Military

DATE=03/31/2003

TYPE=EDITORIAL

NUMBER=0-10525

TITLE=EDITORIAL: PROGRESS IN AFGHANISTAN

INTERNET=Yes

CONTENT=THIS EDITORIAL IS BEING RELEASED FOR USE BY DARI, PASHTO, AND OTHER INTERESTED SERVICES.

Anncr: Next, an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government:

Voice: The people of Afghanistan are enjoying their freedom. When the Taleban took over in 1996, they imposed their extremist Islamic views on the Afghan people. Depictions of humans and animals were considered to be blasphemous. Most of the art collection in the National Museum in Kabul was destroyed or looted. Historical treasures such as the giant statues of Buddha carved into a mountain near the town of Bamiyan were blown up. Artists were forced to flee the country.

The Taleban even hated music. Afghans were not allowed to listen to it on their radios. Now that the Taleban have been overthrown, music CDs are once again available and Afghan music is now being broadcast.

(ACT: DALET: POLICY/EDITORIALS: AHMAD ZAHIR MUSIC, IN FULL FOR 0:10, THEN FADE AND LOSE BEHIND)

Voice: This is the music of Ahmad Zahir, called by some "The Elvis of Afghanistan." His fans include all ethnic groups. Ahmad Zahir died in June 1979, but shortly after they took over the country, the Taleban drove a tank to his grave to destroy any trace of the singer.

During his lifetime, Mr. Zahir had recorded more than twenty albums. He put to music the words of Afghan and Persian poets. Ahmad Zahir also sang love songs and played instruments including the accordion, piano and guitar. He brought together Afghan and western music.

Now that the oppressive Taleban have been removed from power, there is an effort to restore Ahmad Zahir's resting-place. The New York Times newspaper reports that several Afghans have formed a committee to repair the gravesite.

Seyar Zafar is a thirty-five-year-old Afghan who lived outside Afghanistan for fifteen years. He told the New York times newspaper that every time he visited another expatriate Afghan family, he heard Ahmad Zahir singing in the background. "He's still alive in the heart of many Afghans," Mr. Zafar said. And the Afghan singer's voice serves as a symbol that Afghanistan is on the road to recovery.

Anncr: That was an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government. If you have a comment, please write to Editorials, V-O-A, Washington, D-C, 20237, U-S-A. You may also comment at www-dot-voanews-dot-com-slash-editorials, or fax us at (202) 619-1043.