People are very cautious in Afghanistan. One evening after a performance in Herat, I ventured out by myself into the marketplace. There were stares and glares because I looked a foreigner and they were curious. No one came up to talk to me though.
I was walking in pitch darkness as there are absolutely no street lights in Herat unlike in Kabul. The people complete their errands before it gets dark.
The prison break in Kandahar was most talked about when I was in Herat. The prison had been attacked and a lot of Taliban had escaped. My driver said some of the prisoners had been recaptured. The prisoners had taken villagers hostages. It seems entire villages were taken hostage.
The Afghans were delighted to hear President Karzai attack the government of Pakistan. It was the first time he had really spoken up.
The Afghan people are not too fond of the Pakistani government as a lot of terrorism is harboured across the border.
Image: The motorcycle taxis outside Gazargah, the tomb of the famous 11th century poet and mystic Khaja Abdullah Ansari.
Also read: 'India's positive role in Afghanistan should be recorded in history'
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