AFGHAN GIRLS GET AUCTIONED OFF IN PAKISTAN

THE HINDUSTAN TIMES ^ | JANUARY 23, 2002 11:02:42 PM

[Madiuq]

Girls, five to 17 years old, and young boys — daughters and sons of Afghan refugees — are being auctioned off in the lawless frontier areas of Pakistan, according to a US newspaper.

In a dispatch from Jamrud, Pakistan, The Washington Times reported that the girls are sold into prostitution or live-in servitude in Pakistan, or join the harems of the rich in West Asia, while the boys are in demand for camel races.

The trade, the paper said, is thriving. Girls are auctioned off in a large rectangular room where intricate Afghan carpets cover the floor and pillows serve as seats for low tables.

Buyers puff on hookahs as the girls, escorted by an elderly woman, walk to a dais in the centre of the room dressed only in thin cotton smocks. Before purchase, a buyer has the right to remove the tunic and inspect the girl in front of the crowd.

Dozens of locals say Afghan girls between the ages of 5 and 17 are sold in the range of $80-100. The price depends on the colour of their eyes and skin. If they are virgins, the price is higher.

[Madiuq]

GREAT ALLIES THESE PAKISTANI SCUMBAGS!

[paltz]

That reminds me of a news segment on FOx which spoke of American families willing to adopt Afghan orphans.

However, liberal agencies aren't allowing it because "You just cant throw an Afghan child into an American white family"

[eclectic]

American families willing to adopt Afghan orphans

This nation is sick

[paltz]

Dozens of locals say Afghan girls between the ages of 5 and 17 are sold in the range of $80-100.

I'm aware of the difference but many children who do not have a family will be subject to such abuse,which is why that segment on adoption was aired

[StoneColdGOP]

Sick, and sad...

[StoneColdGOP]

Short term: We need their help in whoopin' ass in Afghanistan, at least as far as they are a staging area for operations.

Long term: I can't think of one damn reason.

[xm177e2]

GREAT ALLIES THESE PAKISTANI SCUMBAGS!

Actually, the auctioning is not being carried out with support from the Pak government. This is in the lawless frontier region, and it's probably ethnic Afghans doing the selling.

[dandelion]

Only someone who never had a heart would say that adopting an orphan from ANY nation is "sick".

It's not "sick" - it's what Jesus does. Remember him? The one who comforts widows and orphans? Oh yeah, that dude...

[eclectic]

The one who comforts widows and orphans?

One thing is to comfort, another is to import. Adopt a puppy, you'll feel just as good

[dandelion]

"Adopt a puppy, you'll feel just as good."

It's not about feeling good... it's about DOING good. Say, who's more sick - a person who wants to adopt an Afghan orphan, or a person who thinks an dog is more worthy for adoption than an Afghan orphan?

I've already adopted a puppy - I think I'll adopt an orphan too.

[dougherty]

Well, there are plenty of orphans right here that could use a good home, there's no reason to go halfway around the world to adopt one. We should take care of our own FIRST.

[NativeNewYorker]

There is actually a shortage of desirable kids available for adoption here, based on the costs and hassles that willing would-be US parents face.

[FreeAtlanta]

I think cost has a lot to do with it. It might be cheaper to adopt internationally? Also, the trend here in the good old USA is that our orphans are from diseased druggies. It is sad, but many families can not handle the burden of raising a child with those problems. Also, here in the US, you have to worry about the "dna doners" showing up in the future, to cause your family undue stress. JMO

[arthurus]

Well, there are plenty of orphans right here that could use a good home

IRRELEVANT.These children are mostly not available.
The childhood services type of agencies in all the states makes adoption of domestic
orphans very difficult. As there is a great number of black orphans and very few black
would-be adopters, adoption must be discouraged because it is officialluy regarded as
wrong to permit white folks to adopt black children as it would dilute the children's heritage.
And any adoption of American children is discouraged because it would tend to reduce
abortions and thus prevent some women from excersizing their right of choice.

[mikeIII]

ping!

[Dog Gone]

What a lovely practice.

It's widely-known that there are parts of Pakistan where the government has virtually no control. Everyday life there must look like the Cantina scene in Star Wars.

[LN2Campy]

The legendary beauty of the "blondies of Nuristan" (f/k/a Kafiristan, an area straddling the Pak/Afghan border) is well known in that region, and its inhabitants were only forcibly converted to Islam in 1895. The balance of the "idolaters" on the Pak side kept their traditional ways (largely b/c the British Raj was much more tolerant) but are now being hounded into converting by the islamists, so they'll be extinct in no time. As is par for the course with the Muzzies, nonmuslim women were fair game for use as sex slaves, and this kind of thing has been going on a lot in that part of the world.

What wonderful friends we have there!!