The blue lakes of Band-e Amir between limestone cliffs in Bamyan, Afghanistan

Essays · Memoir · Poetry

The Roashans

Where we discuss Afghanistan. Essays, a family memoir and poems in English and Dari.

Band-e Amir, Bamyan

بشنو این نی چون شکایت می‌کند از جدایی‌ها حکایت می‌کند

Listen to this reed, how it complains, telling the tale of separations.

The opening of the Masnavi of Mawlana Jalaluddin Balkhi, Rumi (1207–1273), called Balkhi after Balkh, his family’s city.

Latest essays

Country Corner

All 58 essays

The Russians are Back in Afghanistan

In the past decade and a half we remained engaged in Afghanistan. What we did not do was a close and realistic observation of our engagement and investment…

US Aid Money and Afghanistan

In December 2001, the United States well aware of the fact that the establishment of a democratic system of government in Afghanistan would not come about free of…

Karzai’s Pre-Lame Duck Attitude

Afghanistan is an important country, strategically located with huge untapped and priceless resources for an energy and raw materials hungry world. The world needs peace in Afghanistan and…

Why is Karzai Playing Hard?

A little over four months left in Karzai’s rule, he tries to show mettle. All along until recently Karzai was a tame team player. President Bush liked him…

Karzai who?

Afghanistan has entered into a phase in its life that is of utmost importance for its place in history and its immediate and far fledged future as well…

Afghanistan,My Ancestral Home

M. Khalid Roashan

A memoir in 15 chapters

Afghanistan, My Ancestral Home

Mohammed Khalid Roashan’s account of growing up in Kabul and Nangarhar, of school days and the nomads, of editing a newspaper and serving in government until the end of the monarchy, and of the years of change that followed.

“…you may get a picture of an Afghan as he grows up and goes through life in that far pavilion that is Afghanistan.”

Poetry & prose

Art & Culture

All 41 pieces

امید

Hope

به امیدِ طلوعی بعدِ این سیاهی،سال‌ها در غربت و تنهایی،

Murtaza Roashan

Allotment

You are dealt a hand of two, three, four, five, six, or seven—Random, unpredictable, unforgiving.You play them day and night,

Zalmai Roashan

Gallery

Afghanistan in pictures

All 39 pictures

The family

The writers

Authors