Live Online Policy Forum 

# The Taliban Today 

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Date and Time 

August 16, 2022 12 - 1:30 PM EDT 

Location 

Live Online 

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##### Featuring 

![andrew-watkins.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2022-08/andrew-watkins.jpg?itok=IuI1-tac) 

Andrew Watkins 

Senior Expert, U.S. Institute of Peace

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](https://twitter.com/and_huh_what) 

![Hassan-Abbas](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2022-08/Hassan-Abbas.jpg?itok=VgCd6CdO) 

Hassan Abbas, Ph.D. 

Professor of International Studies, National Defense University

[ 

](https://twitter.com/Watandost) 

[![Mustafa Akyol Cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2024-11/akyol-cropped-new.jpg?itok=VLgHg13I)](/people/mustafa-akyol) 

[Mustafa Akyol](/people/mustafa-akyol)

Senior Fellow, Cato Institute

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](https://x.com/AkyolinEnglish) [ 

](mailto:makyol@cato.org) 

[![Media Name: khan-cropped.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/authors/crops/khan-cropped.jpg?itok=ZEbN5p0Y)](/people/sahar-khan) 

[Sahar Khan](/people/sahar-khan)

Former Research Fellow, Cato Institute

[ 

](https://www.twitter.com/khansahar1) 

The Taliban has held power in Afghanistan for one year. While the United States and its allies maintain sanctions on the group, Afghans are living through a humanitarian and economic disaster. The Taliban has made several promises, such as offering amnesty to soldiers who were members of the Afghan National Security Forces, working toward an “Afghan Islamic–inclusive government,” engaging other stakeholders in a “transition council,” and allowing girls to attend schools. However, the group also “grossly violated” its commitment not to give shelter to al Qaeda, according to the Biden administration, by allowing Ayman al-Zawahiri to stay in a safe house in Kabul. What does the Taliban’s evolution (if any) mean for U.S. policy? Does the United States have tools available to push the group in the direction policymakers want it to go? What U.S. interests remain in Afghanistan? To discuss these questions, please join our distinguished panel of experts.

![promo-taliban2.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/promo_block_book_cover_1x/public/2022-08/promo-taliban2.jpg?itok=C1ySKYiM) 

##### Related Article 

### [The Taliban Are Back. Now What?](https://www.cato.org/commentary/taliban-are-back-now-what)

Will the international community recognize the Taliban? The answer is not so simple.

[Read the Article](https://www.cato.org/commentary/taliban-are-back-now-what) 

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