Taliban friend's letters to the enemy

Benjamin Gilmour, if you didn't know it, has written a wonderful book Warrior Poets and made a much lauded film Son of a Lion. Check out both here.

Writing on Eureka Street.com.au he details a letter from a member of the Taliban "addressed to the Americans". The letter becomes even more significant given the 15,000 strong military operation presently underway in Afghanistan.

"Looting of military convoys is nothing new in this part of the world. A few decades ago it was the Soviets who lost their AK47s, big fur hats and service medals. Pre-partition, the British were so frustrated with the Pashtun habit of looting their weapon stores, that they encouraged Afridi tribes to expand the capabilities of the Darra Bazaar. It is ironic to think the only way the colonialists could stop the enemy from stealing their weapons was to help them make their own.

Fifty years later the Pashtuns are putting up the same fight they always have. Thanks to never-ending attempts to control them, war has become their way of life. In Abdullah Khan's gift there is a clear message, but he wants to make sure I don't miss it.

'My friend, tell your soldiers to stop risking their lives in Afghanistan for these medals. Here in Pakistan, we'll give them one for free. As long as they pack up and go home, we'll give them as many as they want.'"

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