Mohammed Hanif is a British-Pakistani writer, journalist and playwright, who published the acclaimed novel “A Case of Exploding Mangoes” in 2008. A dark, political satire, it was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2008 and won the Commonwealth Book Prize for Best First Book in 2009. The novel is a fictitious version of the … Continue reading Review: A Case of Exploding Mangoes
Category: Afghanistan
Red Group – The Taliban “Special Forces”
The public perception of the war in Afghanistan is dominated by the image of Special Forces soldiers, although they are a small part of the international military effort in the country. Numerous western films, some based on real events, have contributed to this idea. It is small wonder, then, that the Taliban have themselves worked … Continue reading Red Group – The Taliban “Special Forces”
Review: Descent into Chaos
Pakistani journalist Ahmed Rashid leapt into prominence outside of his home country when, post 9/11, Western journalists poured into Afghanistan to report on the conflict there. Little had been written about the Taliban at that time, and so many of them clutched Rashid’s first book published in 1999, “Taliban.” Since that time, Rashid has become … Continue reading Review: Descent into Chaos
Malalai of Maiwand
Women in Afghanistan are perhaps thought of as meek or downtrodden, hidden beneath their chadors and subjugated by men. These stereotypes ignore the fact that even though Afghanistan remains one of the worst places in the world to be a woman, Afghan women are making headway against gale force cultural winds. Examples of women’s courage … Continue reading Malalai of Maiwand
Review: The Wandering Falcon
Hope does not die like an animal – quick and sudden. It is more like a plant, which slowly withers away. -“The Wandering Falcon,” by Jamil Ahmad There is no other book written in English that captures the spirit of the Pashtun people as well as “The Wandering Falcon” by Jamil Ahmad. Although I have … Continue reading Review: The Wandering Falcon
The Taliban Layeha
In 2006, the Swiss newspaper Die Weltwoche published a fascinating document that they had acquired in Afghanistan – a set of “rules” for the Taliban. Although it is a very loosely organized group, with many claiming membership who don’t necessarily report to the leadership council, this was an interesting development. The Taliban still refer to … Continue reading The Taliban Layeha