Episode 1. Inside the Taliban’s Black Box: Power, Paranoia and the Road Ahead

In the debut episode of Talibanology, host Tamim Asey sits down with Dr. Hassan Abbas—renowned scholar of the Taliban and South Asian security—for a gripping conversation on the internal dynamics of the Taliban regime. We unpack rival power centres within the Emirate, governance challenges, economic sustainability, and the group’s regional strategy and ties to terrorist networks.We also explore provocative questions: What would happen if the Taliban Emir were assassinated? How does the normalization of former jihadists like Ahmad Sharaa impact Taliban thinking? Is internal revolt brewing, and can the Afghan diaspora play a meaningful role in shaping a political future?A must-listen for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the opaque world of Taliban rule.