Could a full-scale war return to Afghanistan?

The Taliban is gaining strength across Afghanistan, quickly taking territory as foreign troops leave after 20 years of war.

Afghan forces are struggling to hold back Taliban fighters surrounding cities in the south and west.

In the capital Kabul, gunmen detonated a car bomb and fired shots near the defence minister’s home on Tuesday.

The armed group is warning of more attacks on government leaders.

Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani has blamed the “sudden” US troop withdrawal for the escalating violence.

Could this mean a return of full-scale war? And have peace talks held in Qatar between the Afghan government and the Taliban become pointless?

Presenter: Nick Clark

Guests:

Victoria Fontan – Professor of peace studies, American University of Afghanistan

Colin Clarke – Director of policy and research, The Soufan Group

Fahim Sadat – Head of the International Relations Department at Kardan University