Sumaira Khan

war correspondent, Indus News

Compiled from 1 recorded interview. Every statement below is drawn from the passage cited beside it.

Sumaira Khan is a Pakistani war correspondent and news controller who joined Indus News in around April 2018. She has worked in journalism since 2004 and has said she has covered Afghanistan for about 14 years. She has also said she was the first female journalist to visit the tribal area as an embedded journalist with ISPR.

Early life and background

Khan has said that both of her parents are Pashtun and that her family is from the northern area of Pakistan. She has described herself as a native of Rawalpindi. [1]

Education

Khan has said she attended a school in F-6 for high school. She completed a B.Com degree and, according to her, decided afterwards to continue her studies in mass communication. [1]

Khyber News and the tribal areas

Khan has said she has worked in journalism since 2004. She has said she was the first female journalist to visit the tribal area as an embedded journalist with ISPR. She joined Khyber News as a freelancer, and has described it as the first regional channel in Pakistan in Pashto. [1]

She worked at Khyber News for about three years, from 2004, and covered the Lal Masjid operation while there. She has said she covered US drone strikes in the tribal areas, and that meeting the families of drone strike victims was devastating for her. She has also said she has always loved field reporting and cannot do studio work. [1]

Pakistan Television

Khan has said she moved to PTV after state television asked her to join, right after the Lal Masjid operation. She asked PTV to let her work as a reporter as well as an anchor. She worked there for only six or seven months and has said she left because she was not comfortable there. [1]

She has said she received a call from PTV saying Benazir Bhutto was at her residence, and that she met Bhutto about four days before Bhutto's assassination. The interview lasted about 15 minutes. Khan has said Bhutto told her not to leave her profession. She covered the 2008 general elections after the assassination. [1]

Express News and Express Tribune

Khan joined Express News as a correspondent. She has said she chose not to take an anchor role there. [1]

She has said the Marriott blast happened in September 2008 and that she was the first to reach the site, as she was at a reception hosted by the then speaker of the National Assembly. She gave the first live coverage from the site for Express News, and she has said the management appreciated her coverage. She also interviewed a German charge d'affaires who was wounded in the blast. Khan has said her rule is never to approach wounded or traumatized people for interviews, but to speak with them if they ask. [1]

Khan was with Express Urdu for a year and worked with Express 24/7 for three years. She has said Express 24/7 shut down suddenly and that she does not know why. Her director and CEO then decided to transfer her to Express Tribune, where she worked for four years. [1]

At Express Tribune she covered the national desk, including the Prime Minister, the presidency, diplomacy and defence. She has said about 700 stories she wrote are in the Express Tribune archive under her name. [1]

Indus News

After Express Tribune, Khan joined Khyber News again. She has said Khyber News offered her a controller role with good pay. She has also said she looked for a softer job with good pay so that she could spend more time with her mother. [1]

Khan joined Indus News in around April 2018. As a controller she managed the transmission of the 2018 general elections. She has said English media has always been her main professional love. [1]

Coverage of Afghanistan and conflict reporting

Khan has said she has covered Afghanistan for about 14 years. She was at the Torkham border when Taliban fighters approached the zero point area, and her cameraman Shahid did the camera work for her there. She stayed in Jalalabad to report before going on to Kabul, which she reached after the Taliban had taken it. She landed in Kabul on 15 August. [1]

She has said she was in contact with Taliban figures and with office holders of the Ashraf Ghani government. She has also said she survived several attacks in Kabul because she was Pakistani. [1]

Khan has said she survived bullets while covering an operation in Swat. She calls herself a war correspondent and has said she has wanted to be a conflict journalist for a long time. She has said she is trying to find a way to go to Jerusalem to cover the West Bank. Her YouTube channel reviews military hardware, including jet fighters, tanks and missiles. [1]

Views

Khan has said Bagram was handed over to the Taliban, not to the Ashraf Ghani government, and that the Americans negotiated only with the Taliban. She has described ISIS-K as a ruthless group and the TTP as a terrorist organisation. [1]

On Pakistan, she has said the country needs to calm down one of its borders, and that the eastern border is already on fire. She has described Afghanistan as the bottleneck behind many of the region's problems. She has said she expects good changes in Pakistan over the next 20 to 30 years. [1]

Personal life

Khan has said she once decided not to get married. She later got married while she was at Express News. She has two children, who she has said travel with her wherever she goes. [1]

Timeline

2004
Began working in journalism and started at Khyber News.[1]
2008
Covered the general elections and gave the first live coverage of the Marriott blast for Express News.[1]
2015
Her mother died.[1]
2018
Joined Indus News and managed the general election transmission as a controller.[1]

Appearances

DateTitleWhere
2022-01-14 Reporting from inside the warzone with Sumaira Khan Thought Behind Things

Frequently asked questions

Who is Sumaira Khan?

Sumaira Khan is a Pakistani war correspondent and news controller. She joined Indus News in around April 2018 and has worked in journalism since 2004. She has said she has covered Afghanistan for about 14 years.[1]

What does Sumaira Khan do?

Sumaira Khan is a war correspondent. As a controller at Indus News she managed the transmission of the 2018 general elections. Her YouTube channel reviews military hardware, including jet fighters, tanks and missiles.[1]

Where is Sumaira Khan from?

Sumaira Khan has described herself as a native of Rawalpindi. She has said her family is from the northern area of Pakistan and that both of her parents are Pashtun.[1]

Where did Sumaira Khan study?

Sumaira Khan has said she attended a school in F-6 for high school. She completed a B.Com degree and has said she then decided to continue her studies in mass communication.[1]

Which news channels has Sumaira Khan worked for?

Sumaira Khan has worked for Khyber News, PTV, Express News, Express Urdu, Express 24/7, Express Tribune and Indus News. She returned to Khyber News after Express Tribune before joining Indus News in around April 2018.[1]

Did Sumaira Khan cover the Marriott blast?

Sumaira Khan has said the Marriott blast happened in September 2008 and that she was the first to reach the site. She gave the first live coverage from the site for Express News, and she has said the management appreciated her coverage.[1]

References

  1. Reporting from inside the warzone with Sumaira Khan . Thought Behind Things , 2022-01-14.
Show the source passages (80 statements)
  1. Sumaira Khan has said both of her parents are Pashtun. I'm Pashtun from both sides, mother and father, both the parent, like both my parents are Pashtuns.
  2. Sumaira Khan has said she is a native of Rawalpindi. Yes, in Islamabad and Pindi. I I was I like I'm born Pindiwal. I'm a Pindi boy.
  3. Sumaira Khan has said her family is from the northern area of Pakistan. But uh basically we were from the northern area of Pakistan, Thakot.
  4. Sumaira Khan has said her father made sure she joined the media industry. He made sure that I joined media industry because there was one common uh feeling
  5. Sumaira Khan has said her father went against the odds of the biradari system and family. Uh he went all the way like against all the odds of biradari system and family.
  6. Sumaira Khan has said her mother raised six children and did most of the work at home. It was my mother who was doing everything. And raising six children
  7. Sumaira Khan has said she grew up with four brothers. So I grew up with four brothers.
  8. Sumaira Khan has said her father was a businessman. Parents uh my my father was a business personality.
  9. Sumaira Khan has said she attended a school in F-6 for high school. High school was um my most favorite F6 wala IMCG.
  10. Sumaira Khan has said she completed a B.Com degree. So, after that B.Com, um I decided to further complete or further my studies in the field of masscom
  11. Sumaira Khan has said that after her B.Com she decided to continue her studies in mass communication. So, after that B.Com, um I decided to further complete or further my studies in the field of masscom
  12. Sumaira Khan has said she has worked in journalism since 2004. So, if we calculate since 2004, this June, I completed 18 successful years of my journalism.
  13. Sumaira Khan has said she was the first female journalist to visit the tribal area as an embedded journalist with ISPR. So, I was that one female, first female journalist who visited that area as embedded journalist uh with ISPR.
  14. Sumaira Khan has said she joined Khyber News as a freelancer. So, uh as a freelance, as a then uh I was I I became part of uh Khyber News team
  15. Sumaira Khan has said Khyber News was the first regional channel in Pakistan in Pashto. Yeah, it was first regional channel in Pakistan in Pashto.
  16. Sumaira Khan has said she worked at Khyber News for about three years, from 2004. Uh there I worked for very good three years probably, starting 2004, 5, 6 and uh seven.
  17. Sumaira Khan has said she covered the Lal Masjid operation while working at Khyber News. Yes, half year of seven. Like Lal Masjid operation, till Lal Masjid operation.
  18. Sumaira Khan has said she has always loved field reporting and cannot do studio work. I've always loved being in the field. Right. I can never do this studio stuff.
  19. Sumaira Khan has said she covered US drone strikes in the tribal areas. I was covering drone strikes from US into our tribal area
  20. Sumaira Khan has said meeting families of drone strike victims was devastating for her. Whenever I used to meet family of any drone strike victim, it was devastating for me.
  21. Sumaira Khan has said she once decided not to get married. And there was a point that I decided not to get married.
  22. Sumaira Khan has said she is still processing that time in her career. I think I had no time to I I as I said, I'm still processing that time.
  23. Sumaira Khan has said she moved to PTV after state television asked her to join, right after the Lal Masjid operation. Then I switched because state television requested me to join them right after I covered Lal Masjid operation
  24. Sumaira Khan has said she asked PTV to work as a reporter as well as an anchor. Anchor person and uh I requested them that I want to perform as reporter as well.
  25. Sumaira Khan has said she worked at PTV for only six or seven months. There I could hardly work for like six to seven months
  26. Sumaira Khan has said she received a call from PTV saying Benazir Bhutto was at her residence. I received a call from Pakistan Television that Bibi Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is there uh at her FA8 residence.
  27. Sumaira Khan has said she met Benazir Bhutto about four days before Bhutto's assassination. just four days ago, I think uh prior to her assassination, uh I met her.
  28. Sumaira Khan has said the interview with Benazir Bhutto lasted about 15 minutes. it was an interview that lasted for 15 minutes probably.
  29. Sumaira Khan has said Benazir Bhutto told her not to leave her profession. Do not leave your profession ever and I like you and she gave me a candy.
  30. Sumaira Khan has said she covered the 2008 general elections after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. But then I covered elections after her assassination, general elections of 2008 were like around the corner.
  31. Sumaira Khan has said she left PTV because she was not comfortable there. So I did that and then I wanted to leave that place because I was not comfortable.
  32. Sumaira Khan has said she joined Express News as a correspondent. So I started working as correspondent.
  33. Sumaira Khan has said she chose not to take an anchor role at Express News. I on purpose did not accept anchor ship at Express.
  34. Sumaira Khan has said she got married while she was at Express News. Then I got married that time and life was just going on then
  35. Sumaira Khan has said the Marriott blast happened in September 2008. 2008, yeah. Eight. Yeah, September probably.
  36. Sumaira Khan has said she was the first to reach the Marriott blast site, as she was at a reception hosted by the then speaker of the National Assembly. I even then I was the one who first reached there on site because coincidentally we were at a reception given by speaker of like then speaker of National Assembly Dr. Fehmida Mirza.
  37. Sumaira Khan has said she gave the first live coverage from the Marriott blast site for Express News. So that was first live coverage from Marriott blast site and it was done by Express News
  38. Sumaira Khan has said Express News management appreciated her Marriott coverage. that was first time as well that I received an appreciation from the management for doing everything.
  39. Sumaira Khan has said she interviewed a German charge d'affaires who was wounded in the Marriott blast. German charge d'affaires was there. He got really he was severely wounded and I interviewed him.
  40. Sumaira Khan has said her rule is never to approach wounded or traumatized people for interviews, but to speak with them if they ask. my first principle is always if I'm covering a blast site or any other site, I would never go and interview the wounded or the person who's in trauma.
  41. Sumaira Khan has said she was with Express Urdu for a year. I was with Express Urdu for a year.
  42. Sumaira Khan has said she worked with Express 24/7 for three years. So worked with Express 24/7 for three years.
  43. Sumaira Khan has said Express 24/7 shut down suddenly and she does not know why. Express 24/7 got shut all of a sudden. I still don't know what's the reason.
  44. Sumaira Khan has said her director and CEO decided to transfer her to Express Tribune. my director news Fahad Hussain and CEO Sultan Lakhani, they decided to transfer me to Express Tribune.
  45. Sumaira Khan has said she worked with Express Tribune for four years. I worked with Express Tribune for four years.
  46. Sumaira Khan has said she covered the national desk at Express Tribune, including the Prime Minister, the presidency, diplomacy and defence. national desk means Prime Minister, President, the diplomatic core, defense, health, education
  47. Sumaira Khan has said about 700 stories she wrote are in the Express Tribune archive under her name. around 700 stories are there in my archive.
  48. Sumaira Khan has said she next joined Khyber News again after Express Tribune. Uh it was Khyber News once again.
  49. Sumaira Khan has said her mother developed cirrhosis after hepatitis C. My mother's uh health it was deteriorating. She had developed cirrhosis after like uh she first developed hepatitis C
  50. Sumaira Khan has said doctors at a hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, told her that her mother had three months left. at one of the very best hospitals at Atlanta, Georgia, and they said your mother has she's left with three months.
  51. Sumaira Khan has said her mother was in America for treatment when she was diagnosed. But when she realized it and when she started treating it, she was in America that time.
  52. Sumaira Khan has said she brought her mother back to Pakistan. And I brought her back.
  53. Sumaira Khan has said her mother died in 2015. because my mother passed away in 2015 and uh Zeeshan passed away in 2017.
  54. Sumaira Khan has said she has two children. I have two kids by the way
  55. Sumaira Khan has said Khyber News offered her a controller role with good pay. with good salary, they offered me a controllership at a channel
  56. Sumaira Khan has said she looked for a softer job with good pay so she could spend more time with her mother. And uh I started searching for a comparatively a softer job jahan main thoda sa kam kam karoon, achhe paise mil jayein aur main zyada waqt ammi ko de sakoon.
  57. Sumaira Khan has said she joined Indus News in around April 2018. It was uh April 2018 probably.
  58. Sumaira Khan has said she managed the 2018 general election transmission as a controller. as a controller, I managed uh transmission of elections 2018, general elections
  59. Sumaira Khan has said English media has always been her main professional love. English media, both in newspaper and broad broadcast, you can say that it was always my love affair.
  60. Sumaira Khan has said she has covered Afghanistan for about 14 years. I since cover Afghanistan for last 14 years.
  61. Sumaira Khan has said she landed in Kabul on 15 August. when I landed in Kabul, it was 15th August.
  62. Sumaira Khan has said she was at Torkham border when Taliban fighters approached the zero point area. when the Taliban foot soldiers and one of their commanders they approached our zero point area
  63. Sumaira Khan has said she stayed in Jalalabad to report before going on to Kabul. I stayed at Jalalabad to report
  64. Sumaira Khan has said she reached Kabul after the Taliban had taken it. Um when Kabul was taken already, we reached Kabul
  65. Sumaira Khan has said her cameraman Shahid did the camera work for her at Torkham border. Shahid was there with me at Torkham border. Toh he would do all the camera work for me
  66. Sumaira Khan has said she was in contact with Taliban figures and with office holders of the Ashraf Ghani government. I was in touch with Taliban as well, I was in touch with Ashraf Ghani regime's office bearers as well.
  67. Sumaira Khan has said Bagram was handed over to the Taliban, not to the Ashraf Ghani government. I made that comment once that it was handed over to Taliban, not the Ashraf Ghani regime.
  68. Sumaira Khan has said the Americans negotiated only with the Taliban. They only negotiated with Taliban, IEA.
  69. Sumaira Khan has said her children travel with her wherever she goes. yeah, they travel everywhere with me.
  70. Sumaira Khan has said ISIS-K is a ruthless group. And ISIS-K is a factor that is very ruthless.
  71. Sumaira Khan has said Pakistan needs to calm down one of its borders, and that the eastern border is already on fire. Pakistan needs to calm down one of its borders because you know that eastern border is already on fire.
  72. Sumaira Khan has said the TTP is a terrorist organisation. In fact, it's a terrorist organization, loud and clear.
  73. Sumaira Khan has said she survived bullets while covering an operation in Swat. I survived bullets in while covering Operation Rah-e-Rast in Swat in tribal area.
  74. Sumaira Khan has said she survived several attacks in Kabul because she was Pakistani. Recently, I survived many attacks in Kabul because I was a Pakistani, a Pakistani female
  75. Sumaira Khan has said she is trying to find a way to go to Jerusalem to cover the West Bank. I am trying to figure out how I can go to Jerusalem to cover that West Bank chaos between Israel and Palestine
  76. Sumaira Khan has said she is a war correspondent. I wake up to another excitement for my profession being a war correspondent.
  77. Sumaira Khan has said her YouTube channel reviews military hardware, including jet fighters, tanks and missiles. I review jet fighters, I review tanks and missiles and air defense systems and guns.
  78. Sumaira Khan has said she has wanted to be a conflict journalist for a long time. choosing that being a conflict journalist or war zone journalist, I think it was always in me.
  79. Sumaira Khan has said Afghanistan is the bottleneck behind many of the region's problems. Afghanistan is that one bottleneck which is like hub of all these problems.
  80. Sumaira Khan has said she expects good changes in Pakistan over the next 20 to 30 years. From 20 years or 30 years now on, I think there will be good changes