Comments on: The (Taliban) Kite Runner http://registan.net/index.php/2010/02/02/the-taliban-kite-runner/ All Central Asia, All The Time Fri, 25 May 2012 20:24:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Fnord http://registan.net/index.php/2010/02/02/the-taliban-kite-runner/comment-page-1/#comment-384225 Fnord Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:57:53 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=10430#comment-384225 From a milytary point of view, kites seem like a ideal way of transmitting basic messages, precisely because it is a common past-time. Hiding in plain sight, and all of that? From a milytary point of view, kites seem like a ideal way of transmitting basic messages, precisely because it is a common past-time. Hiding in plain sight, and all of that?

]]> By: RScott http://registan.net/index.php/2010/02/02/the-taliban-kite-runner/comment-page-1/#comment-384190 RScott Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:44:19 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=10430#comment-384190 Kite flying and fighting has been a long tradition in Afghanistan. In the early 1970s at least, Jalalabad was the site of one of the biggest kite fighting tournaments in the spring and Kabul was full of kites as well. Not something recently brought in. Kite flying and fighting has been a long tradition in Afghanistan. In the early 1970s at least, Jalalabad was the site of one of the biggest kite fighting tournaments in the spring and Kabul was full of kites as well. Not something recently brought in.

]]> By: RScott http://registan.net/index.php/2010/02/02/the-taliban-kite-runner/comment-page-1/#comment-384189 RScott Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:38:06 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=10430#comment-384189 In the spring of 97, the first chance I had to get back into central Helmand after the Soviet invasion, kids were flying kites in Kandahar...after our media had made a big thing about no kites or football matches under the Taliban. When asked, the kids said that yes flying kites was forbidden but that the Taliban were not enforcing it (at least in Kandahar). When I got to Lashkar Gah, there were neighborhood teams having a soccer tournament in the central field of that town...under the control of the Taliban. In the spring of 97, the first chance I had to get back into central Helmand after the Soviet invasion, kids were flying kites in Kandahar…after our media had made a big thing about no kites or football matches under the Taliban. When asked, the kids said that yes flying kites was forbidden but that the Taliban were not enforcing it (at least in Kandahar). When I got to Lashkar Gah, there were neighborhood teams having a soccer tournament in the central field of that town…under the control of the Taliban.

]]> By: Reader http://registan.net/index.php/2010/02/02/the-taliban-kite-runner/comment-page-1/#comment-384187 Reader Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:27:22 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=10430#comment-384187 Sounds right! Sounds right!

]]> By: BruceR http://registan.net/index.php/2010/02/02/the-taliban-kite-runner/comment-page-1/#comment-384186 BruceR Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:19:55 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=10430#comment-384186 @Reader, I remember arguing the same thing once, but I also never heard of the current Taliban taking any action against kid kite-flyers while I was closer to the action. They've got more significant fish to fry now. What might have made sense when they held absolute sway is less important now that they're trying harder to keep the population on side: it seems the more trivial offences are being ignored. @Reader, I remember arguing the same thing once, but I also never heard of the current Taliban taking any action against kid kite-flyers while I was closer to the action. They’ve got more significant fish to fry now. What might have made sense when they held absolute sway is less important now that they’re trying harder to keep the population on side: it seems the more trivial offences are being ignored.

]]> By: Jakob http://registan.net/index.php/2010/02/02/the-taliban-kite-runner/comment-page-1/#comment-384184 Jakob Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:11:04 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=10430#comment-384184 Even if Kite Flying may not be a traditional pass time in Afghan history (I don't know) I assume that at least the Afghan refugees to Pakistan who returned may have brought it back, since there it's extremely popular (and controversial, considered non-Muslim and deadly because of the glass splinters attached to the ropes to cut down other kites - google Basant+lahore or similar) Even if Kite Flying may not be a traditional pass time in Afghan history (I don’t know) I assume that at least the Afghan refugees to Pakistan who returned may have brought it back, since there it’s extremely popular (and controversial, considered non-Muslim and deadly because of the glass splinters attached to the ropes to cut down other kites – google Basant+lahore or similar)

]]> By: Joshua Foust http://registan.net/index.php/2010/02/02/the-taliban-kite-runner/comment-page-1/#comment-384183 Joshua Foust Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:37:39 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=10430#comment-384183 Sometimes, spam comments slip through. I got rid of it. The point BruceR raises, which is important, is that kites actually ARE common enough that to assume mere presence indicates signaling is a sign of inexperience. And he says this having been there, in that part of the country (I rarely saw kites in the East). Sometimes, spam comments slip through. I got rid of it.

The point BruceR raises, which is important, is that kites actually ARE common enough that to assume mere presence indicates signaling is a sign of inexperience. And he says this having been there, in that part of the country (I rarely saw kites in the East).

]]> By: Reader http://registan.net/index.php/2010/02/02/the-taliban-kite-runner/comment-page-1/#comment-384182 Reader Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:04:49 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=10430#comment-384182 Kites are very common in afg, but Talibs forbid it on reasons kites are play and a waste of time which should be used for worshipping A. So if locals see a kite up in a Talib controlled zone they know it is permitted for a special reason. That's just my guess. Kites are very common in afg, but Talibs forbid it on reasons kites are play and a waste of time which should be used for worshipping A. So if locals see a kite up in a Talib controlled zone they know it is permitted for a special reason. That’s just my guess.

]]> By: Turgai Sangar http://registan.net/index.php/2010/02/02/the-taliban-kite-runner/comment-page-1/#comment-384181 Turgai Sangar Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:17:51 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=10430#comment-384181 A bit more to the east, Lashkar-è-Taiba sees it even more adventurous: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article7000876.ece A bit more to the east, Lashkar-è-Taiba sees it even more adventurous:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article7000876.ece

]]> By: Michael Hancock http://registan.net/index.php/2010/02/02/the-taliban-kite-runner/comment-page-1/#comment-384179 Michael Hancock Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:50:01 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=10430#comment-384179 Um. Ugg Boot ads? Weirdness never ceases. I'm not sure how common kite-flying is in any part of Afghanistan, but I imagine that if they stick out to the people on the ground, they are uncommon enough to be used as opportunistic signaling systems. Just my uneducated guess. Um. Ugg Boot ads? Weirdness never ceases. I’m not sure how common kite-flying is in any part of Afghanistan, but I imagine that if they stick out to the people on the ground, they are uncommon enough to be used as opportunistic signaling systems. Just my uneducated guess.

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