In August 2021, I joined Erin Burnett live on CNN to report from Kabul in the immediate aftermath of the deadly suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport. The situation on the ground was chaotic and deeply distressing. Amid gunfire and confusion, I spoke with Afghans desperately seeking safety and trying to understand what had just happened.

During the broadcast, I shared what I had been witnessing firsthand: the scale of the devastation, the lack of clear communication, and the growing fear among civilians. I also raised the alarm about ISIS-K activity — something I had previously questioned Taliban officials about.