The Road to Afghanistan - George Washington University

alleyways, lay the peculiar charm of Kabul. The Paghman Mountains, high above the capital,were ruled by snow and light, and were turned pale pink by the morning sun.The city began its busy day. The plots of political struggle were of little concern tothose who had to earn their daily bread. Vegetable traders covering their heads with woolblankets pushed their carts, sandaled feet schlepping on the melting snow. The staffmembers of the Da Afghanistan Bank, situated across from Hotel Kabul, masterly countedstacks of currency. Older bills with Mohammad Daoud’s portrait were to be replaced withthe fresh new Khalqi-issued money.The halls and corridors of Hotel Kabul were unusually busy. Tsarandoi operativeswere everywhere. These were not untidy, plain, malnourished policemen, who could beseen at every city corner with automatic guns or old rifles. Tsarandoi was represented inthe Hotel Kabul by tall, broad-shouldered, and confident men sporting elegant uniforms,regal Pashtun moustaches, and imposing automatic weaponry. Of particular pride toTsarandoi men were the revolvers from top international manufacturers, hung proudly attheir hips in open holsters.Tarun returned to the group of American embassy staff members. Charlieintroduced Minister-Counselor Amstutz. Tarun began to brief Amstutz, obviously trying toimpress him with his knowledge of English, including terms that he had heard in Americanpolice movies. He specially repeated the terrorists’ demands to the diplomat. “They aredemanding that their comrade Badruddin Bahes be freed and delivered to Hotel Kabul.Then they want to speak with foreign journalists and receive guarantees of safe passage toa country of their choosing, accompanied by the American ambassador. They are giving us299