After all, life is not a Hindi movie.

I’ll die if you go. The Jinn will come, and I’ll have one of my fits. You’ll see, I’ll swallow my tongue and die. Don’t leave me, Mariam jo. Please stay. I’ll die if you go.

I think the scale of the conflict [in Afghanistan] has dramatically changed in 2003. You're now facing a much more motivated, well-supported enemy. I don't see any quick end to this thing.

The bewildering success of my books continues to surprise me.

You say their stories, it is gift they give you.

Air grew heavy, damp, almost solid. I was breathing bricks.

What good is regret? It brings back nothing. What we have lost is irretrievable.