KABUL AND KASHMIR
Kashmir Life|March 08-14, 2020; UNMASKED; Issue 49 Vol 11
As Trump administration finally shook hands with the Taliban in Doha and promised to withdraw within 14 months after 18 years, does the ‘Pakeezah’ moment mean anything to Kashmir? Senior journalist Iftikhar Gilani explains the new milestone in the age-old Great Games
Iftikhar Gilani
KABUL AND KASHMIR

In the wee hours of August 1994, a wailing woman was trying to catch the attention of passersby in Spin Boldak, a border town in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province, next to the border with Pakistan. When she was travelling on way to Pakistan’s Chaman border, gunmen loyal to a local warlord, a former commander of anti-Soviet Mujahideen group had kidnapped her daughter. A black turbaned tall Pathan, on his way back from the mosque after hearing the story of the wailing woman, scrambled 15 youth, all students of a madrassa and invaded the abode of the warlord. After a brief exchange of fire, the warlord retreated as people in the Spin Boldak had also joined this oneeyed Pathan against the warlord’s gang. Upon searching the dera, they found scores of kidnapped girls and teenage boys, who had been forced to work as sex slaves.

The one-eyed man was none else by Mulla Omar, who founded the Taliban with his 15 friends. He had fought with the anti-Soviet Mujahideen under the command of Nek Mohammed of the Hizb-eIslamiKhalis. However, he did not join fighting against the communist regime of Najibullah. Wounded four times, exploding shrapnel destroyed one of his eyes during a battle in Sangsar, Panjwaye district in 1987. After 1989, he had given up fighting and had taken a teaching job in a madrassa.

Soon after the fall of Najibullah, Afghanistan was a lawless state. Mujahideen commanders turned warlords were fleecing people, kidnapping young girls and boys. When Mulla Omar’s men drew warlords away, war fatigued population in other areas invited them to restore order. The governors of Helmand and Gazni willingly surrendered their provinces.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 08-14, 2020; UNMASKED; Issue 49 Vol 11-Ausgabe von Kashmir Life.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 08-14, 2020; UNMASKED; Issue 49 Vol 11-Ausgabe von Kashmir Life.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS KASHMIR LIFEAlle anzeigen
Before The Kabul Retreat
Kashmir Life

Before The Kabul Retreat

Described as the ‘Graveyard of Empires’, Afghanistan was always termed to be at peace when it was at war. But the land-locked desert country that was always in turmoil and one of the worst targets of the Great Game suffered immensely throughout, especially in the last 40 years, Masood Hussain writes

time-read
10 Minuten  |
August 22, 2021
FINGERS CROSSED
Kashmir Life

FINGERS CROSSED

Almost everybody in academia and politics that Khalid Bashir Gura spoke to, the response over Kabul happens was simple – wait and watch

time-read
5 Minuten  |
August 22, 2021
Parliamentary Committee In Srinagar
Kashmir Life

Parliamentary Committee In Srinagar

The visiting 28-member Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs have had detailed interactions with top civil administration and discussed developmental scenario and people’s welfare measures in Jammu and Kashmir. It is on a 4-day visit. Congress leader and MP Anand Sharma is heading the committee.

time-read
1 min  |
August 22, 2021
MUSIC IN MUD HOUSE
Kashmir Life

MUSIC IN MUD HOUSE

Deep into north Kashmir, Faheem Mir meet a small community that sings and lives on folk music but is facing a tense situation in the last few years

time-read
7 Minuten  |
August 22, 2021
THE KABUL SPILLOVER?
Kashmir Life

THE KABUL SPILLOVER?

Security experts are divided over the possible impact of the Kabul situation on Kashmir. But the dramatic Taliban triumph has altered the region’s geopolitics, for the time being, writes Riyaz Wani

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
August 22, 2021
Durga Bhawan At Katra
Kashmir Life

Durga Bhawan At Katra

To enhancing facilities for the convenience of the Vaishno Devi pilgrims, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha laid the foundation for the Durga Bhawan, a high utility pilgrim-centric facility worth Rs 24.4 crore. The facility will accommodate 4000 pilgrims.

time-read
1 min  |
August 22, 2021
Women Empowerment
Kashmir Life

Women Empowerment

In the first, 480 talented girls from Jammu and Kashmir were included in the degree and diploma courses of the Pragati Scholarship. Jammu and Kashmir has also got nine scholarships under the Saksham Scheme for Persons with Disabilities.

time-read
1 min  |
August 22, 2021
‘SOME HISTORIANS BELIEVE THAT AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT IS THE OUTCOME OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN KASHMIR STAND-OFF'
Kashmir Life

‘SOME HISTORIANS BELIEVE THAT AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT IS THE OUTCOME OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN KASHMIR STAND-OFF'

Foreign policy expert and editor of HardNews magazine, Sanjay Kapoor believes that Taliban 2.0 has more legitimacy unlike in the past as it had signed a deal with the US and negotiated with other countries of the region, but the final verdict can be passed only after it manages ticklish issues involving half of its population, the women

time-read
9 Minuten  |
August 22, 2021
Boredom Is Creative?
Kashmir Life

Boredom Is Creative?

Getting bored is not as boring as it gets, writes Azra Hussain

time-read
4 Minuten  |
August 15, 2021
LG In Bangus
Kashmir Life

LG In Bangus

Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha inaugurated the Bungus Awaam Mela amidst grand arrangements for village games, exhilarating local performances, and other activities to celebrate the 75th year of Independence.

time-read
1 min  |
August 15, 2021