World Boston What in the World? Weekly Quiz – August 16-22, 2021

“The war is over,” according to a Taliban spokesman after forces of the “Islamic Emirate” entered the Presidential Palace unopposed in THIS capital after a lightning campaign to complete the takeover of Afghanistan.  (#WACquiz)

The Afghan government collapsed on Sunday when THIS president fled the country. (#WACquiz)

By the weekend Taliban forces controlled all border crossings from Afghanistan. WHICH one of these countries border Afghanistan? (#WACquiz)

The United States and NATO allies launched the attacks that routed the Taliban government WHEN? (#WACquiz)

The return of a Taliban government concerns Western officials who fear THIS group may be reconstituted within Afghanistan’s borders. (#WACquiz)

The Inter-Services Intelligence, or ISI, of THIS  nation is connected to the 1996 rise of the Taliban prior to their takeover of Afghanistan, as a bulwark against its rival, India (#WACquiz)

The Taliban leadership has been courting several countries in an effort to establish international relationships. Among them has been THIS country which is anxious to invest in road networks and energy projects and exploiting Afghanistan’s vast rare-earth mineral deposits, and may be among the first to recognize the Taliban government. (#WACquiz)

The “Freedom Bridge” across the Amu Darya River, connecting Afghanistan to Uzbekistan was again the scene of flight from the war-torn nation that saw famous photos of forces from THIS occupying country withdrawing in 1989. (#WACquiz)

Observers have been comparing the evacuation of Americans from Kabul to iconic images of helicopters on embassy rooftops during THIS hasty escape. (#WACquiz)