What were the odds history would repeat itself. Almost to the date.

The return of the Taliban — 20 years after 9/11 — has spelt chaos & fear for Afghans, deep anxiety for the world, and a big question: should the Taliban government be isolated. Or engaged with?

With the UN general assembly underway, in an exclusive interview, MULLAH ABDUL SALAM ZAEEF — one of the original founders of the Taliban — takes on questions about women, Islam, revenge, the war within the Taliban, terror groups, dangerous foot soldiers, Pakistan. And the fundamental question: what’s changed?

“This is only stage one. This is not a permanent government,” says Mullah Zaeef. So is there a way to make the Taliban more “soft & responsible” — as he puts it?