A scene from the second phase of the late war, the ex-Amir sitting on the ground with one end of a rope around his waist, the other in the hands of a British officer who is preparing to lead him away to exile; to the left, Sir Frederick Roberts standing by the side of a […]
Tag Archives: Kabul
Afghanistan: The Microrayons of Kabul
In the last seven years, a small city of concrete apartment buildings and shops has risen on the outskirts of Kabul, not far from the airport. It is the Soviet district, a miniature Moscow that is the center of a separate and reclusive world occupied by the thousands of Soviet civilians who live and work […]
Afghanistan: Aid
The Russians have gone skilfully about the job. Without waiting for specific Afghan requests for aid, they planked down some offers. The Afghans promptly chose just the flashy and low-cost projects the Russians wanted them to: street paving in dusty Kabul, gleaming petroleum tanks, grain silos, bakeries. Most Afghans were impressed by these tangible achievements. […]
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Also tagged aid, history, Kandahar, propaganda, Russia, U.S.A., U.S.S.R.
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Afghanistan: Malang Kohistani
Malang Kohistani in Kabul Transit (dir. David Edwards, Maliha Zulfacar, Gregory Whitmore, 2006)
Afghanistan: Markets
In Kabul can be had the products of Khurasan, Rum, `Iraq and Chin (China); while it is Hindustan’s own market. Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur, The Babur-Nama (ca. 1530, trans. 1922) Notwithstanding the tightly closed door into Afghanistan, trade with the outside world is increasing, important improvements are projected, and European and American ideas, fashions, and articles […]
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Also tagged banking, economy, hawala, history, market, markets, money
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Afghanistan: Kabul
Kabul town’s a blasted place — Blow the bugle, draw the sword — ‘Strewth I sha’n’t forget ‘is face Wet an’ drippin’ by the ford! Rudyard Kipling, “The Ford o’ Kabul River,” Collected Verse of Rudyard Kipling (1914)