It is imperative to say that the ever changing Muslim history of South Asia is deeply interconnected with Afghanistan. From Alexander the great to Arab conquests, from Soviet agression to American onslught, Afghanistan remained a bulwark against every incursion into South Asia. History is testament to Afghan resilience that the people of this particular country has suffered series of invasions ever since. The pride of Afghan resilience has never let them surrender to the godly might of invaders. Afghanistan has lost generations in greatest invasions that the history of the world has ever brought on them. These invasions have brought Afghanistan to the brink of moral, social, economic and political collapse. War stricken people fled to neighboring countries to safeguard their communities for further destruction. Some of them have permanently settled in respective countries and other are occasional emigrants. The current wave of civil war in Afghanistan has brought all kind of trade to a standstill. The power tussle between radical islamists and western back government usurped basic rights. The ongoing conflict have left hundreds of innocent civilians dead by retaliatory attacks from both sides. The aftermath of this unending war encouraged locals to travel to Pakistan. These travelers cross border mostly during harsh winters and work on daily wages in southern Pakistan. They believe that harsh winter season provide them with the chance to migrate to Pakistan where winters season is comparatively less intense. Therefore, the spend winter season in Pakistan and earn enough to go back and spend the rest of time with their families. Juma Khan is one of those who have travelled to Pakistan this winter. He has travelled 2000 miles north of Afghanistan to south Punjab, Pakistan. This 65 years old grandfather spent PKR 12000 on bribes that he had payed to border checkpoint security personnel and Pakistani police after crossing since he did not have proper identity to prove in order to enter Pakistan.
He told me that all government facilitation centers in his respective country are under Taliban control and Visa services are only being provided in Kabul. He thinks only powerful people with certain references are helped in Kabul centres. So he preferred illegal border crossing like most of other Afghans. On a 200 miles travel from Ghazni to Kandhar It took him 2 days to reach Kandhar. Their bus had to make hourly stops as Afghan troops were engaged with Taliban on the way to Kandar. Upon reaching Kandhar, he took another van to border which took 5 hours. He was told by their Afghan colleagues at Chamman border that Pakistani border agents allow illegal immigrants to pass through at midnight. Sometimes, this passing is carried out under heavy gunfire but it’s done when the border crossing is closed for an unknown time period. Juma Khan was allowed to enter Pakistan peacefully by border agents, a sum of 5 thousand per person was charged at a makeshift counter. He then approached by local police and demanded bribe. It took him him 2 days to reach Karachi, then 3 days from Karachi to Bahawlpur south Punjab. He lives at a local residence with other Afghans and sell black gram on a hand driven trolly. He walk all the day long to sell gram to locals and save whatever he earns. I deliberately asked whether he favours Taliban or the government, he firmly replied with the answer that I am with Taliban. He has two sons who are daily wagers in other parts of Afghanistan. He has grandchildren from his daughters and he spoke less of his female family. He has plans to return once winter is over, he desired to take me with him. He has rather promised me a bright future there.
Reminiscences Odyssey 