Dan Snow's History Hit The Rise, Fall and Rise of the Taliban
27 snips
Jan 5, 2026 
Lyse Doucet, a veteran BBC Chief International Correspondent and author, delves into the decades-long trajectory of the Taliban's rise. She reveals how Afghanistan's history has unfolded through the lens of the Intercontinental Hotel, a cultural landmark impacted by shifting power dynamics. Doucet shares gripping accounts from the Soviet invasion, 9/11, and the turbulent periods that followed. She discusses the resurgence of the Taliban and the sobering current reality in Afghanistan, highlighting the critical role of journalism amid human suffering.
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Cold War Alliances Had Long-Term Costs
- The Cold War framed Afghanistan as binary choice territory, so the US backed Islamist fighters to defeat the Soviets.
- That pragmatic alliance empowered transnational militants who later destabilized the country.
Hotel Survives Warlord Siege
- After Soviet withdrawal Kabul fragmented into warlord turf wars and the Intercontinental became a frontline with collapsed rooms.
- The hotel's staff kept it running amid sieges, illustrating daily resilience amid urban destruction.
Taliban Gained Power Through Moral Order Narrative
- The Taliban's appeal combined moral crusade rhetoric with promise of order amid chaos, winning districts without major fights.
- Their rural conservatism clashed with urban liberalism, accelerating cultural rollback once in power.
