August 16, 2021
Kabul battle in hearts and minds phase
A former New Zealand soldier who has worked in south Asia says all eyes will now be on whether the Taliban can run the country without stoking up the civil war.
The Taliban has returned to the capital Kabul 20 years after they were forced out by a United States-led international force in response to the 9-11 attack on New York's World Trade Centre by Al Qaeda, which had training camps in the country.
New Zealand troops were part of that force.
Chris Kumeroa, who now works in security and risk analysis, was posted for two years to Pakistan, where he had indirect dealings with the Taliban, Al Qaeda and ISIS.
As well as Western nations, Afghanistan's immediate neighbours Iran, Pakistan, India and China have backed various warring parties, adding to the instability.
He says the future is now clearly up to the Taliban.
"There is a sort of hearts and minds campaign. They're not going to cause undue unrest in the country where it starts to create the simmering of a civil war," Mr Kumeroa says.
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