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Peace, art, and diversity

Afghanistan, also known as the 'Central Asian Roundabout', is a crossroads of unresolved paradoxes. The country retreated into peace after the Third Anglo-Afghan War, granting it a stable and peaceful period from 1929 to 1978. These almost 50 years saw culture, skills, and freedom flourishing again for travelers to take back exquisite artifacts, experiences, and the mystical presence of this land. The journey through these valleys tapered mountain folds along the Silk Route, came to be mapped as the Hippie Trail in the 1960s and 70s. Thousands of explorers, mostly in their youth traveled overland from Europe to India, and beyond. Some arrived from Australia through Southeast Asia and advanced back in the opposite direction, while others were trailing from Western Europe and passing through former Yugoslavia, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal. Hopping on a Volkswagen to cover these 11,000 kilometers, or trekking and hitchhiking into these life-changing experiences, the assurance of tranquility en-route, kept more coming, the 'Lonely Planet', is an example of a bi-product from the trail and the visionaries it birth. Afghanistan was one of the most popular destinations on the trail - from the folk instrumentality of sound to the authenticity found in traditional pottery, weaving, carvings, paintings, and every sublime expression of mastery for the exploring hearts. Some on the trail managed decent import-export businesses in handmade Afghani wedding coats and quality spices, but overall, the locals and foreigners both believed their major gains were freedom and love. This opening came with some early visitors and rulers instrumental in introducing social reforms and new ideologies to Afghanistan. From Nadir Shah's reign in 1929 to the end of Daud Khan's rule in 1978, many changes were introduced. Mohammed Zahir Shah (1933-1973) was the longest-serving ruler of Afghanistan, he reformed the army and extended diplomatic relations with many countries. A new constitution was adopted under Zahir's rule to promote National unity, and the Afghan National Independence Day known as the 'Jashn' joined the festivals collectively celebrated by the diverse tribes and ethnicities of the land. Afghanistan, in these years, was like any other western country with liberal ideologies that granted education for all and freedom for women to own their expression, including the right to vote, drive and travel; 40% of the doctors and 60% of the professors in Kabul University were women at the time. It was a time when everyone had a moral ambition of aspiration. The Afghans were very understanding and courteous towards foreign visitors, their influence was felt and absorbed strongly through aid, cultural programs, and growing tourism. However, the condition of Afghanistan at present does not bear any resemblance to what it was in the 1960s and 70s. It is claimed that Afghanistan is unconquerable and the 'Graveyard of Empires' for having witnessed the imperial powers submit to their end on this land time and again.

The battleground of empires

Afghanistan's geography has not only been an impediment, but also a lure for conquests owing to the country's strategic geopolitical location. Being at the heart of Asia that links six countries, the Afghan land shares borders with Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan in the North, Iran in the West, Pakistan in the South-East, and Tajikistan and China in the North-East. Afghanistan is home to some of the highest mountains in the world, covering three-fourths of the country's region, occupied by the Hindu Kush at the Center and to the South, and the Pamir Mountains in the East. The Pamir Knot is in Badakhshan, Afghanistan, where the Hindu Kush, Tian Shan, Kunlun, Pamir, and the Himalayas all meet, serving as a natural wall preventing outsiders from entering, and also making connectivity difficult within the country. These labyrinths paired with guerrilla skills have always seen countrymen at an advantage in their fight against the invaders. This terrain, familiar to the local warlords has been enabling defining attacks on main supply roads, less defended bases, and small units that control communications; strengthening the operations by organizing themselves into small, highly mobile fighting groups advancing with unfaltering intent to protect their territory. Imperial arrogance seemed to have forgotten every time that the Afghan land has always been one of the warlords. Starting with the first Anglo-Afghan War in 1839, Russia sent an emissary to Kabul to offer support to the Afghans if they decided to attack Peshawar (an Afghan city that had come under British-supported Sikh rule), the British then sent a strong military force to defeat Afghan forces. British brute and careless provocation gave way to increasing resentment among Afghans, which grew into a rebellion in Kabul on December 23, 1841, after the British cut back subsidy to the Ghilzai tribes. The uprising had substantial support from the local population, and the British were coerced by the rebels to sign the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919, also known as the Rawalpindi Treaty, it denied access to the British beyond the Khyber pass, while subsidies to the Afghans were stopped, it also served as a precursor to a growing friendship between Afghanistan and Russia. Afghanistan continued to be a vital point during the Cold War, with the Soviet Union in the North, and U.S. allies Iran and Pakistan in the East. Americans feared a Soviet push South, and both blocs knew Afghanistan was central to their hold, this saw more investments and infrastructural developments coming into the Nation from these opposing powers. Capitalism and Communism clashed, but paved the way for the acceptance of new ideologies and expression. The Afghans adopted Communism with the acceptance of Nur Mohammad Taraki as their leader and the new Communist President in 1978. A manifesto with some progressive reforms was introduced, however, this new governance foresaw the end of Islam and all mosques to be empty within a year. They were predominantly an atheist regime, and this did not work well with the rest of the Muslim population resisting the communists who were already lashing out with unregulated prison sentences and executions. Russians then decided to enter Afghanistan with military force to support the Afghan Communist Regime, this strengthened the resistance from the local Mujaheddin further. The U.S. then started supplying high-grade military supplies to the Mujaheddin through Pakistan to weaken the communists. The ensuing 10-year war has been "Russia's Vietnam," with the country sending in thousands of troops, spending millions, and eventually withdrawing. As with most empires that enter Afghanistan, too much blood and resources have them overstaying their demise. The Soviet-Afghan war became a humanitarian disaster for the disintegrating Soviet Union by the late 1980s. The decision to finally withdraw their forces was taken by Mikhail Gorbachev when he became the General Secretary of State in 1985, though more time was asked and he granted. The Geneva Accords were signed between USSR, U.S., and Pakistan on Russia's final withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1988. After the Russian Revolution, Afghanistan began to be known as "The Graveyard of the Empires." No foreign power in history has been able to maintain control in Afghanistan owing to its strict adherence to the Pashtunwali, its faith, strong patriotic ideology, and Afghanistan's difficult terrain. Afghans have a strong history of combat, not in the sense of frontlines and open battlefields, but guerrilla warfare. After The Russian forces withdrew, International aid continued to pour in, even from the Soviet Union, this led to growing conflicts and chaos internally, and the Taliban- orphans of the warring Blocs, emerged stronger.

Growing Turmoil

The rising of the Taliban appeared as a promise to end local corruption and war in the country, but the result was counterproductive. Gradually, the Taliban conquered several provinces in the Southern and Central parts of Afghanistan in 1994 and quickly extended their influence in the city of Kandahar, taking control of Herat in September 1995. The militant group developed enough strength to expand its control throughout the country. In September 1996, the Taliban attacked the residential areas of Kabul with the military support of Pakistan and financial support of Saudi Arabia. As a result, the Taliban emerged and took control of the capital Kabul by overthrowing the regime of President Burhanuddin Rabbani. They were also influenced to rename the country as the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan." The Taliban especially targeted civilians of the Hazara community or Shia Islamists. In 1998, the Taliban executed approximately four thousand civilians from this community and tortured many more in Mazar-E-Sharif. From 1996 to 2001, the Taliban took control over one-third area of Afghanistan, and their enforcement of Islamic laws resulted in a massacre against the Afghan people. The Taliban denied UN food supplies, destroyed thousands of homes, and burned vast areas of land in Afghanistan. The Taliban imposed a strict interpretation of Sharia law, which included punishments such as public executions and amputations of body parts. During that period, they banned all forms of entertainment, including television, the media, photography, cinema, painting, movies, music (except daf, a type of drum), etc. The group committed human rights violations, particularly against women, such as forbidding them from working outside, attending schools, coming outside of their home unless accompanied by a male member. By the end of 2000, the Taliban managed to control about 95% of the country while receiving continued resistance from Northern Alliances in the Panjshir Valley. After the 9/11 attack, the United States deposed the Taliban from power in Afghanistan in less than two months. Furthermore, the U.S. bombing and massive defections successfully blocked the Taliban and restricted them to a small region around Kunduz. In 2009, the counter insurrection accelerated with the decision by Barack Obama to send the U.S. troops to Afghanistan. After the U.S.-led forces overthrew the Taliban government, people made great strides in Afghanistan. And in August 2021, the Taliban regained power when the U.S. troops withdrew from Afghanistan. Following the fall of the capital Kabul, the Taliban re-captured Afghanistan on 15th August 2021. Afghan people were in fear of losing their liberty and these concerns are apparent, as the Taliban have already started imposing old restrictions. They have formulated dress and public behavior standards for women and prohibited their employment and movement in public places. They have also tortured journalists for covering protests in Kabul, they again made it compulsory for women to wear burqa outside their home, failing to do so would amount to harsh punishment, they also declared they would punish unmarried men and women if seen together. The Taliban are inspecting all the checkpoints, driving around heavily armed in pickup trucks and humvees. Thousands of people were seen racing to flee the country from the Kabul airport. The U.S. and some other nations sent military helicopters to evacuate their citizens and embassy personnel from Afghanistan. The militants moved inside the presidential palace in Kabul, declaring the restoration of the Taliban. The Afghan President also flew away as he asserted that he wanted to save Kabul from bloodshed. Half the population is hiding behind closed doors, and this is the new Afghanistan in 2021. Afghanistan's economy is at a standstill under the Taliban regime, with the country's internal banking system completely frozen. The Biden administration officially declared that any financial institutions' assets belonging to Afghanistan within the U.S. won't be made available to the Taliban. Similarly, the U.S. Federal Reserve and International Monetary Fund (IMF) have also frozen all of Afghanistan's foreign exchange reserves and their access to IMF resources to restrict the misuse of these funds by the Taliban. There's a crowd of local afghans outside the banks regularly as they are not allowing them to withdraw their money. People living there are at high risk due to poor health facilities, and the Taliban has banned the COVID-19 vaccination in the country. With no economic activity and zero financial sustainability, people are selling their household items to avoid starvation. The suffering for the Afghans seems indefinite. However, there are some people who are not scared of the terrible situation in Afghanistan and are trying to fight back and help however they can. Farhan Hotak, who not only helped his family flee from Afghanistan to Pakistan but many others in need too. At the age of 22, he first made sure that his family was safe and then he returned to help others. In addition, he is keeping a very keen eye on his crypto portfolio because the local currency has touched new lows. Although Afghanistan still works on a cash economy, his crypto gives him peace of mind during these unstable times.

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