If you can believe it, today is the 2nd anniversary of the Taliban’s retaking of Kabul, and the country is in a bad way… Drought conditions and dwindling water supplies mean 15.3 million people are facing acute food insecurity in the land of nearly 42 million people. The Taliban’s treatment of women and girls also continues to be a significant concern. And if you thought the big world leaders would never agree on anything, the situation in Afghanistan is the exception to the rule… Global powers, including Russia and China, are in lockstep with the US et al in their refusal to recognise the Taliban as the legitimate government. As for getting to the bottom of how the Taliban was able to walk back into power, a US State Department report released last month said decisions taken by President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump to withdraw US troops means the democratically elected government was doomed.