A Norwegian journalist has become the first Westerner to film behind Taliban lines in Afghanistan, in a report to be shown on tonight's Dateline at 8.30pm on SBS ONE.
Paul Refsdal managed to secure access to a group led by high-ranking commander Dawran, who he watches ambushing US troops on the Khyber Pass and celebrating with his squad over the death of a US soldier.
“We are fighting for the freedom of our land”, Dawran says. “Allah the all-powerful will destroy them, as he did many other great powers.”
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Paul has been covering wars since 1984, and is an expert on insurgency movements. He used contacts made in Afghanistan 25 years ago to gain such unique access to the Taliban.
“I wanted… to see for myself who these people are”, Paul says. “Are the Taliban really such fanatics as they are portrayed in the media?”
Human side
Away from the frontline, he also captures a human side of the Taliban, as insurgents relax, pray, eat together, and look after the children of Taliban commander, Dawran.
But Paul ultimately comes under threat and has to leave, as US forces strike back killing one of the squad and two of Dawran's children.
And when he tries to return, he's kidnapped by one of the Taliban group which took him in and held hostage for six days.
Paul will be talking about risking his life to film with the Taliban in a live online chat after his report is shown on tonight's Dateline at 8.30pm on SBS ONE. Find out more on the Dateline website.
