What happened to the Taliban?

In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks the Taliban were never out of the news when Britain and the US deployed their armies to destroy al Qaeda and the Taliban, the terrorist group who controlled Afghanistan at the time. But the Taliban were never destroyed; they still control parts of the country and they still carry out attacks against the Afghan government.It’s a custom around Eid for the Afghan government and the Taliban to exchange prisoners as a gesture of goodwill. Normally around 10 prisoners from each side, but this summer President Ghani of Afghanistan made the unprecedented decision to release nearly 900 Taliban prisoners. So, what does that mean for Afghanistan? We speak to BBC journalists Auliya Atrafi and Claire Press who went inside the Taliban wing of Pul-e-Charki, Afghanistan’s largest prison to find out what’s driving these fighters. As peace talks between the US and the Taliban have yet again broken down, we look at why negotiating with terrorists remains part of the plan. Presenter: Matthew Price Producer: Lucy Hancock and Alicia Burrell Mixed by Nicolas Raufast Editor: John Shields

Om Podcasten

Beyond Today is the daily podcast from Radio 4 that asks one big question about one big story in the news - and beyond. Tina Daheley, Matthew Price, and a team of curious producers search for answers that change the way we see the world. They speak to the BBC’s unrivalled global network of reporters, plus occasional special guests, to tell stories about identity, technology, and power - where it lies and how that is changing.