AFGHANS

     Ill fated Afghan Nation is in serious war for more than three decades. Before Bin Laden came in to the scene; Afghanistan was under Russian Invasion and Afghan Mujahideen were fighting against Russia’s Red Army. Afghan Mujahideen were supported by U.S. Government, U.S. Intelligence, Western Countries, Middle Eastern Countries and not forget China (Chinese guerilla war tactics were repeated in Afghanistan that were used in Vietnam war, were all in play. Afghanistan was always target of Superpowers due to its geopolitical situation and other reasons. Though much has been written about Afghanistan. The short summary is like this (may be a different one):

     Afghanistan is a semi-feudal state, most of its economy dependent on agriculture and some trade. As historically and geopolitical it is situated in between the gateway of famous “Silk Route”. Trade was mostly done by Hindus, residing in Afghanistan. Recently it was spread to the mainstream as well. Ex-King Zaher ruled Afghanistan for over 50 years. Afghanistan was in peace and developing gradually but very slowly. Through most of those years Afghanistan was very calm. People were seemed very content and satisfied with their lifestyle.  Most common slang was “Half of the bread and back corner of the room” I translated the words. All was disturbed by King’s Cousin brother, Dawood by support of Russia, who came into power through a white coup. After two years of him in power, Dawood turned around to U.S. and Western world. Russians did not like that and overthrew him through his own political party. Again in power was an immature newly emerged political party with a lot of wrong doing and cruelty (with Russians behind the scene). That aroused the anger of the extremely religious minded majority population of Afghanistan. The same anger is still in place today, and the situation got from bad to worse and worse and continues on till this day.

Who are Afghans?

     Arachosia, Aria and Bactria were the ancient satraps of the Achaemenid Empire that made up most of what is now Afghanistan during 500 B.C. The inhabitants of Arachosia were known as Pactyans, possibly today's Pakhtuns or Pashtuns.

     The city of Bactria (which later became Balkh), is believed to have been the home of Zarathustra, who founded the Zoroastrian religion. The Avesta refers to eastern Bactria as being the home of the Zoroastrian faith, but this can be a reference to either a region in modern Afghanistan or Border line of Afghan-Pakistan.

     Prehistoric Era: Louis Dupree, the University of Pennsylvania, the Smithsonian Institution and others suggest that humans were living in Afghanistan at least 50,000 years ago, and that farming communities of the region were among the earliest in the world.
Most of the Zoroastrian, Greek, Hellenistic, Buddhist, Hindu and other indigenous cultures were replaced by the coming of Islam and little influence remains in Afghanistan today. Along ancient trade routes, however, stone monuments of the once flourishing Buddhist culture did exist as reminders of the past. The two massive sandstone Buddhas of Bamyan, thirty-five and fifty-three meters high overlooked the ancient route through Bamyan to Balkh and dated from the third and fifth centuries. They survived until 2001, when they were destroyed by the Taliban.

     It had taken Alexander only six months to conquer Persia (Iran), but it took him nearly three years (from about 330 BC–327 BC) to subdue Afghanistan. Moving eastward from Persia, the Macedonian leader encountered fierce resistance from the local tribes of Aria (satrapy), Drangiana (now part of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Eastern Iran), Arachosia (South and Central Afghanistan) and Bactria (North and Central Afghanistan).

     Along with Pashtuns many other ethnic tribes live in Afghanistan including Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkmen also some Hindus and Sikhs were living before Taliban. All the above mentioned tribes along with Hindus and Sikhs were living side by side.

     There is a territory in northeast of Afghanistan called Nuristan.  The Nuristani are an Indo-Iranian people, representing a fourth independent branch of the Aryan peoples (Indo-Aryan, Iranian, Nuristani, and Dardic), who live in isolated regions of northeastern Afghanistan as well as across the border in the district of Chitral in Pakistan. They speak a variety of Nuristani languages. Better known historically as the Kafirs of what was once known as Kafiristan (land of pagans), they converted to Islam during the rule of Amir Abdur Rahman and their country was renamed "Nuristan", meaning "Land of Light" (as in the light of Islam). A small unconquered portion of  Kafiristan inhabited by the Kalash tribe who still practice their pre-Islamic religion still exists across the border in highlands of Chitral, northwestern Pakistan. Many Nuristanis believe that they are the descendants of Alexander the Great's ancient Greeks, but there is a lack of genetic evidence for this and they are more than likely an isolated pocket of early Aryan invaders. Physically, the Nuristani are of the Mediterranean sub-stock with about one third recessive blondism. They are largely Sunni Muslims. The population in the 1990s is estimated at 125,000 by some; the Nuristani prefer a figure of 300,000.

     In Khost (east of Afghanistan), there is a minor group of Hindus who speak only Pashto language and they recite their Hindu Holy book in pashto language.
I know a man, Hindu by religion born in Ghazni of Afghanistan, had relatives in Kandahar and spent some time of his teen age in Kandahar. Graduated from Medical College of Jalalabad (Eastern Afghanistan) as a physician; Medical Doctor. Working and servicing wounded general public of Kandahar for almost three decades now. Now got old with long gray beard and never get married. No blood relations or relatives there nor any Hindu living there, he is all in all by himself. The nobel prize goes to individuals working in Peshawar.

   Gandahara (recent Kandahar) once a big prosperous, fertile and beautiful region of Muarya Empire of India is now a dangerous place on earth. As said by a female Canadian journalist while visiting Arghandab region of Kandahar that ‘she was stunned with the beauty of its nature”. Kandahar with rivers of Argandab and Hilmand that grew 21 type of different grapes (never made wine) and various other sweet and delicious fruits and Herbs including famous Pomegranate and nuts including Almonds and golden green raisins (different than those red colored raisins used in bread or muffin etc). Some of the produce of Kandahar and generally from all over Afghanistan is used as herbs in alternative and ayurvedic medicines in Indian sub-continent. When the trouble began in Afghanistan and the supply was disturbed, those produce prices were skyrocketed. Golden Green Raisins of Kandahar is a must in a wedding ceremony in most part of Indian sub-continent. There is one type of Jumbo Long Big raisins, in bright brown golden color (called AabJosh or Manaqua) are exclusive produced in Kandahar. Recently some of the produce are grown and produced in Indian sub-continent. Therefore several attempts were made to produce AabJosh in India. AabJosh means: Aab (water), Josh (boiling). Those big long raisins are boiled with a mixture of some kind of ashes and dried in sun raze of the season in Kandahar. Those raisins become even bigger and expanded through boiled water and become softer and sweeter. AbbJosh/Manaqua are used in alternative medicines and also taken directly, which are good mostly for children; wetting bed. Other Black type of raisins is used in place of prune. Some other type of produce of Afghanistan are rare; including Asafetida (Hingra/Heenge - local name), Liquorice roots and Dried Mushrooms (famous side dish in Indian sub-continent).

     Afghans are also famous for their generosity and welcoming, nurturing and respecting guests. In season of Mulberries, all privately owned gardens and forms were opened and prepared for general public to serve Mulberries. In the evenings of spring and in good pleasant weather, people walked in to the gardens that are not so far away from main cities, to eat and enjoy Mulberries. Mulberries are like Cranberry, raspberry but some what bigger, softer and sweeter. Pleasant and enjoyable to eat and you can eat a lot without feeling heaviness. Eat as much as you can, offer in bulk, abundant and the remains are cattle feed or dried in sun raze. Traditionally Mulberries were distributed in immediate communities and neighbors of private form or garden owners as a free commodity like Air and Water and until recently never sold.

DRUGS

     When Mujahideen were using guerrilla type of tactics and techniques against Russians, they took refuge over the Mulberries trees and filled water up to the neck of the trees. Russians bombarded the side to kill Mujahideen but the bombs gone blunt, no causality but the ground under the trees was got big holes on it. Now that decades passed by the ground and land gone barren and destroyed. Remaining land and forms are used to cultivate Poppy-seed for Hashish and other Drugs etc. A large percentage of Hashish, Drugs of all over the world comes from Afghanistan. Every Acre of land cultivated of Poppy-seed comes up with revenue of U.S $ 4, 400.00. If you cultivate Crop (Wheat, Corn and other produce), it comes up U.S $ 460.00. The backbone of Taliban is cultivation of Poppy-seed. Much of their financial needs are financed through this way. Some are supported through foreign countries like: Pakistan, Iran, Saudi (Wahabi), other Middle Eastern Countries and Uzbekistan (former Russian separated country). U.S. and NATO allies were supporters of Mujahideen when they were fighting against Russians. Some of them even visited White House and had meeting with Ronal Reagan former president of the U.S. Mujahideen who were fighting against Russians, now are fighting against NATO and the U.S. Bin Ladin was once an associate with CIA - Intelligence of U.S. as well.

     Afghan Mujahideen who defeated Russian Red Army were left alone on their own.  After the departure of Red Army from Afghanistan, United Soviet Socialist Republic collapsed and the world map changed. Afghan Mujahids were supposed to be heroes (now they are the hatred people through all Non-Muslim population over the world). Afghanistan, after the withdrawal of Russian Army was left alone in hands of weak, immature, brutal and unpopular regime.
Like wise; recall the situation of Iran, Khomani was in exile in France when U.S. Government and CIA stopped supporting Ex-King of Iran; Aryameher. Khomani came in to the scene and its three decades that Iran got from bad to worse. Majority of Iranians are feeling sorry for warm welcome of Khomani at that time when he arrived in Iran. The same situation with Afghanistan. After departure of Red Army and pull out of Russian from Afghanistan again the U.S. and CIA left Afghanistan on its own. These are the issues and topics that are beyond our (general public, common person) guess and/or talk. What they know we don’t. Mostly that type of issues are made public when they are not relevant any more; no difference.

     Afghans are brave in nature, care less, proud and rigid. Some Pashtuns never spoke Persian. Though Persian is more in use than Pashtu. Because the power was in hands of Persian speaking people. Persian language is used in government offices and law offices more often than Pashtu, beside the majority of Afghan population is Pashtun. The same situation is on the other side, Persian speaking people can’t be fluent in Pashtu because of Pashtu is a tough language and it is hard for them to speak fluently. In general Pashtun is care less of other languages and cultures than their own. It is a real story that when Russian Red Army was there in Afghanistan, two of the soldiers were standing by in the street, side by side and Kalashnikov were on their shoulders of each of them. An Afghan catches eyes and suddenly the Afghan comes and hold on to the both of their Kalashnikov along with their arms so hard that they both (Russian soldiers) were struggling to set themselves free of the Afghan’s hands, but failed to do so. After then the third Russian soldier comes in to the scene and kills the Afghan. This type of scenario happened with a Canadian Soldier recently in Kandahar. A group of Canadian soldiers were counseling with a group of Afghans and all of a sudden one of Afghan attacked over one of Canadian soldier, while the other Canadian soldier killed the Afghan. This is a living story. The Canadian soldier wounded seriously and was disabled (when seen on Canadian T.V. Channel about the middle of the year 2010). Canadian Soldier was under therapy. This is the story we saw and heard. There may be many more stories like this. You can research by yourself and will find many sad stories.

     Other real story: Two Pakhtuns start fighting each other. One pulled out a knife toward the other Pakhtun in Kandahar, ready to pierce into his belly (stomach). The other one hold on to the knife’s edge with his bare five fingers and with his bare hand. The first one tried to pull off the knife back from his hand and fingers but failed to take off back, and the struggle is going on, and the blood is flowing unto the floor, till a group of people come in and hold back the wounded man and take off the knife from his fingers and hand free. There was no flesh remained unto his fingers, bare bones were visible.

     Afghanistan; a god gift fertile land with its people living in it, is now a battle field for foreigners. Either this side of U.S. and NATO forces or that side of fighters (what ever) are fighting for years. As we mentioned before, those people like: Gulbandin Hykmatyar, Burhanudin Rabbani , Mulavi Yunus Khalis, Haquani and etc, they all are only by name. Real people are all non-Afghan people in play. Either in the role of key players in center or in towns as the streets Thugs, most of them are non-afghans and out-siders. Thugs who are occupying properties illegally of real Afghanis, mostly Kandaharis (who gone away long ago and abandoned their houses), are every where on the streets. Thuggery is a big profession there, its a flourishing business. Thugs and opportunists from all over the world are there in Afghanistan. Big Money, Drugs and Guns are all there. Look at those names in center Hykmatyar, Rabbani or Haquani and etc are in the game for over three decades. They have developed the skills and have all the information and technology to be a successful as professional Thugs in their field. They have crowned each of them, their sons as princes (WaliAhed). Their Saheb Zada, their sons are being trained and participate in every ceremony and key events along with their long gray bearded fathers and demonstrating that be aware (thee people, thee public), and assuring their subordinate Thugs that they are the successors, after them. Those Thugs and others bought real estates recently in Dubai.

     Take a look over the past decade of terrorist activities and like those kinds of matters here in North America and Western Countries. Afghans or Kandahari are rarely involved in those types of activities. Most of volunteers attracted and lured to those activities are from other places than Afghanistan (mostly displaced, broken families, emotional, youths but mentally immature or related to one or the other factor, which we discussed above). Afghans had started their jihad against Russians long time ago. That portion and section of that population is vanished, exhausted or in jails from local prisons to Guantanamo.

     Afghan Mother; torn in between heaven and three continents: one son/daughter is killed, the other is in Pakistan, other is in some city of U.S., other is in U.K., other is in Canada, other is in Germany, other is in Belgium or one of some other European Countries or in Australia. Afghan Nation; more than one generation is destroyed/vanished totally. Either killed or left their homeland, their houses, their properties and all, behind them more than three decades ago, now got old. Afghans who left Afghanistan for survival of their future generations, now their next generation is unaware of their culture, non-fluent in their mother tongue. Those Afghans who survived there, grown up in war and destruction environment (more that 30 years of war). They know nothing but war, destruction, killings, guns and religion. No schools, no education, all that they saw and observed is war, destruction and dead bodies. They are in worse state of their mind, state of observation of outer world, environment and situation than the Somalia boy who is accused of attempting to detonate a bomb in Portland, Organ. Head line news as of November 27, 2010 (we will discuss about this later).
As once said by a British or who ever that “Politics is a dirty game”. That scenario is all in play now in respect of Afghanistan and Afghan Nation. From NATO to U.S. (U.S. Intelligence), Western Countries to Islamic Countries, all are involved in this game. Islamic world is concerned about that beautiful country and their people of Afghanistan? Nope. All of the Thugs wandering in Afghan streets and towns are of Muslim faith and outsiders. A lot of money flowing there through different channels, and different people are benefiting from that scenario, that dirty game. As we mentioned above not only money from cultivation of poppy-seed is there in play but also foreign money, support to warlords. Money flowing through the aid from U.S., NATO and other countries too. Most of that aid money goes to the hands of those Thugs. U.S. and International Companies working there in Afghanistan either Administrative or Developmental, hire those Thugs for the security of their company’s managers and staff there. Big companies of Thugs are formed there. Guns and other weapons and cell phones to other sophisticated tools, all are in their hands and running big business. Collecting big money from U.S., NATO and International Companies and from every where.
Afghanistan as a strategic region and the Afghan Nation itself has been caught up in the mess of the outcome of the end of the cold war, change of the world order and jihad from outsiders and non-Afghans.

    On the other side Afghan war has turned into a burden on the U.S. and NATO, particularly over the U.S. Economy.
     What do you think that those Hashish and Drugs that are produced from Poppy Seed cultivated in Afghanistan, how is reached here to U.S., North America, Western Countries and all over the world? Those drugs in quantities of tons of tons. Big boats loads of Millions and Millions of Dollars of value, reach here through a big link of International Mafias. Mafias from Pakistan to Russia to Middle Eastern, Eastern European, Western and U.S. all are in play. A big Trade is going on. As we mentioned above “Arm Trade”. This is the new type of 21st Century, Global play game. “The Big Trade” of 21st Century or as you may wish to call it, but the big trade is going on. And those Thugs are not alone doing all those dirty jobs by themselves. It is beyond their capacity and skills levels to ship those huge quantities of drugs to international markets by themselves alone.
The local farmers have no other option but to cultivate poppy seeds. If a former cultivate Crop in his land, he has to transport the crop to the town and market in order to sell. He can’t do that, because in the way to the town and market there are Thugs preventing them to go farther. He has to pay a huge lump sum of money to pass by their territory to reach to the town and the market. Every Thug group has their own territory, nobody can claim, even the government. If by any way the former goes farther and sells his crop. They watch the person and follow him until dark through to his home, and punish him. Cutting off his Nose or Ear like that.

     Cultivation of poppy seed is not new in Afghanistan. It was cultivated even many years ago but not at that extent and at that huge quantity as of today. International Mafia was active in those years too in drug trafficking on that side of the world. That was also in small groups compared to today’s situation. Russia was not in the scene but Nepal and Thailand were involved in at those times. I recall head line news of that time that “some U.S. journalist asked Zia-ul-haq, ex-president of Pakistan to prevent drug trafficking into the U.S. that comes from his country. Zia-ul-haq response was that his Government doesn’t have that much capability to tackle with those tribes and those areas even within Pakistan, and prevent them”. Not speaking of Afghan territories, where poppy seed is cultivated in large amount.