What an Attack on a Kabul Maternity Ward Says About the War in Afghanistan

As the U.S. accelerates troop withdrawals from Afghanistan, we examine a fatal attack on a maternity ward. VICE News correspondent Hind Hassan and producer Adam Desiderio travel to Kabul to tell the story of a midwife who was present during the attack,  and what it says about the current state of conflict in America’s longest war. 

MORE: 

• An attack on a maternity hospital in Kabul could blow up the peace process in Afghanistan.
• President Biden announced that U.S. troops will be pulling out of Afghanistan. But the Taliban is as strong as ever. 
• A bombing at a school in Kabul killed at least 60 people, most of them teenage girls. 
• A media outlet in Afghanistan stopped hiring women after four female employees were murdered. 
• Fawzia Koofi is one of a handful of women taking part in peace talks with the Taliban, even after they tried to kill her.  
  

CREDITS: 

This episode was produced by Julia Nutter. 

It was produced and reported by Ana Sebescen with Hind Hassan and Adam Desiderio. Special thanks to producers Khwaga Ghani and Aleem Agha.

VICE News Reports is produced by Jesse Alejandro Cottrell, Jen Kinney, Janice Llamoca and Julia Nutter. Our senior producers are Ashley Cleek and Adizah Eghan. Our associate producers are Sam Eagan, Sophie Kazis, and Adreanna Rodriguez. Sound design and music composition by Steve Bone and Kyle Murdock. 

 Our executive producer and VP of VICE Audio is Kate Osborn. Janet Lee is senior production manager for VICE Audio. Production coordination by Steph Brown. Fact checking by Nicole Pasulka.