My first visit to Afghanistan was in 1994. I was on an assignment for The Observer. I’d always wanted to go. I’d heard so much about the country and its history. At that time there was a ferocious civil war going on. I’d never been in a war zone before. I have to be honest, it can be traumatic, but I found Afghanistan to be a deeply moving place with fascinating people. It’s hard to walk away from the place. I think I’ve been there fourteen times now.
My first visits were prior to the 9/11 attacks so my first experiences of the country were without any international troops. My main area of interest is the Afghan people. I’ve been out to visit with troops before but you don’t get the same access to the country itself.