This is probably the most serious of the
war-related threats and the most likely you are to potentially encounter. The
area as a tourist you will probably run the risk of crossing these most are the
areas west of Kabul to the Hazarajat (Bamiyan) and the area is festooned with
these. These are not just your bog standard Pashtun Taliban (in fact the least
of the groups here) but every man and his dog including Hazara militant groups
and bandit groups. The primary aim of these is extortion and kidnapping. The
overwhelming majority of victims to date have been Afghan, but finding a
westerner for these guys is like winning the Euro-Millions, as the local
bandits will happily sell you to the highest bidder, including Taliban and Al
Qaeda elements.
Roadblocks with the intent of intimidating,
kidnapping and or killing Afghans and anyone else unfortunate enough to cross
them are spontaneous, short-lived things, that are highly mobile and
unpredictable.
The thing that you will probably see, and
possibly encounter personally. Afghans have endured over thirty years of
constant, brutal war, and this has had a lasting effect on the national psyche
of Afghans violence always lurks just below the surface and can erupt from
laughing to stabbing in literally seconds. They generally see violence, not as
a last resort, but as a first resort to solving problems.
Every Afghan male will have a knife on him,
every one, and they can and will use them with the most minimal of provocations.
(to be continued)
