On this episode of Going Underground, we first speak to Mohammad Umer Daudzai, President Ashraf Ghani’s special envoy for Pakistani affairs. He discusses the Taliban’s rapid takeover of districts and key cities across Afghanistan, the lack of any real hope in Taliban-Afghan government peace talks, the extent of Pakistan’s role in the Taliban’s rapid military advances, the Afghan government’s recruitment of former warlords associated with gross human rights abuses, the move from NATO consensus on Afghanistan to regional consensus involving China, India, Russia, Iran and Pakistan, and much more. Next, we speak to Senator Sherry Rehman, the parliamentary leader of the Pakistan’s People’s Party. She discusses the structural challenges Pakistan faces as Independence Day celebrations sweep the country, reports of a PPP-PTI alliance in the next elections, allegations of Pakistan backing the Taliban, the failure of US neoconservative nation-building ventures and why it is not just Pakistan’s responsibility to help resolve the crisis, the possible role of China in helping stabilise Afghanistan, and much more!
Finally, Going Underground social media producer Farhaan Ahmed speaks to former UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn on the persecution of Julian Assange and US attempts to extradite him for 175 years in a supermax prison. Jeremy Corbyn discusses what he would say to Boris Johnson regarding the case, what kind of pressure needs to be applied for Assange to be freed, the wider war on whistleblowers and press freedom, and much more! If you are affected by any of the issues in this video including suicide and mental health, contact Samaritans.
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