Five years after the fall of Kabul, Shoshana Stewart recalls what she saw.

What happened in this episode?

Shoshana Stewart recounts what she says she witnessed in Kabul as the Taliban took control of the Afghan capital in mid-August 2021. She describes a rapid collapse of government control after provincial capitals fell in quick succession, and says her team had planned for a protracted fight for Kabul that never materialised. Stewart recalls receiving word that Taliban forces had entered the city through the gates and says they reached the presidential palace by late morning, characterising the takeover as completed without shots being fired.

She also describes the immediate impact on healthcare operations. Stewart says Taliban members went to clinics and hospitals the next day, telling staff the war was over and instructing them to return to work and serve Afghans. She recounts internal debate among staff about whether to hide or report for duty, and says the organisation decided reopening promptly would reduce suspicion and make it easier to continue operating. Stewart says male doctors returned first, followed days later by female clinicians, and argues that reopening early helped the Taliban view the organisation as providing services to the community—something she believes contributed to their ability to operate later on.

The episode is largely a personal narrative rather than a policy discussion, focused on the speed of the takeover and the decisions frontline health workers faced in its aftermath.

What are the key points?

• Stewart says Kabul fell faster than her team expected, after provincial capitals collapsed in quick succession.
• She recalls getting a text saying the Taliban had entered Kabul through the city gates.
• She says Taliban forces reached the presidential palace by late morning and took control without shots being fired.
• Stewart says Taliban members visited clinics and hospitals the next day instructing staff to return to work.
• She describes staff weighing whether to hide or reopen, fearing suspicion if they stayed closed.
• She says male staff returned first, followed days later by female doctors and nurses.
• Stewart argues reopening immediately helped her organisation continue operating under the new authorities.

Which topics are covered?

How is this page sourced?

Programme

The Rest Is Politics

Published

22 August 2026

Duration

1m

Original episode

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