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In The Wake Of The US Consulate Attack in Pakistan, We Go Live With Kathy Gannon From Islamabad

So much violence, anger and sadness in this region and so much history that is barely known or understood. Was grateful to Jeff Newton and his brilliant Substack @Writer’sCabin for the opportunity to discuss and understand.

The Writer’s Cabin: Live with Kathy Gannon

During an extraordinary exchange with the amazing acclaimed journalist Jeff Newton on his Substack site The Writer’s Cabin. For me it was inspiring to engage with so many with so much interest to know more, understand more and want to unpack the complexities of issues, events and wars. Jeff Newton and his substack site exemplifies the real value these platforms can bring to much needed discussions. I am relatively new to substack but look forward to the greater engagement it offers.…WATCH NOW

Dangerous Escalation | Pakistan–Afghanistan Conflict | Zahid Hussain with Kathy Gannon

Important and substantive dialogue with Pakistan’s acclaimed journalist @Zahid Hussain about the deeply complex and increasingly dangerous conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan worsening tensions in an already volatile region.… WATCH ON YOUTUBE.

Afghanistan after nearly three years away

For me Afghanistan is the people, the friends I have known for decades, and others I meet on the street, who smile, ask if they can help, put their hand to their heart to greet you.

Returning to Kabul after nearly three years was like coming home. Immediately the essence of Afghanistan emerged. At passport control, a smile, a hand to the heart and Salam-o-Alakum. The same from the bearded gentleman behind the counter that collects information from foreigners entering the country.…READ ON SUBSTACK

On Being Canadian: From Timmins to Afghanistan, More than Not Being American

On the frontlines of conflict, where I have spent much of my career, regardless of the war I was covering or with which side I was speaking, being Canadian has been an advantage. Our nationality carries little baggage. Having never been a superpower, we’ve had less power to abuse. We’re generally seen by the belligerents who make war zones war zones as non-threatening.

I recall one meeting with Nasser al-Bahri, Osama Bin Laden’s bodyguard. I had tracked him down to learn more about bin Laden’s last and youngest wife, who was from Yemen.…READ MORE

Presence of militant groups on Afghan soil poses significant challenge to regional security, says veteran journalist

Veteran journalist and news director of the Associated Press for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Kathy Gannon on Friday said that the presence of various militant groups on Afghan soil posed a significant challenge to regional security.

Speaking at an event titled “Geopolitical Shifts and Security Challenges: Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Regional Power Play” organised by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) in Islamabad, Gannon — who in 2014 was attacked and wounded while reporting from Afghanistan — said, “While Afghanistan might not want all the militant groups on its territory nor did Kabul invite them all, but they were still there.”…READ MORE