This week Xan and Koshin give a brief overview of an conflict that has been overshadowed in the news; the war between Afghanistan and Pakistan. 

On February 28th, hours before the US and Israeli strikes on Iran began, Pakistan declared open war on the Taliban led Afghan government. This is a conflict with roots that can be traced back to the so called "great game", the imperial competition between the Russian and British empires in asia and the border that emerged to seperate spheres of influence that no longer exist. 

We give an overview of the history of this border, the evolution of the countries that emerged on either side of it in the 20th century, and the non-state actors at the centre of this current phase of the conflict.