NPC Virtual Headliners Event: Foreign Correspondents to Discuss Impact of U.S. Afghanistan Withdrawal

Veteran war correspondents Tom Bowman of National Public Radio,  Kathy Gannon of the Associated Press, Atia Abawi, International Affairs Analyst with NBC News, and Saad Mohseni of MOBY Group will join National Press Club President Lisa Matthews of AP to discuss the collapse of Afghanistan and the Taliban takeover of the country following the U.S. military withdrawal at a virtual, National Press Club Headliners event at 11 am September 3.

The four journalists will share insights from their years of reporting from Afghanistan and will address developments following President Joe Biden's Aug. 14 statement outlining the deployment of 5,000 troops to help with the evacuation of Afghanistan.  Mounting criticism of the policy has since centered on the Taliban takeover of the Afghan government, reports of a coming humanitarian catastrophe, the inability  of the US military to evacuate Americans before the Aug. 31 deadline, Taliban violence against Afghans, a ban on employment and education of women, forced marriages to Taliban fighters, restrictions on Afghan news organizations, and international security fallout. 

The National Press Club and the NPC Journalism Institute continue to closely monitor conditions for journalists in Afghanistan and have called on the Biden Administration to expedite safe passage for at-risk Afghans who supported the US government and news organizations, also urging the Taliban to honor its promises to allow journalists to freely and safely do their jobs. 

The one-hour program will stream live on the Club’s website and YouTube Channel and is accessible to both the media and members of the general public free-of-charge. Viewers are invited to submit their questions in advance or during the live program via email to [email protected].  Please put Afghanistan in the subject line.