Afghanistan – The Unlikely, Yet Very Beautiful Tourist Destination

When talking about Afghanistan, very few people think of it as a tourist destination. However, without all the violence and battle situations, Afghanistan is actually a very scenic place with some great destinations to visit. It also has a few World Heritage Sights. If explored properly, Afghanistan can prove to be a very beautiful place.

The Bamyan Province, which is now considered to be one of the poorest provinces in the country, is very rich in culture and heritage. The Buddhas of Bamiyan, the world-renowned twin statues had stood in this very place for centuries, before the Taliban destroyed them in 2001, in an attempt to demolish everything un-Islamic. However, the caves surrounding the statues are still intact and have some very beautiful attractions to offer. Guided tours are available to the tourists who come. Along with the historical caves, one can also explore the various lakes and the breathtaking mountain ranges in the area.

The governor of Bamyan Province, Dr. Habiba Sarabi has been an active campaigner in the promotion of tourism in Afghanistan. She believes that through tourism not only can the world know more about Afghanistan, but the local people can also earn their livelihood. She encourages people to work as tourist guides and to open small guest houses and eateries in their houses so that money can be earned in a safe and amicable atmosphere. If the efforts of the government, along with help from the UN, materialize, the people of Afghanistan will benefit a lot. And along with this, the adventurous tourists from around the world will also have a great new place to explore.

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Elections in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has fought a long battle. Even before the war began in 2001, the people of Afghanistan had to face a huge number of internal battles including the injustices meted out by the Taliban. The democracy was almost dead and the only thing alive in the hearts of people was fear. They feared for their lives at all times. And the worst sufferers of this terror were women. Women literally were banned from all the facilities and were confined to their houses, in a suffocating civil atmosphere. However, things have now changes and with the Taliban exiting from active governance, the people of Afghanistan are breathing a lot easy. Women are fast getting liberated and there are a number of opportunities available for them. The statistics collected from the recently concluded elections were very heartening and they showed how wonderfully women were being welcomed.

In the recently concluded elections, a total of 2500 candidates ran for 249 seats. And among them were 400 women. This is a very positive outcome as women are no longer afraid to come out of their houses and voice their opinions. They are also vying to become leaders and work for the betterment of more women across the country.

The elections were conducted smoothly, with the help of the United Nations. The government and people of Afghanistan drew accolades from the world over for their courage, determination and spirit in carrying out the elections. Barack Obama, the president of the United States of America, too personally congratulated Afghanistan for the successful polls.

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Angelina Jolie in Afghanistan

Hollywood star and United Nations’ goodwill ambassador, Angelina Jolie visited Afghanistan for the second time. Jolie, visibly moved by the plight of the refugees returning to their homeland, made an appeal to the UN and the government of Afghanistan to ensure that the former refugees get to live in good conditions.

On her previous visit to Afghanistan in 2002, Jolie had met a number of people displaced due to the war. Almost 10 years later, when she set foot in the country again, she was happy to be reunited with Zamo Jan, a frail 70-year old lady. But seeing the conditions in which Jan and many of the others were forced to live in, Jolie made an appeal to provide these people with proper shelter. She stressed on the need to not only provide a shelter, but also to have hospitals and schools in the area so that people can settle down with their families and find jobs too.

The Afghani people, specially young children, were very enthusiastic about meeting the superstar and took a lot of interest in speaking with her, albeit through an interpreter. They all voiced their needs and put their thoughts across. Most agreed that education and healthcare are the facilities that are most urgently needed. Jolie urged the government to not ask the refugees to come back, but also to reintegrate their lives. She said this must be the prime focus as without proper reintegration and rehabilitation, the people will find it very difficult to make a fresh start after returning.

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Conflicts targeting young girls in Afghanistan

Even though Afghanistan is recovering from the aftershocks of the horrible war that tore apart the nation, there still are instances of violence that disrupt normal live. Civilians, the innocent people trying to rebuild their lives, are often the worst hit. In the last few months, nearly 2000 people were killed and over 1000 injured in airstrikes and other such violent incidents. Though the numbers of such attacks are dropping, it is still alarming to see that mostly women and children are targeted in these attacks. Young school-going girls are most susceptible to such violent happenings.

While on one hand it is widely agreed that only education and exposure can uplift the lives of women in Afghanistan, the Taliban on the other hand, sadly, still think women do not deserve to be educated. As a result, they have always tried to stop women from studying and growing in life. And now with the violent strikes on young women, this idea is being consolidated.

The United Nations and the officials of the country have been battling the negatives in an attempt to bring education to every child in Afghanistan, irrespective of their gender. This is a very positive initiative, as education is truly the passport to better living conditions for the innocent people of Afghanistan who have long suffered in their own land. A lot of measures have been taken to ensure that women and children are not targeted so frequently. The education of the girl child has also been put on high priority.

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Handing Out Passports While Handling Corruption

For Colonel Abdul Fatah, a regular day in the office doesn’t just mean stamping papers and holding meetings. He also undertakes the responsibility of training people to wipe out corruption from the system. And since he is in charge of one of the busiest passport offices in the country, he has to be extra cautious and put in a lot of effort. And this he does with a passion. He genuinely thinks corruption can be pushed out of the system and so he educates his staff about this on a regular basis.

The task is not always easy for the Colonel as without proper backup systems, he finds it difficult to check the malpractices. For instance, there is no computerized storage of data and everything is done manually. As a result, it becomes very difficult to stop people from having multiple passports. Colonel Abdul Fatah realizes this is a very potent problem and hopes someday there will be computers available to make his job easier. He however wants every Afghan to have a passport and see the world. He believes that it is only through travel and exposure to different cultures can the people of Afghanistan rebuild their lives and society after the bitter battles that have torn them apart.

The colonel is putting in a commendable effort and this has even been recognized by the officials after he was overheard lecturing his staff about the ill-effects of corruptions by a high-ranked anti-corruption official who was waiting outside the office for his passport. It is only hoped now that his efforts are successful and more and more people and sectors in Afghanistan are declared corruption free.

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The Slow yet Steady Rise of Rugby Popularity in Afghanistan

When Mohammad Mansoor Majid returned to Afghanistan from the UK, he brought back with him, among other things, the game of rugby. It was he who introduced rugby to the country and helped form a national team for the sport. Today the game is played fervently in the country and also has a representation internationally.

Before the official introduction of rugby in Afghanistan, there were many young athletes who followed the game on television but never got an opportunity to play it. However, now with the introduction of the game, the young players are not only getting the chance to play the game, but they also are representing their country in international tournaments. With having played in tournaments and Pakistan and Dubai, the young athletes are getting good amounts of exposure. However, the players believe they have a long way to go still and need to improve their game. And to do this they need better facilities like larger playgrounds and a coach. The national team doesn’t have a coach yet and this is causing a lot of problems for the players. With the help of the proper facilities, the team believes they can win the world cup one day.

With athletes having represented Afghanistan in the recently concluded Olympic Games in London, it is heartening to see players take to the rugby field as well. With the war having receded and normal life having returned to Afghanistan, one can surely hope that sports will play a huge role in ensuring the return of peace in the lives of the Afghani people.

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Learning to Diffuse a Bomb

Camp Shaheen in Mazar-e-Sharif is no ordinary camp. It has been built to train Afghan security personnel to diffuse bombs. This is an essential part of the security system as bombs are commonly known to have torn apart lives in mainland Afghanistan, especially since the Taliban turned rebel in the recent past. So with a constant threat of explosions looming over, students at Camp Shaheen in Mazar-e-Sharif are trained about how to diffuse a bomb when they come across one.

For the students of this camp, it is a chance to serve their country. Nothing gives them as much pride as being of service to their motherland and their fellow citizens. As a result, a young student, Lal Mohammed (seen here) is risking his live to diffuse a bomb in order to ascertain whether or not he is an established specialist in the department. With proper training and guidance, the students are able to tackle even tricky situations where the Taliban insert additional firing mechanisms in bombs to ensure a successful impact. The authorities have collaborated with foreign experts who personally come and train the students at the camp.

With the war-like conditions drawing to an end, normal life is slowly crawling back in Afghanistan. Unfortunately though, incidents of violence continue to act as potholes on the road to peace and harmony. However, with the help of people like Lal Mohammad, the citizens of this war torn can live in peace and hope for less instances of bomb blasts and bloodshed.

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Educating Young Minds with Sports

Apart from war, the other enemy of Afghanistan’s development has been corruption. Listed as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, the Afghan authorities are trying their best to cope with the mess. To ensure that the problem is tackled soon, the education ministry is training young children to become corruption free with the help of sports. It is believed that sports trains a person in a wholesome manner and teaches them to follow rules properly.

In a recently concluded event, girls from schools across the country took part in a volleyball tournament. This was done to encourage young women to participate in the sport to become physically and mentally empowered and also to spread awareness about corruption. The organizers also wanted to provide a platform for the girls who have long been suppressed in the country. According to Showkat Hassan, Chief of the USAID Anti Corruption Program, no country can progress unless the women are empowered and enjoy equal rights like the men do. As a result, the tournament was organized to give the young girls a sense of empowerment. It also aimed to teach them to walk on the path of life honestly.

With the introduction of such novel and unique methods, the Afghan authorities are indeed waking up to the need of stopping corruption in the country. Simultaneously, the women are benefitting too. This is very essential as in the past, with the Taliban in power, women were not only oppressed, but they were ill-treated and tortured to inhuman levels as well.

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Agricultural Yields Helping Improve Afghan Life

With war tearing through the nation, most of Afghanistan is left in a poor state. The common man has lost a lot – from mental peace to financial stability. But now with the government slowly but steadily stabilizing, the people of Afghanistan are slowly getting back to normal life. Balkh Province in the northern parts of the country is a very fertile place and is also sometimes called the break basket of Afghanistan. The farmers here are looking to increase the yields to earn more in an attempt to improve their lifestyles.

With the help of USAID, the farmers now have motorized farm aides which are definitely helping them in their job. The farmers are being educated about the importance and helpfulness of these tractors and other aids. Because manual farming takes a lot more time and effort, the farmers are fast turning to the tractors and other available machinery. Apart from the motorized vehicles, USAID is also working closely with the farmers to provide them with the best quality seeds and fertilizers which further help in improving the quality and the quantity of the agricultural produce.

With a little help, the farmers of the Balkh Province are benefitting immensely. Not only have they improved the methods of farming, they have also improved the ways of their own lives. The farmers, apart from saving time and energy, are also able to reap better quality agricultural produce that help them earn more money and give them the passport to a better life.

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Women’s Liberation in Mainland Afghanistan

Afghanistan was once a progressive independent country where women were treated equally. And this was just about 100 years ago. Sadly in a century, a lot has changed and the women have had to bear the harshest brunt. With unfair laws against them and unequal social norms, women have long suffered in the Taliban dominated government. It is only recently that some of the women from the older generation have come out in support of the younger girls who have been subjected to social ills such as child marriage and suppression.

Suraya Pakzad, a veteran women’s right activist, has been fighting to give the deprived young women another chance to live a normal and safe life. She has been running a shelter for women who were forced into early marriage. It is heartening to know that a number of such shelters are functional in Afghanistan today. However for the women running these, the journey hasn’t been easy. Suraya is constantly threatened by the Taliban and other Islamic activists who even threat to personally harm her and her family. But she remains unfazed by it all and continues in her mission to help the women in need. Suraya however has been making pleas to the leaders of the world to put pressure on the Afghan government to set up a ministry exclusively for the rights of women.

The work being done by Suraya Pakzad and others like her is exemplary. The women who were once tortured and thrown into an uncertain future now have a fresh lease of life. They live in a safe environment and even have to liberty to play basketball with their peers. This not only gives them the freedom and respect they deserve, it also helps them in building up their lost confidence.

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Training Facility for the Afghan Army Officers

With the dawn of a new era and a more controlled governance, the people of Afghanistan are slowly but surely beginning to put their faith back on the army, something that was quite amiss during the Taliban regime. As a result, the army is leaving no stone unturned to ensure its members are well trained in every aspect. The Command and Staff College in Kabul has been established keeping this very motive in mind.
The Command and Staff College offers courses for army personnel to groom themselves and learn better ways to conduct their duties, both on the battlefield and among civilians. The classes are held by senior army officers who pass on their own experiences and knowledge to the junior officers. The seniors get to learn from a group of French soldiers who have been given the responsibility to mentor the Afghan commanders. Turkish and Canadian army personnel are often seen sharing their experiences at the college too.

One of the biggest challenges for the Afghan army has been involving the ethnic tribes in their ranks. Some tribes, like the Pashtuns have generally distanced themselves from the army and joined the Taliban instead. To tackle this issue, the commanders of the army are now travelling to India to see how the Indian army manages to recruit soldiers from all over the country where different languages are spoken and different religions and cultures are followed.

This is a very good initiative and the Afghan army is gaining immensely from it. Ever since its inception 8 years ago, the Command and Staff College has produced some very well trained and confident army officers.

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Wrestling with a Twist

With the Olympic games just ‘round the corner, the Afghan Olympic committee is doing everything it can to train and send the maximum number of athletes to the games. While many athletes have already qualified, the wrestling team is yet to make the mark. And with the qualifiers still on, the athletes and administrators are hopeful of securing a berth in the wrestling category at the 2012 London games.

Taking a look at the Afghan national wrestling team practicing for the games can leave you perplexed as you will soon observe their ways of wrestling are quite unconventional. There however is a reason behind this. The team practices the Zorkhaneh type of wrestling where the wrestlers dance and move to the beats of a drum. This is an ancient form of wrestling and is very popular in countries like Afghanistan and Turkey.it has been practiced in Afghanistan for many decades. In fact this was the only sport that the Taliban allowed and so it gained in popularity even more.

In the past, the Zorkhaneh form of wrestling was practiced to train warriors before they went to war. However now the war, if it can be called so, is on a different scale and the athletes would like to fight their hearts out for an Olympic berth. According to the wrestlers themselves, it is their dream to win a medal at the games and make their country proud. And on this path to victory, they are using the techniques of Zorkhaneh to help them through.

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Victory Lap

Winning or losing is not important. What is important is to take part. This is perhaps the motto that the Afghan Olympic committee has for its athletes, encouraging them to participate and bring recognition to their country. However for sprinter Massoud Azizi, this is not enough. It is his dream to win a medal at the London games and have the Afghan flag flying high and this is what has motivated him to work hard and become the country’s top ranked athlete.

Azizi comes from a family of sportspersons. Having seen his older brothers participate in athletic events, Azizi always wanted to become an athlete too and gradually trained to become a runner. He has been in the sport for a long time, having previously represented his country in the Athens and Beijing Olympic games as well. However, this time he feels more charged up and prepared as he has been able to practice harder, thanks to the facilities provided to him. In the past the athletes were always in fear of being attacked and they didn’t feel safe even inside stadiums. But now with the active intervention of the Olympic committee, the security has been beefed up and this has given Azizi and his colleagues a great sense of relief, which in turn has had a positive effect on their training.

With ample help and encouragement, Massoud Azizi is all set to make his country proud at the London games. He is practicing very hard and hopes to win a medal. He doesn’t want the glory for himself as he believes the medal will be a prize for the entire country which has in the recent past seen a lot of suffering and gone through hard times.

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Bringing Education to the Children of Afghanistan

Ever since its inception in 1989, the Baghnazargah School in Herat has worked to bring education to the lives of thousands of Afghan children. The school is located 5 kilometers away from Herat and caters to the needs of children of all ages. The school currently has close to 3700 students, 1700 of which are girls. A very heartening fact indeed, given that women have long been suppressed and deprived of education and other rights in this country.

The school is large and spacious and has facilities for studies and recreation. The children, outside their classrooms, play in the large basketball court and run around in the campus that also houses a football ground. There is a sense of joy and belonging among the students and it clearly shows that they enjoy coming to school. The teachers are qualified and teach in an interactive manner, making the lessons enjoyable for the children. There are 47 lady teachers and 50 male teachers. The classes are held separately for the boys and the girls, in keeping with their cultural traditions. The school has, in the past received help from UNICEF and now Film Annex has provided the school with internet classrooms.

For a country that has seen violence and tremendous amounts of social injustice, having a school that produces future leaders is important. And seeing the children receive education, there is no doubt that Afghanistan will soon see some very able and educated leaders, thanks to schools such as the Baghnazargah School in Herat.


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