A few days back we went out with the French to do a medical engagement in the valley. Scores of Afghans turned out looking for treatment. Amazingly women showed too. I've never seen Pashtun women come out for this sort of event in this part of the country. I think one reason is that many if not most of the Taliban have left for the winter. The people are generally less intimidated now. That won't last for long once the weather starts warming up, but it is good while it lasts. I think at least half the women were widows. One who looked about 80 but was almost certainly less than 60--only 2% of the population is 65 or older--had three sons killed by the Taliban. She brought her grandchildren and their mothers. This is a very vulnerable family with no men at all. They must live in constant fear and dread for the future. It is hard to see children in this sort of situation. The children here never cease to touch me. In the midst of all this two cars arrived and we had to stop and search them. The trunk of the lead vehicle held the corpse of a local man killed in an argument the night before in the next valley. It might have been a revenge killing because he killed another man last year. If the people in this valley believe in one thing it is revenge. After almost three years in this place I have never seen a valley so torn by feuds and vengeance. Even the Afghan Army commander here is amazed at the violence. He says they are crazy because they not only kill men, but also women and children. Sometimes I feel this place has no connection with my "normal" life. It is hard to imagine that life even exists after seeing what these people go through.
