Trip reports from Kabul to Peshawar (2 final)

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On the way from Torkham border to Peshawar the car engine caused a problem, and we waited for a long time in the valley. I tried to talk some more with children who were surrounded the car. I couldn’t speak Pashto but a bit. They were asking me about Canadian soldiers in the south. They told me that a Canadian soldier killed their brother who was innocent. I told them I am not familiar with such issues and asked them why they were interested to know such things. They told me; this is our job as a Muslim. I asked bout their education; they told me they are going to the mosque to be trained by a local religious leader. I asked them if they have weapons in their houses. They told me that all people in the Tribal Aeria are armed.

It became dark when the car was fixed. The car was like a van. Other cars stopped on the way in front of mosque in the valley. An aged man called every one to get out of their cars and going to pray. Late at night I arrived in Peshawar.

On the border while the passport office stamped my visa for entering, I brought my camera out from my packet to snap the man who was selling nuts and fruits. Suddenly he shouted at me and ran towards me holding a short stick. I was surprised and shocked of what went on while the others just looked when the man attacked me. I took up my bag from the ground, and stared to the man with his long beard and mustache. He took my hand and asked me why you are taking photo from me? I told him: I liked your shop and the fruits you are selling here. The picture would be a gift for my friends in Kabul, to show them that I saw a shop with good fruits and a good shopkeeper.

He started screaming and asked violently: "don’t you know taking photos is prohibited in Islam?" I told him, I am sorry, I really don’t know, but I apologize to you, I didn’t take your photo. A policeman there came to me. He took the man off from me and I was relieved for a while. A person going to Kabul reached to me and said: "Don’t you know they are Taliban? don’t you know Taliban prohibited photography under their rule? I knew this from before but this was really an 'unawareness' scene for me.

Photos from Peshawar (northern of Pakistan) here

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