Plight of Afghanistan

Man, poor Afghanistan.

He's the kid who can never catch a break. He's the kid known for being the epicenter of turmoil. He's the kid blessed with so many natural gifts and has the potential to become something great, yet remains in the gutter due to a poor support system. He's the kid constantly abused, attacked, bullied, exploited and screwed over by vultures and protectors alike (Soviet Union, Taliban, al-Qaeda, even the U.S.). Given the recent events, this distraught kid is right back to where he started 20 years ago, facing the looming Taliban control of his very livelihood. To say that his situation is compelling is an understatement. People are scrambling to leave his turf, climbing on airplanes, and crying for help in every media outlet. Women are scared to death about their fate under re-surging Taliban control. "Don't worry, we'll be nice to you guys!" says the Taliban bully as he (supposedly) goes door-to-door from one home to another in a futile effort to spread reassurance. All of this is sending Afghanistan in a tailspin of chaos, confusion, and desperation. Most of us, living in well-to-do first worlds, watching TV in the comfort of our homes, walking in safe streets without fear of bullets, traveling freely to wherever we wish – can only imagine what life must be in a place where every few miles is a checkpoint with armed guards, where you won’t know if your house will still be intact, where you won’t know if your daughters will go to school again, and where you are constantly fleeing from radical extremists seeking to control (and possibly endanger) your very livelihood. Essentially, where your life is at stake and if you don’t do something ASAP you’re FUCKED. It’s incomprehensible to imagine this kind of circumstance in this day-and-age, when the average person on earth lives comfortably, freely, and plentily (for most of us anyways).

Putting all the turmoil aside, there are so many fascinating things about Afghanistan. The country has always intrigued me in many ways, from people to geography to pretty much everything it has to offer to the world. Underneath all that brutality and violence is a country so abundant with natural and cultural uniqueness that’s unmatched by anywhere else. No, I have never been there; however, if Afghanistan was a normal country unravaged by war, attacks, Taliban, and constant chaos, I would visit there in a heartbeat.

Here are some reasons why Afghanistan fascinates me.

1. Woa… look at their faces. Here me out when I say this – Afghanis have really interesting faces! In my experience (yes, I’ve met a few Afghanis in my life), they are one of the most unique-looking breed of people on earth. Dark skin with light-green eyes? Middle-eastern face with freckles and red hair? Ten different ethnicities blended into one person? Yep, yep, and yep. Essentially, Afghanistan is a melting pot of humanity, and their people can thank its geography for their exotic faces. With Iran to the left, Pakistan to the right, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to the north, it’s no wonder that Afghanis are a blender of all earthly ethnicities with fascinating facial features. After all, it’s got 14 ethnic groups, many of which spans across the neighboring countries. Speaking of its geography, that leads to the next point:

2. Location, Location, Location. If blessing can also a curse, then Afghanistan is the ultimate poster-child. Sitting at the heart of Central Asia, Afghanistan is the meeting point of ancient trade routes known as “The Silk Road” – that goes to all parts of Asia. This 4000-miles long trade route is known as the cultural crossroads of Indian, Persian, and Chinese civilization; some routes lead to China, some south-east into India, and others west into Iran, which then lead to the Mediterranean Sea and Europe. Goods wanting to pass between any of these places had to go through Afghanistan, and it’s no wonder Afghan cities - thanks to their strategic location –benefitted greatly as places of mercantile exchange. Of course, those were the good ol’ days. Unfortunately, that Silk Road has become more of a Tank Road in recent history, and over the years turned into a strategic military route for battlemongers - one of reasons that contributed to Afghanistan’s demise.

3. Did anyone say natural resources? You know the kid who grew up poor but has a lot undiscovered raw talent? That’s Afghanistan. It’s got shit-tons of untapped natural minerals and resources – mainly copper, gold, oil, natural gas, lithium, lapis lazuli, rubies, emeralds, and not to mention, the endless fields of opium poppies (taboo, I know) – that are abundant enough to feed the entire country and then some. To say that he is (quite literally) sitting on a gold mine is not an overstatement. By all accounts Afghanistan could be, should be, and would be a friggin' rich country if not crippled by war, violence, and corruption. Unfortunately - as with many other resource-rich brothers – the abundance of his earthly treasures have done more harm than good. Essentially, he’s the kid who inherited a fortune, but thanks to the vultures around him who usurped everything he owns, he can’t touch any of it and now he’s struggling to keep float.

4. Stunning natural beauty – I have no personal attestation of this topic, since I’ve never traveled there; however by all journalistic accounts Afghanistan is a land of stunning cobalt blue lakes, rugged snow-capped mountains, and untamed rivers flowing through sweeping valleys. Essentially, it’s a trekker’s paradise, where one can cross steep mountain passes and high desolate plateaus, and pass caravans of yaks and donkeys loaded with traveling merchants - all awhile soaking in the breathtaking panoramic view of steppes and rolling mountains. Backpackers can truly get a glimpse of what the silk road must have been like all those years ago. Such unparalleled beauty is a stark contrast to the violent, drab, grey images shown in the media. It really goes to show that behind the veil and the scars is a country with so much undiscovered beauty and natural wonders, that Lonely Planet once described Afghanistan as a “vastly appealing country”.

5. Mmmmmm Fooooood. Let’s talk about cuisine…my favorite topic! Just like its people, Afghani food is a blender of tastes, flavors, mixtures, and textures from its neighboring brothers. Many dishes are a crossover between Indian, Turkish, Persian, and other Middle Eastern flares – lots of rice dishes with herbs, flatbread with stuffings, tender meatballs and kabobs, and flavorful dumplings – topping it off with a creamy yogurt sauce (one of many condiments!) If I were to describe Afghan cuisine, it would be rustic, rural, authentic, and aromatic. The most appealing part about its cuisine? It’s easy to eat and highly delectable to any taste palate, that even first-timers of Afghani food can instantly start eating it. That being said, I don’t know why Afghani food isn’t more popular; I bet with proper marketing, it can have the potential to become a global cuisine, just like Chinese, Indian or Thai!

6. Culture and Tradition – Afghanistan’s mostly-tribal societies fascinate me. I'm intrigued by countries where the average person wears traditional clothes, lives in traditional huts, and have traditional lifestyles. Walk along the streets of Kabul or any other cities – you won’t see skyscrapers or high-glass buildings. There are no McDonalds or Starbucks plastered everywhere. You won’t find Gucci store here and Apple store there. What you will see are traditional bazaars and market places bursting with activities where you smell, touch, and taste freshness and authenticity of goods sold there. People live simple lives, make foods from scratch, ride rickshaws, trade livestock, and stay with their tribal or kinship groups. In essence, it’s a completely different world, untouched by glitz and glam of modernity. I for one, would love to experience such traditional lifestyle for one day – it’s a great way to immerse yourself into the local culture and experience what life is truly like in an unfamiliar world!

So now you can see why Afghanistan fascinates me; it's got so much potential in every aspect. It’s unique. It’s exotic. It’s authentic. It’s a country that remains so true to itself. If not ravaged by decades-long violence and brutality, it could potentially become the ‘hidden gem of Central Asia’. Unfortunately, the world doesn’t get to hear, much less see this side of Afghanistan. But underneath all that bloodshed, brutality, and barbwires is a country waiting to be discovered, and a country that has the potential to be known for so much more than a hotbed for conflict and violence. Will we ever see a warless, bloodless, turmoil-free Afghanistan so that curious travelers like myself can experience the country with amusement and awe?

Only time will tell.

...and why I want to go there