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3 August 2013, Fair Observer

Kabul Diary: Hope and Fissures

Fair Observer published Gateway House, Content Manager, Rajeshwari Krishnamurthy's article Kabul Diary: Hopes and Fissures. In her first Diary entry, she writes about her first impressions and important political developments, such as the break in talks on the Bilateral Security Agreement between Afghanistan and the US.

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[Note: Kabul Diary is a compilation of experiences and observations by Gateway House’s Rajeshwari Krishnamurthy, who recently visited Afghanistan. In her first entry, she writes about her first impressions and important political developments, such as the break in talks on the Bilateral Security Agreement between Afghanistan and the US.]

At first glimpse, Kabul is like an Afghan version of Mumbai. An entire side of a hill, covered by small houses and chaotic traffic come into view even before you land.

Despite the maelstrom on the surface, and the presence of bunkers at every nook and corner, there is some order in the city. Fairly wide pavements border almost every street, and rainwater drains run along roads flanked by trees of various varieties.

For the most part, people follow traffic rules on the main roads – you can also spot massive armoured military vehicles stuck at red lights, and surrounded by regular cars. Private vehicles move like clockwork. But the smaller byways and lanes are different, buzzing with cars that want to get to places before time. The cars of expatriates often try to cut through traffic jams in desperation. After all, the security situation isn’t getting any better, and punctuality is key to survival.

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