and nation-building efforts in Afghanistan over the past two decades. It led to critical reflections on the long-term impact of Western involvement in the country. The international community's response has been fraught with hesitation due to the group's notorious record of human rights abuses. Perhaps this has stymied a more dominant political or combatant reaction to the takeover of a country by a terrorist organisation.

No country has formally recognised the Taliban's rule and yet the terror group acts as the de facto government of Afghanistan. The future for Afghanistan remains uncertain. Will the Taliban uphold their promise of a more inclusive government? Or will history repeat its grim past?

You can join me for a simple explanation of this complex issue and join the conversation by contributing your thoughts.

This episode was researched, written and voiced by Hannah Young