Ross Kemp Return to Afghanistan Season 1 Episode 1 1
- February 1, 2009
- 44 min
Ross Kemp Return to Afghanistan is an intense and captivating documentary series that follows renowned journalist Ross Kemp as he returns to Afghanistan, a country that he had previously reported on numerous times. This series displays Kemp's courage and dedication to uncovering the truth about the current political, social, and economic state of the war-torn country.
In the first episode, titled "1," Kemp lands in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, to begin his investigation. The episode begins with a brief history of Afghanistan, highlighting how the country has been invaded and occupied multiple times over the past few decades. Kemp notes that the consequences of these invasions, along with prolonged conflict, are visible throughout the country. The infrastructure is in ruins, and the people are in a constant state of fear.
As soon as Kemp arrives in Kabul, he begins meeting with locals, anti-Taliban forces, journalists, and officials of the Afghan government. In these meetings, he analyses the ground situation, attempting to separate truth from propaganda. In one conversation with an Afghan journalist, Kemp discovers that despite claims of having a democratic setup, many of the country's leaders are corrupt and unaccountable. This corruption is also the primary reason for the abject poverty and social strife faced by the people.
Kemp ventures out into the streets of Kabul on a local bus, where he speaks with other Afghans, including a young woman who runs a private school for girls and trains them in self-defense. She describes how educating young girls is essential for Afghanistan's future to be bright and promising.
The episode also features a candid interview with Vice President Amrullah Saleh, who explains how the Taliban are using social media to recruit and spread propaganda. Vice President Saleh believes that the Taliban's return to power could be catastrophic and may derail all progress that has been made over the last two decades.
Kemp also meets with anti-Taliban fighters in a region close to the Afghan border. He witnesses the incredible bravery and resilience of these fighters who stand up against the Taliban despite death threats, attacks, and intimidation. He notes how they have become adept at fighting what they call a fifth-generation war, where social media plays a key role.
In one of the most intense segments of the episode, Ross Kemp and his cameraman accompany one of these fighters to the front line. It portrays the brutal and bloody reality of life in a country caught up in an unending conflict. Kemp explains, in a voiceover, how the Taliban uses tribal connections and natural geographical defenses to turn every village into a fortress, making it challenging for anti-Taliban forces to advance.
Overall, the first episode of Ross Kemp Return to Afghanistan is a raw and eye-opening account of the ground realities in Afghanistan. Kemp's journalistic skills and his sensitivity towards the plight of the Afghan people make it an incredible insight into the country and the challenges that it faces. This episode sets the tone for the entire series, where Kemp's fearless reporting promises to provide a hard-hitting look into one of the most volatile regions in the world.