A Tale of Two Villages
Classic Story of Forbidden Love Unfolds in Uruzgan
By Sergeant First Class John Wollaston – Combined Team Uruzgan PAO
FOB ANACONDA, Afghanistan – Shakespeare could not have written a better tale.
In the dusty Uruzgan Province town of Khas Uruzgan there is a story every bit as dramatic as the Bard’s tale of young love and warring families. But instead of the Capulet’s and Montague’s it’s the Pashtun and the Hazara tribes and a provincial governor instead of a well meaning Monk hoping to bring the two groups together and maintain the peace in his province.
The story started 10 months ago when a woman from the local Pashtun tribe suddenly disappeared, only to reappear in another village with her new beau, a member of the Hazara tribe. The woman’s family members and tribal elders claimed that she was married; the Pashtun woman on the other hand, claims that she wasn’t kidnapped and that she was never married. And as an added twist, she declares she is truly in love with the Hazara man.
In Afghan culture, tribal loyalty and affiliation trump all else. Marrying into or being associated with the wrong tribe brings untold shame, disgrace and in some cases death to the offender. Such is the case with the star crossed lovers in this tale. In Afghan social stature where Pashtun and Hazara are concerned “never the twain shall meet”.
“Where this all started to fall apart,” said the Special Forces Captain in charge of the fire base in Khas Uruzgan. “is when the family of the Pashtun girl went to the local Taliban Mullah for help and he sent his men to the Hazara village and kidnapped seven villagers including a Hazara female.
As if this tale of love and revenge hadn’t taken enough turns and twists already, the Hazara village retaliated, taking seven hostages of their own.
“In all the times I’ve talked to the mother,” the Green Beret Captain said. “She never once mentioned that her daughter (the Pashtun woman) was married.”
Nor was it ever discussed that the only people looking for the Pashtun woman, was her four brothers. At no time was the Pashtun woman’s Count Paris brought up in conversation.
When that fact was pointed out to the elders of the Pashtun village, suddenly they produced ten witnesses who allegedly claim that she was either married or at the least promised to another man in the Pashtun village.
This modern say telling of forbidden romance might have passed unnoticed by the outside world until the day that the Pashtun woman at the middle of the controversy walked up to the entrance of the firebase asking for help. No she hadn’t been kidnapped she told the base commander. No she didn’t want to go back to her family. Yes she wanted to stay with the Hazara man she is now married to.
While the soldiers at the firebase were sorting through the details of the Pashtun girl’s story, word comes from the front gate that the Hazara girl that was allegedly kidnapped was at the front gate seeking help and protection as well.
The original plan was to keep the two girls on the firebase until the whole ‘he said she said’ mess could be sorted out. However, that plan quickly changed when word was received of people gathering for a protest in the local bazaar.
“I knew that I had to get them off my base as fast as possible.” The Special Forces captain said.
With the Romeo and Juliet love story quickly turning into a Westside Story Sharks versus Jets rumble, and having attracted the attention of none other than Hamid Karzai himself, a shura was convened to try and diffuse the situation before violence erupted.
“The Shura was necessary in order to resolve this situation before it got completely out of hand.” said Colonel Jim Creighton, the commander of Combined Team Uruzgan.
So Col. Creighton, with the acting Provincial Governor Khoday Rahim Khan, Provincial Police Chief, Brigadier Juma Gul Hemat and Afghan National Army 4th Brigade Commander Brigadier General Zafar Khan flew to Khas Uruzgan to convene the shura.
Anxious villagers from both tribes lined the sidewalk leading to the building where the shura was to be held, lining up like a human reminder to all involved what was at stake in this meeting. The commanders greeted all of them then got down to business. Arguments from both sides were heard, before the throng waiting outside was allowed to come in and hear the decision. Ultimately it was decided than an intermediary would travel to the Hazara village and continue the negotiations. Considering this handled by discussions and not AK-47’s shows how far Khas Uruzgan and the Province as a whole have come.
“The people of the district have begun to build respect for their provincial government and requested that the provincial governor help adjudicate the disagreement. It is testament to the growing effectiveness of the Afghan government.”
If this were to follow the arc of all great tales of forbidden love, this would be where the description of the lover’s death and the sadness of all involved would be told in great detail. However, this time, the story seems destined to have a happy ending. After the Shura was held, the couple was allowed to stay together. Representatives from various Non Governmental Organizations and an unnamed third country are working together to grant asylum to the couple, so that not only can they live a long life in love, they can do it without constantly looking over their shoulder in fear.
“The people of the district have begun to build respect for their provincial government and requested that the provincial governor help adjudicate the disagreement. It is testament to the growing effectiveness of the Afghan government.”
Great story..It seems progress IS being made! I was waiting for a bloody end to this tale.
WOW, tx, what a story.....I hope the trust will continue and they can finally figure out how to settle things without killing each other, and others too.
Sorry about the Cowboys...they almost pulled it off.
Stay safe, SFC!!
((HUGS))