West faces wrenching choice on dealing with Taliban

The then US secretary of state Mike Pompeo meets in November 2020 in Doha, Qatar with Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who is now poised to rule Afghanistan

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid (center) addresses the first press conference in Kabul following the Taliban's stunning takeover of Afghanistan

After two decades trying to destroy the Taliban, Western powers face the wrenching decision of whether to deal with the Islamist insurgents who have taken over Afghanistan.

- Less leverage, but some - Western powers have far less leverage with the Taliban in power rather than on the battlefield.

Originally published as West faces wrenching choice on dealing with Taliban