Francesc Vendrell in Afghanistan 2000–2008: Talking to the Taliban, the Bonn Accords, and USA-Iran Talks

This article, based on conversations with the former UN and EU representative Francesc Vendrell, describes efforts made by Vendrell to mediate between international community various players in Afghanistan conflict 2000 2008, including Taliban Northern Alliance. It covers breakdown of previous Tashkent Declaration, a meeting Mullah Omar, destruction Bamiyan Buddhas, ‘9/11’, subsequent Bonn Accords new Afghan constitution, which warlords played significant role. also how USA Iran developed back-channel links during period thanks Vendrell’s mediation work, were later broken account President George W. Bush’s ‘Axis Evil’ speech.