The yearly general and regional 'conferences' of the Tablighi Jamaat are perhaps the most undercovered big events that go on in Afghanistan. Last year I went to the general meeting in Kabul, a 4-day event that over 10,000 people attended.......more
Alex Strick van Linschoten - a war reporter on the road: October 2008 Archives
"4-nil and it's started to rain"
Not much has happened in Kandahar since I last wrote - not on a grand scale, anyway. It seems the dead need to line up in the dozens for international media to take note. Today an attack on a USPI......more
Far From the City
In case you were wondering what's happening outside the city in the districts, here's a story and a half. Ghorak district is north-west of the city, and not especially important in itself. Off the top of my head, it was......more
Back in Kandahar
Amniat kharab day. Hokumat kharab day. Taliban kharab day. Security is messed up. The government's messed up. The Taliban are messed up. I was trying to have a conversation with old colleague of mine from Kabul on the plane......more
Panjwayi Taliban Interview
I know it's a little old, but probably most of those reading this blog haven't seen it, and a lot of what is said here hasn't changed since early 2007. We made this interview with a Taliban commander in......more
Mullah Omar releases his 'eid message
Just like last year, Mullah Omar, the sort-of Taliban leader, has released a message on the occasion of 'eid, the Muslim religious festival. Lots of interesting things in what he says, so you ought to read the full text (available......more
Alex Strick van Linschoten - a war reporter on the road
Alex Strick van Linschoten is travelling in Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq and the north Caucasus over the next 4 years for...