Arthur Paul Afghanistan Collection

The book raises critical questions relating to both humanitarian intervention and development agendas in crisis states. It supports a growing literature that interrogates past and present interventions, but does so by putting food security at the heart of both short- and long-term responses to crisis. In this it addresses two main issues. First, to review the current understanding of agriculture and food security issues in Afghanistan. Second, to bring together lessons on the nature and practice of interventions in support of food security and agriculture, particularly in the post-2001 period. The findings are a testimony to successful interventions, and explore wider implications of building food security under conditions of political instability. The book brings together papers by key practitioners and food security analysts with knowledge of the agricultural and political economy of Afghanistan. It makes an ongoing contribution to the theories of post-war rehabilitation in fragile states, providing an important reference for operational agencies and researchers. Published in association with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Afghanistan, a country which for generations has inspired writers, travellers and explorers, does not lend itself to easy categorization. Straddling Central Asia, and situated at the edges of the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East, Afghanistan distills elements and characteristics from all three of these regions. For Afghanistan is part of them all - and at the same time a part of none. And, as Warwick Ball shows in this richly illustrated and timely book, herein lies an explanation for Afghanistan's allure, its cultural wealth, and ultimately perhaps its tragedy. For it is a country whose complex essence is hard to define, a land which has always taken on aspects from outside, but which remains as stubbornly individualistic as its own mountainous landscape. That challenge posed by its distinct component parts looking in different directions has resulted in multi-layered and sometimes problematic questions of identity. Monuments of Afghanistan is a completely unique and meticulously researched guide to the history and background of this fascinating country. It provides broad summaries of the history, architecture and archaeology of the region, together with a gazetteer of the main monuments and archaeological sites. As Warwick Ball shows, no history of China, Persia, India or Russia can be understood without continual reference to the landlocked area at whose center lies the majestic deserts and sweeping mountain ranges. Afghanistan has always seemed to be the enigmatic key to the histories and destinies of others. Even today large tracts of this remarkable country remain unexplored and unknown. There is therefore a need for a book which describes and reveals its hidden treasures for the general reader and students. The Monuments of Afghanistan - which contains 150 color plates of such extraordinary artifacts as the 38 meter Bamiyan Buddha (notoriously destroyed by the Taliban), the Minaret of Mas'ud at Ghazni, theIron Age citadel at Kandahar, the mausoleum at Kuhsan and the Minaret of Jam - meets that requirement.Yet there is a further reason why the appearance of this book is so significant. Twenty years of fighting and instability have taken their toll on the immense Afghan cultural legacy. Destruction of the Bamiyan statues was merely the most public casualty among many others. This book chronicles and illustrates all of the major (and many lesser known) monuments and buildings that have been lost or damaged. Based on this extraordinary collection of photographs taken before the destruction in Afghanistan, the book captures the memory of a heritage under threat. There is a pressing need for this record of all the buildings - whether now lost, or still surviving - in their entirety, and which testifies in photographic form to their dignity and beauty. The Monuments of Afghanistan represents, above all, an enduring and poignant memorial to a culture built in one of the most extraordinary and transporting landscapes on earth.

The archaeology and architecture of Afghanistan have never been the subject of their own book before; through concise description and discussion Edgar Knobloch here reveals their importance both as works of art, and as symbols of the country's past, geography and character. Tracing the historical and cultural development of artistic and architectural styles, this book comprehensively examines the major sites, with detailed description of their buildings and decoration. The extent to which these structures were influences by Afghanistan's long history of war and invasion - from Alexander the Great to the present day - is discussed against a clear and informative outline of the country's past and present. Illustrated with evocative photographs of both monuments and daily life, the book describes in detail the artistic movements and achievements of Afghanistan, while constantly reminding the reader that these images, taken by the author in 1978, show a cultural heritage which may no longer exist.   Edgar Knoblock studied Middle Eastern History at the Charles University and the Oriental Institute in Prague. He has visited, researched and photographed archaeological sites and architectural monuments throughout the Islamic world. His photographs have been exhibited at the British Museum, the Royal Geographic Society and the School of Oriental and African studies.

Almost 30 years ago, a precious trove of art was spirited away from the National Museum of Afghanistan by a small group of "keyholders" _museum guards, curators, and antiquities lovers who risked their lives to save the country’s cultural treasures. Their actions spared these magnificent pieces from the threat of destruction, first by the invading Soviets in 1979 and more recently by the Taliban. Exquisitely crafted in gold and ivory, the artifacts illustrate Afghanistan’s key place at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, at the center of the ancient Silk Road_a rich heritage to be displayed at four major U.S. museums through 2009. Crowning this headline-making exhibition is a famous hoard of Bactrian gold, considered to be one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. To help create the exhibit and book, archaeologist and National Geographic Society Fellow Fredrik T. Hiebert inventoried the artifacts at the request of the Afghan government. Gorgeously photographed and elegantly packaged, the collection shines in this official companion to the much anticipated and widely covered tour. For the eager audiences who will visit, and for legions of art and history lovers across the United States, Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures provides a beautiful, affordable keepsake, a handsome gift, and a rare opportunity to appreciate this matchless tradition of artistry and the steadfast human spirit that preserved it.

Images of Afghanistan, an edited collection in the non-fiction Cultural/ Social genre provides the first-ever overview of the art and literature of Afghanistan. 32 chapters on art, music, film, proverbs, short stories, poetry, cartoons, and folktales in popular style offer key insights into the complexities of Afghan culture. The book is divided into seven sections. Introductory chapters focus on the history of Afghanistan and understanding culture through art and literature. A Dari Literature section covers classical and modern poetry, short stories, proverbs and children's rhymes. A Pashto Literature section includes traditional poetry, modern poetry, short stories, folktales, proverbs and tappas. The Themes of Culture section analyzes the dynamics of shame and honor in the Persio-Afghan setting, the traditional need for patronage and its modern relevance, the mystical longing for God as reflected in the ghazals of Hafiz, and romantic love in traditional and modern love stories. The Traditional Art section covers calligraphy, woodworking, and ceramics, the unique layout of the traditional city, and archeological heritage. The Performing Arts and Fine Art section explores the development of music, fine art, and film in Afghanistan. A final section called Potpourri features Afghan authors who help span the chasm between east and west, a selection of modern cultural initiatives, the infamous folk character Mullah Nasruddin, the role of women in art and literature, and cartoons and comedy.

During the last couple of decades Afghanistan s cultural heritage has faced exceptional challenges. Looting of the National Museum, Kabul Museum , the neglect of monuments and extensive illegal excavations have taken place. However, what really shook the world was the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan in March 2001. This volume focuses on Afghanistan s cultural heritage protection. Its purpose is threefold. To provide an overview of the diversity of activities undertaken in the cultural heritage field. To change public opinion into a more positive one. And to serve as an example for future generations. This multidisciplinary book (including contributions from archaeologists, linguists, and lawyers) will interest both scholars in the cultural, legal and humanistic field as well as the public at large. Many exceptional photographs are included.

Trust is the Coin of the Realm shines a rare light into the labyrinth of Afghanistan's 'money men' and their influential informal economy that links the Islamic world. Hawala is the ancient financial system that predates Muhammad, and provides a vital key to engaging with many of the world's traditional cultures. Stereotyped as 'built for terrorism' and a dangerous pipeline for dirty money in the wake of 9/11, Thompson reveals it to be indispensable to the work and reach of humanitarians, donors, family members, and the business community. Outsiders striving to build states and peace in crisis countries will find this book invaluable for earning the trust that is essential if their efforts are to make a lasting difference.

2011 Updated Reprint. Updated Annually. Doing Business and Investing in Afghanistan Guide

Afghanistan in Ink uses a vast and largely unknown corpus of twentieth-century Afghan Dari and Pashto literature to show how Afghans have conceived of their modern history and how writers' patronage or exile has dominated the contours of that history. Drawing on an abundance of Afghan-language sources, chapters by international experts reveal a disruptive twentieth-century dynamic, in which literary globalization has caused the destabilization of the state by importing multiple, conflicting ideologies. Afghanistan in Ink situates the twentieth century's itinerant and exiled Afghan writers within their transnational contexts and maps Afghan artistic and ideological interactions with Muslim and Western nations. The volume emphasizes the social and political dimensions of this literature and, through its extensive introduction, provides both specialists and nonspecialists with unique, "inside" perspectives on the religious, political, and cultural debates shaping modern Afghan society.

Selections from the poems of Khushhal Khan Khatak with translations and grammatical introductions; edited and compiled by C. E. Biddulph.

In the 1970s John Baily conducted extensive ethnomusicological research in Afghanistan, principally in the city of Herat but also in Kabul. Then, with Taraki's coup in 1978, came conflict, war, and the dispersal of many musicians to locations far and wide. This new publication is the culmination of Baily's further research on Afghan music over the 35 years that followed. This took him to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, the USA, Australia and parts of Europe - London, Hamburg and Dublin. Arranged chronologically, the narrative traces the sequence of political events - from 1978, through the Soviet invasion, to the coming of the Taliban and, finally, the aftermath of the US-led invasion in 2001. He examines the effects of the ever-changing situation on the lives and works of Afghan musicians, following individual musicians in fascinating detail. At the heart of his analysis are privileged vignettes of ten musical personalities - some of friends, and some newly discovered. The result is a remarkable personal memoir by an eminent ethnomusicologist known for his deep commitment to Afghanistan, Afghan musicians and Afghan musical culture. John Baily is also an ethnographic filmmaker. Four of his films relating to his research are included on the DVD that accompanies the text.

Introduction: Vocal herstories : resonances of singing, individuals, and authors / Ruth Hellier -- Akkiko Fujii : telling the musical life stories of a hereditary jiuta singer of Japan / Shino Arisawa -- Amelia Pedroso : the voice of a Cuban priestess leading from the inside / Amanda Villepastour -- Ayben : the girl's voice in Turkish rap / Thomas Solomon -- Ixya Herrera : gracefully nurturing "Mexico" with song in the U.S.A. / Ruth Hellier -- Kyriakou Pelagia : the housewife/grandmother-star of Cyprus / Nicoletta Demetriou -- Lexine Solomon : songs of connection and celebration by a Torres Strait islander / Katelyn Barney -- Marysia's voice : defining home through song in Poland and Canada / Louise Wrazen -- Sathima Bea Benjamin : musical echoes and the poetics of a South African-American musical self / Carol Muller -- Sima's choices : negotiating repertories and identities in contemporary Iran / Gay Breyley -- Zainab Herawi : finding acclaim in the conservative Islamic culture of Afghanistan / Veronica Doubleday -- Afterword / Ellen Koskoff.

Even though the people of Afghanistan have in general suffered under the rule of the Taliban, women live especially difficult lives, enduring terrible hardships. They are denied basic human rights, forced to wear veil and kept in seclusion. This work addresses the religion, revolution, and national identity of Afghani women and places them within their gender-political and religious-political roles, thus elevating our understanding of their abuse, imprisonment and murder, and offering a basis for their rehabilitation. Powerful and moving interviews with Afghani women conducted and translated by the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan are presented and a brief history of the struggle of the Afghani women and an overview of the conflict between the Afghanis and the Talibans are included.

The women of Afghanistan lived a five-year nightmare under the Taliban regime. In Veiled Threat, Sally Armstrong introduces several of these women--including the deputy prime minister of Afghanistan, Dr. Sima Samar--who describe the living hell they experienced as well as the quiet rebellion--clandestine schools for girls and health clinics for women--that took place in an effort to subvert the Taliban's hateful edicts.One of the first Western journalists to visit Afghanistan, Armstrong gives us an insider's view of the deplorable situation. She also provides a broader perspective, leading us through the history of Afghanistan, including the ebb and flow of women's rights. She examines what the Koran actually says about women. She points a finger at the international community for accepting women's oppression in the name of culture, and she accuses the Taliban and other fundamentalist leaders of distortingIslam for political opportunism.While there have been other books aboutthe women in Afghanistan, VEILED THREAT holds a unique position. There have been two autobiographies: ZOYA'S STORY and MY FORBIDDEN FACE; a photo book, UNVEILED; and a book about RAWA (Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan) called VEILED COURAGE. VEILD THREAT is much broader in its approach.

Photographs and text depict the lives of Afghan women during and after the rule of the Taliban, revealing their sadness and strength during times of war and their hope for a better life in the future.