Reeling and dealing: how to engage the Taliban

<p>In some ways America has more leverage now that its forces have left; we ask how diplomatic and aid efforts <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2021/08/30/the-wests-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-is-complete?utm_campaign=the-intelligence&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">should proceed</a> in order to protect ordinary Afghans. A global pandemic has distracted from a troubling panzootic: a virus is <a href="https://www.economist.com/china/2021/08/28/african-swine-fever-is-spreading-rapidly-in-china-again?utm_campaign=the-intelligence&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">still ravaging</a> China’s pig farms, and officials’ fixes are not sustainable. And the <a href="https://www.economist.com/books-and-arts/2021/08/28/the-first-full-retrospective-of-judy-chicagos-career?utm_campaign=the-intelligence&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">first retrospective</a> for activist artist Judy Chicago.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></p> &#10;&nbsp;<br /><hr><p style='color: grey; font - size: 0.75em; '>See <a style='color: grey; ' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>