From: sehari@iastate.edu (Babak Sehari)
Subject: Re: Cultura dar Afghanistan 
Originator: sehari@vincent2.iastate.edu
Organization: Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa.
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 23:31:30 GMT

In <1992Sep10.190813.11703@wam.umd.edu> endevour@wam.umd.edu (...) writes:

>In article <babak.715478027@vlsi1> babak@cpre1.ee.iastate.edu (Babak Sehari) writes:
>>
>>Afghan, means load scream from pain or sorrow.  Afghanistan was part of 
>>origional Iran, which was forced out of Iran by England around 100 or so years
>>ago.

>If you want to make such a far fetched claim as Afghanistan being a part of
>Iran, then pleasee give reliable refrences. It is the third time that you 
>make such a claim with the arrogance that has become intolerable. We, the  
>Afghans, too have some lunatics in our country who would claim that Iran and 
                       ^^^^^^^^^^
>India is part of Afghanistan. Of course it is none but utter nonsense. 

First. I do not know if you are a real Afghani.  Your name dose not sound
Persian to me.  Second, there are a lot of literature out there supporting
the fact that Afghanistan was an Ostan of Iran.  The ending Ostan is another
evidence to this fact. Third, I should tell you that people in Afghanistan
who believe Iran, Afghanistan, and part of north India are one country are
*not* totally wrong.  There are historical and cultural grounds for this
idea.  Like East Germany and West Germany, north Korea and south Korea,
China and Taiwan.  There was no invasion that have made these current
countries united in the past. Rather, it really is a cultural drive for
unity in these countries.

Nevertheless, many people in current Iran reject the idea of unity with 
Afghanistan.  The reason is many fold. One of the most important factors
for their rejection of this unification is economical.  That is if we
would unify these countries tomorrow, there is a large amount of the iranian
Oil money should go to help to reconstruct Afghanistan, which this means
cut backs from other regions of current Iran.  Second, as you know there
is a great unrest in Afghanistan. Joining with the current Iran means
huge task of bring the peace to Afghanistan would fall in our hand.  Then,
Afghanistan dose not have any strategic importance for current Iran, it
would be just a big problem of cleaning the current mess in Afghanistan.

However, unity with Iran has many advantages for people of Afghanistan.
One of them, is current Afghanistan, which is a landlock region, would gain
access to free waters.  It would become easier for people of Afghanistan
to use our universities, which they teach in Persian, current Iran's
job market, free trade with current Iran.

The only thing that make some people of current Iran interested to join
with Afghanistan is the idea of unification of all Persian speaking people.

In today's world, when European nations and other countries of the
world discovered that they can neither compete with other countries alone,
nor could survive as a small nation, as a result they are making themselves
as united States of Europe.  When United States is talking economical
unification with Mexico and Canada.  When South East Asian Countries are
getting more and more closer every day.  It is disturbing to see small
minded nationalism such as yours, is delaying the progress of our region
of the world.  As I said, it's up to people of Afghanistan to decide what
kind of future do they want, a country deadlocked in the mountains, or a
bigger union with people who speak their language, have very close culture
to their culture, and could provide greater opportunity for their kids, and 
themselves in general.  Not to mention the same religion and historical
background.

Off course, you might know that Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan currently
are trying to reach at least much greater economic cooperation through
CNTO.  Even though, the process has been very slow.  Really, if we want to
have any future, and would like to compete with other regions of the world
, our region does not have any choice but to open up it's eyes and face the
realities of today's world.  One of which is no small country could provide
for welfare of it's people.  In order to provide a better life style for
people of a small and less populated country, that country should join others.
In order to put all their resources together, and make a better use of them.

Even with all these considerations, if people of Afghanistan still choose
to stay as an small country, we the current Iranians are still willing to
devote some of our resources to help them to ease their hardships, and
help them to achieve to their goals, whatever it might be.  After all, 
people in Afghanistan and some other soviet republics are the only other
people in the world that understand our language and our culture.

                         With highest regards,
                              Babak   Sehari.

>What do you say to the Kurds in north of Iran. They too "wish" to be 
>independent would you be as magnanimous as you have so far been with  
>the Afghans. 'Nuf daid.  

Yes, but most Kurdish relative that I have would like to stay with current
Iran.  They are reminders of Madians which together with Persians and
Partians, which are the origin of Afghan people made a common union, which
they called Iran.  The Original Iran
made of the union of the Persians, Madians (Kurds), and Partians ( people
of Eastern Iran and Afghanistan).  Needless, to say I am part Kurd.  Their
pain is our pain, too.