The Taliban has retaken Afghanistan; marking a turnaround of two decades of American occupation.

The militant group seized the presidential palace hours after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. He reportedly went to Tajikistan saying he wanted to avoid bloodshed.

In a span of weeks the Taliban has overrun provincial capitals as Afghan security forces fled or surrendered their positions.

The US, which struck a deal with the Taliban last year, aided the fall of the Ghani administration as it commenced with a rapid withdrawal of its occupation soldiers. There is speculation that America had negotiated a transfer of power with the militants in Qatar.

Guest: Junaid Ahmed – Professor of Religion and World Politics, National Defence University