S1E1: 'Enter at your own risk' – Singapore journalists recall post-9/11 assignment in Afghanistan: 9/11 Special 20 years on (Pt 1)

Synopsis: 2021 marks 20 years since the 9/11 attacks in the United States. Mr Melvinderpal Singh and Ms Seto Nu-Wen were journalists with The New Paper in 2001, when the 9/11 attacks happened in the United States. The Straits Times' Jonathan Roberts speaks with Melvin and Seto, as they recall their assignments to Afghanistan with photographer Mohd Ishak soon after the attacks. Afghanistan was then sheltering the terrorist leader behind the attacks, Osama Bin Laden. Highlights (click/tap above): 0:45 Melvin and Seto recall 9/11 attacks as they unfolded, and the newsroom's reaction in Singapore 2:30 Just before the 9/11 attacks, how they and The New Paper had been reporting on emerging terrorist groups in South-east Asia and possible links to Afghanistan 4:58 How Melvin went to report in Afghanistan a week before the US invasion on Oct 7, 2001 - termed Operation Enduring Freedom 11:03 First impressions of Afghanistan, and dealing with danger  17:21 Challenges Seto faced as a female journalist in Afghanistan 20:22 People whose lives and stories remain etched in Melvin's and Seto's memories 30:55 How the 9/11 attacks affected their own world views 34:10 The legacy of Pashtun pride and how they view Afghanistan now Listen to Pt 2: Terror threat seeds planted in South-east Asia before 9/11 attacks in US - https://str.sg/wKMz Pt 3: 9/11's impact on Singapore, local Muslim identity, harmony beyond 2021 - https://str.sg/wKMK Pt 4: 20 years on, JI detainees speak on their roles in plot to attack Singapore - https://str.sg/wKMr Produced by: Jonathan Roberts, Shawn Lee Miller & Ernest Luis Edited by: Jonathan Roberts & Hadyu Rahim Follow ST Podcasts channel: Channel: https://str.sg/wukV Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukK Spotify: https://str.sg/wukH Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukr SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected]  --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m SG Extra: https://str.sg/wukR #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.