The Geneva Shuffle

If you walk down the main street in Darra, a village bazaar not far from Peshawar, Pakistan, it looks, at first glance, as if the war in Afghanistan is proceeding nicely. Afghans wearing dusty turbans argue over the price of Soviet assault rifles. One or two big spenders discuss delivery dates on some big Chinese anti-aircraft guns, to be sent out on the next available camel caravan. A 14-year-old boy longingly eyes a basket full of rocket-propelled grenades. Eight years of war in Afghanistan have made Darra the black-market arms capital of the world.

Back in civilization, the experts are debating whether the signing of the Geneva accords will bring about a new government in Kabul. Here in Darra, Geneva is also a matter of concern, but for different reasons. The price of arms has skyrocketed. Darra arms merchants don’t know what the accords will mean for Afghanistan, but they know one thing for sure: Geneva will be bad for business. If they are right, and arms supplies dry up, the mujahedin may soon find themselves fighting under rather awkward circumstances.

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Charles Bork

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If you walk down the main street in Darra, a village bazaar not far from Peshawar, Pakistan, it looks, at first glance, as if the war in Afghanistan is proceeding nicely. Afghans wearing dusty turbans argue over the price of Soviet assault rifles. One or two big spenders discuss delivery dates on some big Chinese anti-aircraft guns, to be sent out on the next available camel caravan. A 14-year-old boy longingly eyes a basket full of rocket-propelled grenades. Eight years of war in Afghanistan have made Darra the black-market arms capital of the world.

Back in civilization, the experts are debating whether the signing of the Geneva accords will bring about a new government in Kabul. Here in Darra, Geneva is also a matter of concern, but for different reasons. The price of arms has skyrocketed. Darra arms merchants don’t know what the accords will mean for Afghanistan, but they know one thing for sure: Geneva will be bad for business. If they are right, and arms supplies dry up, the mujahedin may soon find themselves fighting under rather awkward circumstances.