Held By The Taliban
The first of a five-part series from David Rohde, the New York Times reporter who spent over seven months as a hostage of the Taliban. It’s a compelling read, and that David is able to re-tell it after an undoubtedly harrowing experience makes it more so. What makes this unique amongst hostage stories though is the ‘media blackout’ maintained throughout his time in captivity, apparently designed to reduce any potential ransom amounts.
THE car’s engine roared as the gunman punched the accelerator and we crossed into the open Afghan desert. I was seated in the back between two Afghan colleagues who were accompanying me on a reporting trip when armed men surrounded our car and took us hostage.
