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After many years I am these days visiting Afghanistan and Pakistan. Its a wonderful and sometimes flabbergasting experience. I started my tour from Kunarh, the center of N2KL reg and visited few places like Asadabad, Manogai and Dangam. I first went to Bajaur Agency in Pakistan from Temergara to Munda and then by Nawa-pass Road I reached in four hours to Asadabad.
Second time I went to Khaskunarh from Samarbagh to Shahi, Binshahi, all very beautiful and enchanting places. I also briefly visited Jalalabad and Kabul as well as Peshawar and Islamabad. I will repeat my visits to all these places.
I will be sharing my experiences and observations during my tour(if I have internet) and friends share their own experiences and may ask questions or can have their comments.
Following are the few salient and striking observations.
1. Pashto writing and reading is completely dead in Pakistan. You wont see a single Pashto sign board in the whole so called Pashtunkhwah.
2. Pashto numbers are considered a shame in Pashtun areas in Pakistan. Every Pashtun is counting in Urdu numbers.
3. Even in remote villages like Maskinai, Samarbagh, Mayar, Temergara, Chakdara. Takhtbhai, Shahi , you will see all writing only and only in Urdu. Not a single word is written in Pashto.
4. Pashto is written in Kunarh and Jalalabad. I love to see sign boards in Pashto.
5. Kunarh is a scene of perfect natural beauty but also a disaster because of the war on terror.
6. Kunarh is the home of Taliban but very interestingly also the home of staunch Pashtun nationalists and secular people.
7. I love the lush green valleys full of pine trees and running transparent water but deforestation is going on without any mercy and this may become an environmental catastrophe.
8. Because of Taliban , Pashtun culture and music is almost wiped out. In villages you wont see the traditional musical evenings instead people get together and have political discussions.
9. I attended few marriages but all marriages are like mourning events. No music, no dance, no jubilation,,just few people come together and take the bride and have some food for the guests.This is all because of Taliban who ask for austerity and try to kill any happy moment.
10. Poverty is rampant. People dont have basic amenities. Economic and commercial activities are very slow.Roads construction is going on and I listened that government in Kunarh is starting few mega developmental projects.
more later
Second time I went to Khaskunarh from Samarbagh to Shahi, Binshahi, all very beautiful and enchanting places. I also briefly visited Jalalabad and Kabul as well as Peshawar and Islamabad. I will repeat my visits to all these places.
I will be sharing my experiences and observations during my tour(if I have internet) and friends share their own experiences and may ask questions or can have their comments.
Following are the few salient and striking observations.
1. Pashto writing and reading is completely dead in Pakistan. You wont see a single Pashto sign board in the whole so called Pashtunkhwah.
2. Pashto numbers are considered a shame in Pashtun areas in Pakistan. Every Pashtun is counting in Urdu numbers.
3. Even in remote villages like Maskinai, Samarbagh, Mayar, Temergara, Chakdara. Takhtbhai, Shahi , you will see all writing only and only in Urdu. Not a single word is written in Pashto.
4. Pashto is written in Kunarh and Jalalabad. I love to see sign boards in Pashto.
5. Kunarh is a scene of perfect natural beauty but also a disaster because of the war on terror.
6. Kunarh is the home of Taliban but very interestingly also the home of staunch Pashtun nationalists and secular people.
7. I love the lush green valleys full of pine trees and running transparent water but deforestation is going on without any mercy and this may become an environmental catastrophe.
8. Because of Taliban , Pashtun culture and music is almost wiped out. In villages you wont see the traditional musical evenings instead people get together and have political discussions.
9. I attended few marriages but all marriages are like mourning events. No music, no dance, no jubilation,,just few people come together and take the bride and have some food for the guests.This is all because of Taliban who ask for austerity and try to kill any happy moment.
10. Poverty is rampant. People dont have basic amenities. Economic and commercial activities are very slow.Roads construction is going on and I listened that government in Kunarh is starting few mega developmental projects.
more later
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