Podcasts · The Intelligence from The Economist
Afghanistan, five years on: our correspondent visits
· 26 min
Episode Afghanistan, five years on: our correspondent visits
Five years after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Taliban show little sign of moderation. Our correspondent reports from the country on what life is like for ordinary people. A giant earthquake reveals two very different Colombias. And celebrating the life of Gurkha climber, Nirmal Purja, who died in an avalanche.
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Guests and host:
• Tom Sasse, South Asia bureau chief • Claire McQue, Latin America writer • Ann Wroe, obituaries editor • Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”
Topics covered:
• Afghanistan, Taliban, sanctions • Colombia, earthquake, Espriella • Nirmal Purja, mountaineer, Everest, avalanche
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Links in the notes 6
- https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/08/13/the-taliban-are-vile-democracies-must-still-engage-with-them?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners
- https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2026/08/12/a-big-earthquake-reveals-two-very-different-colombias?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners
- https://www.economist.com/obituary/2026/08/13/nirmal-purja-performed-momentous-feats-in-the-death-zone?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners
- https://www.economist.com/interactive/insider/previews?utm_campaign=a.brand_fy2627_q1_awareness-imp-tr_prospecting_global-global_direct_na&utm_medium=audio.podcast.pd&utm_source=economist&utm_content=discovery.awareness.anonymous.tr_nativeread_np-tiinsider-apr_na-na_web_na_na_na_na&utm_term=sa.arc-isi
- https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus
- https://acast.com/privacy
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