‘Once again, the west turns away’: a new book recounts the fall and rise of the Taliban

Taliban fighters stand guard at a checkpoint in Kabul in 2021. Photograph: Mohd Rasfan/AFP/Getty Images

Jon Lee Anderson is “not done with Afghanistan”, despite having reported on it for more than 40 years, through invasions, occupations, the rise and fall of the Taliban and two great power retreats.

“I always want to go back,” said the New Yorker staff writer. “It gets into your skin. Afghanistan is an incredible place, an incredible society. It’s always like time travel to me, and I knew people there that are larger than life. They stay with you … I may return shortly.”