Beyond the Frontline

Kabul Institute

Go beyond the headlines with Beyond the Frontline, the podcast that uncovers the untold stories, hard truths, and human experiences shaping today’s conflicts. Each episode dives deep into the realities on the ground, featuring exclusive interviews, firsthand accounts, and expert analysis. From the people living these crises to the forces driving global events, we bring you the insights and context you won’t find in traditional media. Subscribe for full episodes, transcripts, and bonus content, and see the world beyond the frontlines. kabulinstitute.substack.com

Episodes

  1. From ISIS to White Supremacy: The Threat Next Door

    28/12/2025

    From ISIS to White Supremacy: The Threat Next Door

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit kabulinstitute.substack.com In this episode of Beyond the Frontlines, Dr. Zahir Mirza traces the evolution of extremism in the United States. From the attacks of September 11, 2001, to the Oklahoma City bombing, to Charleston, El Paso, and January 6, we explore how domestic white supremacist violence has consistently surpassed Islamist-inspired attacks in frequency, lethality, and…

    1 min

  2. 29/11/2025

    SPECIAL EPISODE: One Crime, Thousands Punished: How Politics Betrays Afghan Refugees

    A single act of violence should never define an entire population. Yet, in the latest episode of Beyond the Frontlines, we examine how one man’s desperate attack on two US National Guardsmen has been used to justify freezing the lives of tens of thousands of Afghan refugees, people who stood with the United States, trusted its promises, and risked everything for its mission. Join Dr. Zahir Mirza as he unpacks the politics, the moral failure, and the human cost of collective punishment. This episode dives deep into the history of U.S. intervention in Afghanistan, the chaos of the withdrawal, and the ethical crisis that continues to unfold today. Through real stories, unflinching analysis, and a focus on the voices of those most affected, we confront what leadership should mean and what it has failed to deliver. Listen now to understand why this is not just about refugees. It’s about accountability, responsibility, and the moral character of a nation. Afghan lives are not statistics, and their betrayal cannot be ignored. Connect with us: * X/Twitter: https://x.com/kabulinstitute * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kabulinstitute * Substack: https://substack.com/@kabulinstitute This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kabulinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

    19 min

  3. 08/11/2025

    Pashtunwali: The Code of Honor Shaping Afghanistan

    In this episode of Beyond the Frontline, Dr. Zahir Mirza takes listeners deep into the world of Pashtunwali—the centuries-old code of conduct that governs honor, justice, and social life among the Pashtuns. Far from a relic of the past, Pashtunwali continues to shape Afghan society, politics, and power dynamics in ways the media rarely captures. We explore: * The core principles of Pashtunwali and their historical roots. * How it has been misrepresented, politicized, and abused by politicians, warlords, and even international actors. * Its influence on post-2001 Afghan politics, governance, and local dispute resolution. * Contemporary relevance: How Afghan communities navigate survival, justice, and honor under this code in 2025. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of Afghanistan beyond the headlines, seeing the country through the lens of its own cultural and social rules—a perspective often overlooked but essential to understanding its past, present, and future. * X/Twitter: https://x.com/kabulinstitute * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kabulinstitute * Substack: https://substack.com/@kabulinstitute This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kabulinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

    9 min

  4. 10/10/2025

    Part 2: US Taxpayer Money Goes to Taliban?

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit kabulinstitute.substack.com Forty million dollars a week. Headlines say it goes to the Taliban. But the truth is far more complicated. In this episode, we trace the flow of U.S. aid through banks, UN agencies, and NGOs, and explore how the Taliban inevitably benefits indirectly while millions of Afghans struggle to survive. From frozen markets to starving families, from hospitals o…

    1 min

  5. 23/09/2025

    Is the U.S. Funding the Taliban?

    Forty million dollars a week. Headlines say it goes to the Taliban. But the truth is far more complicated. In this episode, we trace the flow of U.S. aid through banks, UN agencies, and NGOs, and explore how the Taliban inevitably benefits indirectly while millions of Afghans struggle to survive. From frozen markets to starving families, from hospitals on the brink to teachers and healthcare workers keeping society alive, this episode unpacks the human, political, and moral paradox behind one of the most controversial numbers in recent U.S. foreign policy. "Money is never just money; it is survival, legitimacy, leverage, and sometimes controversy, all at once." Tune in to hear the untold story of Afghanistan that everyone is talking about but few truly understand. Connect with us: * X/Twitter: https://x.com/kabulinstitute * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kabulinstitute * Substack: https://substack.com/@kabulinstitute This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kabulinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

    21 min
  6. Girls’ Education Under Taliban Rule: What You’re Missing

    16/09/2025

    Girls’ Education Under Taliban Rule: What You’re Missing

    We often hear the call: ‘Open schools for girls in Afghanistan.’ It sounds moral, noble, and urgent. But what if that very push is exactly what the Taliban want?" In this week’s episode of Beyond the Frontline, we dig deep into how Taliban-controlled education is not just about classrooms; it’s a political tool. They use it to gain legitimacy, reward symbolic concessions, and indoctrinate an entire generation of children. Every international call for access under Taliban rules risks giving them exactly what they need: recognition and control. Through human stories, statistics, and analysis, we reveal why pushing for education under these conditions does not protect Afghan children—it endangers their future. From empty classrooms to secret lessons in basements, Afghan women and men are resisting in ways the world rarely sees. Listen now to understand why real education cannot exist under oppression—and why the fight for freedom and knowledge goes far beyond headlines and photo ops. If you want to support our work, sign up to get the real story of Afghanistan and the world. Non-filtered. Connect with us: * X/Twitter: https://x.com/kabulinstitute * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kabulinstitute * Substack: https://substack.com/@kabulinstitute This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kabulinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

    17 min
  7. The Business of Betrayal

    09/09/2025

    The Business of Betrayal

    Every dollar that entered Afghanistan in the name of rebuilding also bought something else: a little more silence, a little more corruption, and a little more betrayal. For two decades, Afghanistan wasn’t just a war. It was a business. Billions flowed into the country, not to build a nation, but to feed an industry of contractors, consultants, politicians, and middlemen. And while the world believed the fiction of progress, Afghans lived the reality of collapse in slow motion. In this episode of Beyond the Frontline, you will hear how Afghan leaders sold the nation’s future piece by piece, how ghost soldiers and hollow ministries became the norm, and how the international community turned a blind eye while billions vanished into luxury and offshore accounts. You’ll hear stories of ordinary Afghans caught in the middle: teachers, soldiers, and families who believed in the promise of a republic and paid the price for its betrayal. This is the story of the business of betrayal, the collapse that was decades in the making, the corruption that was systematic, and the truths that no one else dared to tell. Connect with us: * X/Twitter: https://x.com/kabulinstitute * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kabulinstitute * Substack: https://substack.com/@kabulinstitute This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kabulinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

    21 min
  8. Afghanistan: The Fall of a Nation

    02/09/2025

    Afghanistan: The Fall of a Nation

    Every nation has a story. For Afghans, the tragedy is that ours has almost always been told by someone else, soldiers, diplomats, journalists, politicians, foreigners, aid workers. Everyone but us. In this premiere episode of Beyond the Frontline, we take you behind the headlines to reclaim the Afghan story. From the fall of Kabul on August 15, 2021, to the collapse of social order that followed, we explore the human experiences, the betrayals, and the truths often buried beneath foreign narratives and domestic corruption. This isn’t about pity or charity. It’s about understanding the reality of war, the consequences of power, and the resilience of ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances. You’ll hear firsthand insights from someone who lived the Afghan experience as a soldier, an analyst, and a witness to history. What you’ll get in this episode: * An unfiltered look at Afghanistan’s collapse in 2021 * Reflections on corruption, foreign interference, and the human cost of war * The voices and stories that never made it to headlines or policy discussions Why listen?Because Afghanistan is not unique, the forces that destroyed it exist elsewhere. This podcast connects the Afghan story to global struggles in governance, migration, and conflict. It’s about truth, memory, and connection. Bonus Content for Subscribers:Episodes 1–3 are free for all listeners. Episodes 4+ are exclusive to paid subscribers and include: * Full episodes * Transcripts * Behind-the-scenes insights Subscribe to join this conversation and see the world Beyond the Frontline. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kabulinstitute.substack.com/subscribe

    16 min
  • 8 Episodes

About

Go beyond the headlines with Beyond the Frontline, the podcast that uncovers the untold stories, hard truths, and human experiences shaping today’s conflicts. Each episode dives deep into the realities on the ground, featuring exclusive interviews, firsthand accounts, and expert analysis. From the people living these crises to the forces driving global events, we bring you the insights and context you won’t find in traditional media. Subscribe for full episodes, transcripts, and bonus content, and see the world beyond the frontlines. kabulinstitute.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Kabul Institute
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Kabul Institute
  • Show Website
    Beyond the Frontline