The article provides a retrospective analysis ofthe successive events that took place in Afghanistan since the exit ofthe Soviet troops from the country in the nineties and the first takeover by the Taliban. The author explains why and how Pashtoon Sunni fundamentalist militia, trained and supported by the Pakistani intelligence and military leadership, survived the US-led invasion and twenty years of occupation by the ISAF, eventually forcing the Americans to negotiate with them and agree to leave by August 30th 2021. The inefficient and corrupt regime installed by the western powers in Kabul was never able to hold sway over the nation and the Afghan National Army lacked the training, discipline and motivation to resist the wellplanned onslaught ofthe Taliban. The resulting situation is confusing and does not augur well for the future ofthe wider region exposed to consequences ofthe armed militancy that has overrun Afghanistan once again.
