Aussie journalist takes surprise interview with Taliban live on-air

While reporting live on-air, an Afghan-born BBC anchor received a call from a Taliban spokesman following the extremist group’s takeover of Afghanistan.

Yalda Hakim, who arrived in Australia as a baby when her family fled Afghanistan on horseback in the mid-1980s, was conducting an interview when Suhail Shaheen called her mobile phone.

She took the surprise call in her stride, transferring Shaheen to a loudspeaker and asking the spokesman questions.

“OK, we have got the Taliban’s spokesman Shail Shaheen on the line. Mr Shaheen, can you hear me?” the Australian reporter said.

After confirming he could hear her, Mr Shaheen spoke at length about how the Taliban were promising “peace” in Afghanistan.

“There should not be any confusion, we are sure the people of Afghanistan in the city of Kabul, that their properties and their lives are safe. There will be no revenge on anyone. We are the servants of the people and of this country,” he said. 

“Our leadership has instructed our forces to remain at the gate of Kabul, not to enter the city. We are awaiting a peaceful transfer of power,” Mr Shaheen added.

The moment @BBCYaldaHakim received a call live on @BBCWorld from Taliban spokesperson and put him on speaker so we could hear. He was speaking from their office in #Doha that he set up fifteen years ago planning and preparing for this day. #SaveAfghanistan pic.twitter.com/J3EsNSEKea — Mina Zaki (@minazzaki) August 15, 2021

When asked whether public executions and amputation punishments would be used, he did not confirm or deny it.

“I can’t say right now, that’s up to the judges in the courts and the laws. The judges will be appointed according to the law of the future government,” he said, also confirming that the country would again adopt Islamic Sharia law.

“Of course, we want Islamic government,” Mr Shaheen said.

He also said the Taliban would respect womens’ rights and allow women to access education.

Ms Hakim’s colleagues praised her both for maintaining her composure upon receiving the call and for her probing interview.

“Have never witnessed anything quite like what happened in the studio this morning, pointing our guest mic at @BBCYaldaHakim own mobile phone as a Taliban spokesman rang it in the middle of her juggling another live interview,” a BBC TV floor manager shared on Twitter.

“Timing was everything, there was no rearranging this.”

Image: Scott Bryan / Twitter

Broadcaster Aasmah Mir said: “That BBC Taliban interview is just mind-blowing. All 32 minutes of it. Yalda Hakim is an absolute boss.”

Fellow BBC correspondent Megha Mohan described the interview as a “historic moment”.

“I hope young reporters are inspired by her years of work & dedication to the job, displayed for us all to see,” she added.

Image: BBC