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Among the tallest mountains in Afghanistan rests the province of Panjshir, and in the rolling rocky peaks history was made by a small group of people who chose to stand up against invading forces. The Soviets pushed their way into Afghanistan and took over many parts of the country in the name of communism.
Panjshir is where it stopped, and the actions of a few individuals gave the nation of Afghanistan the hope of peace. Ahmad Shah Massoud and the Northern Alliance stood their ground in the valleys and mountains of Panjshir. They repelled nine separate campaigns by the Soviets to take the province, earning Massoud the name “Lion of Panjshir.”
Massoud accomplished great feats in his life, but no one will remember him quite as well as the men who stood beside him in conflict, men like Hokomat Khan Golestan. He was one of Massoud’s generals during the Soviet invasion and the Taliban regime. For twenty-five years Golestan fought the enemy, planned attacks, ate with and became good friends with Massoud.
“When I see the pictures of Massoud posted around the streets, I believe that he is alive and with us still,” Golestan said. “He was such a friendly person and everyone in Afghanistan loved him.”
Golestan fought hard for Afghanistan, and in the process suffered many injuries and lost his lower left leg. Even though he was wounded Golestan continued to fight alongside Massoud earning him the name of Khan, an honorary title given to fighters in Afghanistan and other parts of the world.
In Afghanistan a person is sometimes given the name of the village they’re from as a replacement for their last name. Massoud began to call his friend “General Golestan,” an honorary name for a fighter named from his town.
Golestan will remember Massoud as he was in life; charismatic, intelligent, powerful, everything a lion should be. He looks at Massoud’s picture posted on every street corner and breathes a proud breath of what they accomplished together. Golestan looks into the mirror and sometimes sees the hero of Afghanistan in himself.
| Date Taken: | 11.22.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 11.26.2010 08:00 |
| Story ID: | 60916 |
| Location: | KABUL, AF |
| Web Views: | 35 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Mirror of a Hero, by SSG Michael Reinsch, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
