Afghan Girl

[Khyber Pass]

As-salamualakum everyone, I'm sure many of you have seen the picture the Afghan girl.

A Life Revealed - National Geographic Magazine

But what was really interesting is how the photographer (Steve McCurry) found her after 17 years, give it a read and tell me what you think, I find the last paragraph bit interesting.

[faye]

i remember when this first was published. as a portrait artist, i had a great appreciation of this girls picture. some months back i saw a video of this guy going to find her. it was sad to see that she had such a hard life and i hoped that the photographer gave her some finances, to help her and her family.

[Afghanistan2010]

the story is aamazing ...but pashtuns commonly would never let an foreign guy let photograph there wife rather stone him while he asks for a photo.

[BarakzaiAbdali]

As-salamualakum everyone, I'm sure many of you have seen the picture the Afghan girl.

A Life Revealed - National Geographic Magazine

But what was really interesting is how the photographer (Steve McCurry) found her after 17 years, give it a read and tell me what you think, I find the last paragraph bit interesting.

Why not quote them... so that Soldat, Toramana and Co., two Pakistani Pashtun nationalists can hear from a rural Pashtana from Afghanistan and her brother, from that evil Mullah driven ISI operated National Geographic:

"Had she ever felt safe?
"No. But life under the Taliban was better. At least there was peace and order." "

Or how she lives as a RURAL Pashtoon woman from Afghanistan when interacting with Steve McCurry, an outsider of the culture male, or any male for that matter:

""The reunion between the woman with green eyes and the photographer was quiet. On the subject of married women, cultural tradition is strict. She must not look—and certainly must not smile—at a man who is not her husband."

Oh and then her brother, the other ISI agent (sarcasm) goes on to say:

"We left Afghanistan because of the fighting," said her brother, Kashar Khan, filling in the narrative of her life. He is a straight line of a man with a raptor face and piercing eyes. "The Russians were everywhere. They were killing people. We had no choice."

"The Russian invasion destroyed our lives," her brother said.


ALL ECHOING KAWUN KAKAR, AFGHAN HISTORIAN'S COMMENTARY IN HIS HISTORY OF THE TALIBAN:

"In reality, the traditional way of life in villages has changed little by Taliban's rule. The situation of Afghans in the countryside controlled by the Taliban has improved because of increased peace and security, giving them the opportunity to rebuild after two decades of war."

http://www.institute-for-afghan-stud...ntro_kakar.htm

So this is what Sharbat Gul and her Brother proclaim, yet the Pakistani communist version of events (now morphed mysteriously into secular nationalist capitalist somehow) says:

1) No, Brzenzski Khan kaka brought in the civilized amazingly well behaved Russians who did no wrong and it was all the evil Brzenski Shaytaan... none of it was Russian interventionalism and massacre
2) Farhat T Andersen is representative of the true Pashtun ideals of FATA and that the mod Pashtoon rural girl would flirt and tap dance for Steve McCurry and Mr. Andersen.

I think Ill take my chances with listening to the will of the people, the will of the masses, and give them the dignity of what they want and let them progress at their own pace. I think Ill take Sharbat Gula and her brother's word for it as opposed to the reality detached one.

But of course, I am sure somehow a creative link between the ISI and the National Geographic will be uncovered.