Afghan Caravan- Safia Shah

Insight Stories of Afghanistan

Afghanistan has remained in the limelight for the past decades for multiple reasons. During the times of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, it was presented as a mysterious land of invincible fighters. A blue-eyed child of the western world, which was pouring dollars to support these indomitable men fighting against the communist regime of soviet. However, the situation changed after the fall of the Soviets. The western world abandoned Afghanistan and paid no heed to the ramifications of the war on the country.

The mysterious land changed into a breeding ground for extremist groups, and so-called freedom fighters sponsored and nourished by their western allies took over the country and laid down the foundation of a regressive state. With the change of regime and especially after the incident of 9/11, the perception about the country took a 180-degree turn. It was presented as a threat to the peace of the world, and the US invaded the country with the objective of nation-building, to modernize the country which has been locked in the middle ages. The US remained in the country for over 20 years but ultimately decided to withdraw its forces and returned with a humiliating defeat at the hands of the so-called cavemen of Afghanistan.

The country has remained in the spotlight for decades, but there are very limited sources that provide insight into the lives of common Afghans and remained an enigma to the world. The Afghan Caravan is an effort to provide an insight into the lives of common inhabitants of Afghanistan. It is a collection of stories, memoirs, and experiences of different individuals who had the opportunity to travel and live in this country. It embodies the tales of common Afghans.

One of the most captivating parts of the book is Morag Murray's tale, who fell in love with an Afghan man and traveled to the no man’s land. Her enchanting tale began in the 1920s when she was a student, and the world was engulfed in war. She met with a son of an Afghan tribal chief and got married to him, and then she left her family and belonging to meet her in-laws in the faraway land. She had described her fears of an unknown future waiting for her in this landlocked country. She narrated the stories of western women married to Afghan men and were captivated or betrayed after landing in the country. In spite of all these fears, she decided to pack her bags and move to Afghanistan. She was intrigued by the hospitality of the Afghan people, and her narration provides a profound insight into the tribal traditions and values. She has also beautifully elucidated the physical terrain of the country and the journey through the mountains.

The book provides a deep understanding of Afghans' cultural values and traditions. The tales about magic pervasive in the country, the delicacy of Afghan cuisine, the recipe of the Afghani pulao, and other intricate details about the lifestyle of locals. The hospitality and bravery of Afghans who put their lives at stake to save their guest's lives reflect the generous nature of the Afghan people.

It’s really sad to witness the state of affairs in contemporary Afghanistan. It seems like the international community has abandoned the land after exploiting it for decades, and now more than half of the people of the country are starving, and their survival is at stake, but no one is ready to provide humanitarian assistance to them. This provides an opportunity to understand the people of Afghanistan and to realize that they are not barbarian and uncivilized people, but they are a civilization with a history extending to hundreds of years, and they are very proud of their culture and values. The book provides an alternate lens to view Afghans, and it will make you realize that the Afghans deserve better.

Happy Reading!!