Kabul Express

Suhel Khan and Jai Kapoor arrive in post-Taliban Afghanistan to document the country’s condition after the 2001 invasion. They begin their journey across the region, accompanied by Khyber, a local taxi driver who has endured decades of conflict. The team is joined along the way by Jessica Beckham, an American photojournalist who will later join their expedition.

They travel through war-ravaged towns across Afghanistan, observing widespread destruction from years of conflict. During these journeys, they encounter Jessica Beckham, an American Reuters photographer, who joins the group to help cover the aftermath of the war.

Leaving the village of Ishtar, they are halted at gunpoint by Imran Khan Afridi, who has disguised himself as a woman and hidden in the back of their vehicle. He forces them to drive him toward the Pakistan border, threatening violence if they refuse. The group realizes they are now hostages in a dangerous, unpredictable pursuit.

Imran’s true identity is revealed: Wassim Chaudhry, a Pakistani army officer who infiltrated Afghanistan during the Soviet–Afghan War and later aligned with the Taliban. The revelation heightens tension as the journalists question his motives and past actions. The peril deepens as the group continues under his control.

The journalists attempt to escape, but Imran regains control of the vehicle, maintaining his hold over the group. Fear and suspicion mount as their plan to break free becomes increasingly risky.

American soldiers appear and stop the group, creating a tense standoff. In the standoff, Suhel persuades Imran to grant them an interview, forcing him to confront his past on a public platform.

They arrive at Imran’s former village, where he briefly reunites with his wife and daughter, revealing a personal dimension to his hardened exterior. The emotional moment contrasts with the ongoing violence surrounding them.

Soon after, Mujahideen fighters ambush the group. Imran urges the others to escape while he stays behind to fight, demonstrating his willingness to sacrifice himself for their escape.

Imran makes a final dash toward the Pakistan border, moving ahead alone while the others confront the threat behind. He pleads with Pakistani soldiers to let him in, but they refuse to grant him entry.

Imran is shot and killed while attempting to cross into Pakistan, marking the end of his dangerous mission. The group is left to process the personal and political costs of their voyage through a war-torn landscape.