The Taliban seem to have spirited themselves into the ether faster than anyone could have anticipated. It was a tall order to expect the alliance to halt its advance at the edge of the city (which initially they did), while reporters sauntered in unchallenged. When you have a vacuum, something has to fill it.

Gervase has outlined some possible outcomes, good and bad - it's fingers-crossed time. But my own main concern is food aid, and the prospects of that getting through now look better than I would have dared hope a week or two ago.

Guest, you're confused. The guest I was talking about was American.

Thanks to all those subsequent guests who have chipped in with the views of RAWA etc - all highly pertinent stuff.