Category Archives: Afghanistan

Art in Afghanistan.

Posted on February 4, 2012 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

Steve Mumford, a New York artist, writes about the National Gallery of Afghanistan and provides a window into a different world.  Interesting read. Thanks to Major Paul Smyth of UK Forces Afghanistan.

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Afghan oil paintings…

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

The world’s first oil paintings were in caves near two destroyed giant statues of Buddha at Bamiyan. For a fascinating story, read the National Geographic’s “Oldest Oil Paintings Found in Caves”.

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Radio Azadi and Afghanistan.

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

I shall be visiting Afghanistan for the first time in my life in the next few days.  What best describes my mood?  Excitement and trepidatious anticipation. Sometimes, the news that is reported is not that encouraging.  But sometimes, one reads … Continue reading →

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A soldier’s uniform.

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

Meet Joey Paulk, who survived horrific injuries incurred in Afghanistan:  “The burns on a soldier’s face are huge: It’s your military uniform and you can’t take it off,” he said. “The surgery changed so much on my face that it … Continue reading →

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Rabia Balkhi, the first and only Afghan queen and Persian poetess.

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

She lived in the 10th century.  She fell in love with her brother’s slave.  She was imprisoned by her brother and committed suicide after writing her last poem, Love, on her prison wall with her own blood.  I am caught in Love’s … Continue reading →

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An American lawyer in Kabul.

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

Gulnaz is the 21-year old Afghan lady who was raped, jailed because of the rape, and recently released. The story in itself is very disconcerting, to say the least.  It turns out Gulnaz was represented by an American lawyer who … Continue reading →

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The War in Afghanistan – a Canadian perspective.

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

For a Canadian perspective of the 10-year war in Afghanistan, check out the wealth of stories and the hauntingly beautiful Richard Johnson illustrations in  The Long Road at the National Post. I am happy that we have been able to … Continue reading →

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The juxtaposition of the then and now…war and pleasure…

Posted on November 25, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

In pictures, the shocking contrast between war and fun:  Afghanistan in the ’80s and More Fun and Games…

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Puppy love and war.

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

Puppy love: Stray dogs befriended by soldiers on duty in Afghanistan are flown thousands of miles to be reunited.

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A rock festival in Kabul.

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

‘Stealth’ Rock Festival In Kabul:  the first rock music festival in Afghanistan after 36 years!

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Meet Thomas L. Roznovsky, a “protector of freedom”.

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

If you, like me, feel bombarded with terrible and negative news from Afghanistan, the Victoria Advocate has a great story about Chief Petty Officer Thomas L. Roznovsky’s experience at the National Military Hospital in Kabul.  Here are two quotes from … Continue reading →

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The dancing boys of Afghanistan.

Posted on September 16, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

From the State Department’s “Office To Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons”: Some families knowingly sell their children for forced prostitution, including for bacha baazi – where wealthy men use groups of young boys for social and sexual entertainment. The … Continue reading →

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Dispatches from (and faces of) Afghanistan.

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

If you have never read Michael Yon’s “Dispatches”, do go and pay a visit.  He is currently in Afghanistan, and he is able to provide a real glimpse of what is happening over there: 13 September 2011 Zhari District, Kandahar … Continue reading →

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Women’s Rights in Afghanistan.

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

Via ISAF.

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Rule of Law in Afghanistan.

Posted on July 31, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

And so to help bring justice to Afghanistan, on the 4 July at Kandahar Airfield, General Petraeus and a retinue of other key persons came to stand up a new command called the NATO Rule of Law Field Support Mission. … Continue reading →

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