Culture

A Century After Communist Revolution, Tajiks Still Yearn To Visit Homeland

A quarter-century after the demise of the Soviet Union, tens of thousands of Tajiks, whose ancestors fled their homes into Afghanistan nearly 90 years ago, have yet to return to their homeland and be reunited with their families.

Circus School Brings Hope To Afghan Children

A Kabul circus school is helping hundreds of Afghan children overcome trauma caused by years of war and poverty. By teaching skills like juggling and acrobatics, the Mobile Mini Circus For Children builds self-confidence and teaches teamwork in the deeply divided country.

North Korean Diplomat Suspected Of Bootlegging in Pakistan

Senior Pakistani police and customs officials say the discovery of a large amount of liquor has led them to conclude that some North Korean diplomats are involved in selling alcohol either to make money for themselves or to provide funds for the cash-starved regime in Pyongyang.

Dari Or Farsi? Afghanistan's Long-Simmering Language Row

A language dispute has erupted in Afghanistan after the BBC labeled the Facebook page of its local service BBC Dari, a name rejected by Afghan Persian speakers who prefer their language to be known as Farsi.

Pakistani Religious Parties Increase Calls For Violence Against ‘Blasphemers’  

Afghan Street Artists On Mission To Change Kabul

Using paintbrushes as their weapons and blast walls as their canvass, a young generation of Afghan artists bring messages of peace and hope to the streets of Kabul.

Afghanistan's All-Female TV Channel Surges Ahead

Zan TV is Afghanistan’s first and only TV station run by and for women. Five months after it launched, ratings are soaring. RFE/RL’s Frud Bezhan met some of the professionals who are braving the threat of violence in order to break new ground for Afghan women. (Camera: Ahmad Massoud)

The KGB Man Who Joined The Taliban

Bakhrudin Khakimov left the KGB and joined Taliban militants. He was one of hundreds of Soviet personnel who remained in Afghanistan after the Red Army withdrew in chaos in 1989. RFE/RL's Frud Bezhan has his story (Camera: Ahmad Massoud)

HRW Gives Kabul, Donors Failing Grade On Afghan Girls' Education

Efforts by Kabul and international donors to educate girls in Afghanistan have “significantly faltered in recent years,” according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Villages Along Afghan-Pakistan Border Brace For ‘Berlin Wall’

For decades, Pashtun tribal people from the villages along the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan have ignored the invisible line that demarcates the two countries. But now they are bracing for the prospect of a Berlin Wall-style divide.

Tajik Women Aghast To Find Their Selfies Touting Instagram 'Prostitutes'

Police confirm a number of young women have appealed for help after private pics, contact details turn up on tawdry websites.