Flying into Kabul

Flying into Kabul

Flying into Kabul always has its moments. Not least because you never know who you'll be sitting next to. Everyday planeloads of aid workers, tattooed security men, Afghan politicians, military personnel and journalists drop out of the sky into the beleaguered city.

I say drop, because that's what happens. The former US pilot I was sitting next to told me all, as we rapidly descended from 30,000 feet, the great brown sweep of mountains below rapidly approaching.

He said pilots take no risks flying into airports like Kabul. A quick descent is the best way to avoid a potential anti-aircraft strike - an unlikely event even here - but worth making yourself a hard target nonetheless.

Apparently the plane gently dropped to 27,000 feet and from there the nose went down and we did a controlled plunge toward Kabul. I'm not entirely sure my flying experience was enhanced by the running commentary but all knowledge is good I guess!

And so to a city on edge.

Saturday's brazen suicide attack which killed eight at Nato's headquarters, has ramped up the tension. If the Taliban can strike in one of the most heavily fortified parts of the capital, anything presumably can happen at any time.

The election is on everyone's minds. Posters of all the candidates are wrapped round lampposts, pasted across walls, half ripped off hoardings.

Karzai, Abdullah, Ghani and the rest of them look down at you from every possible vantage point wherever you go in this simmering, compelling dangerous city.

We've been talking about this for a long time but now we're almost there. Campaigning is done and we're on the final approach to election day. The world prays for a smooth landing.