A Peaceful Afghanistan- We Miss it

We nostalgically recall a peaceful Afghanistan of early 1970 s when my Maternal Uncle ( real Mamaji ) Late Dewan Brij Kumar IFS was India's First Secretary in Kabul.

We got bagfuls of dry fruits , specially , Pistachios.

Pushpa Mamiji told us about the bitter cold in winters and how an entire Afghan family slept in a a common room with a fire place in the centre of the room and a large common circular bed with all family members sleeping , placed like petals in a flower, legs towards the fire place.

Mamaji had a CD Numbered Left Hand Drive Mercedes in Afghanistan.

When ever he came , on long leave to India, his Mercedes was driven through Pakistan by Pakistani authorities. It was collected , from Pakistan Rangers ,at Hussiniwala border by our driver sahib - Ved Parkash.

Big hearted and very affectionate our Mamaji has given us specific instructions - to keep the car with us for as long as we wished before it was driven to External Affairs Hostel, Curzon Road ( now Kasturba Gandhi Marg ) New Delhi to him.

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Out side Powers- Quit Afghanistan

India and Pakistan should end their mutual hostilities and they should join hands to solve the Afghanistan issue.

India may choose to settle the Kashmir issue to move forward jointly with Pakistan in Afghanistan.

Let us keep Outside Powers away.

It is because of the India-Pakistan distrust / hostlilies that Afghanistan since the Soviet invasion in 1979 become a victim of the Great Game of outside Powers. These Powers have no emotional attachment ( unlike the Indians and the Pakistanis ) with the Afghan people.

They have ruined Afghanistan

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Dear Mamaji

Dewan Brij Kumar 's first diplomatic posting was in Saigon, South Vietnam ( now Ho Chi Minh City ).

 Then First Sectary in Rome with concurrent accreditation as India's Ambassador to the Vatican , San Marino etc. Then Kabul.

He went on to become Deputy Consul General, New York then India's First Consul General in Chicago and later India's High Commissioner to Maldives