Uniting Afghanistan: The Game Of Strategy And Diplomacy

Afghanistan has a rich history of board games, with games like The Road to Peace and A Distant Plain offering players unique insights into the country's culture, politics, and historical events. One such game is Unify Afghanistan, a strategy board game that challenges players to navigate the complex dynamics of the country's recent history. The game is set in the aftermath of the US-led invasion of Afghanistan, with players taking on the role of different factions vying for control. Each faction has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, reflecting the diverse nature of Afghanistan's ethnic and political landscape. The game aims to provide an educational experience, shedding light on the challenges faced by the country and the intricate power struggles between various groups. Players must carefully strategize, form alliances, and make tough decisions to achieve their objectives. Unify Afghanistan offers a window into the complexities of the country, providing players with a deeper understanding of Afghanistan's recent history and the ongoing quest for stability and unity.

'The Road to Peace': a UN-designed board game to raise children's awareness of the peace and reconstruction process in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has been a scene of tribal, ethnic, colonial, and Cold War conflict for centuries. In the post-9/11 world, a new chapter was added to the country's history, with a multinational coalition invading to uproot al-Qaeda and overthrow the Taliban regime. Despite initial hopes for a swift regime change and peaceful reconstruction, Afghanistan was once again engulfed in a complex web of rivalries, shifting loyalties, and warlordism. This intricate dynamics of the country's modern history are reflected in the board game "The Road to Peace," designed by the United Nations in Kabul.

"The Road to Peace" is a UN-designed board game aimed at raising Afghan children's awareness of the peace and reconstruction process in their country. The game was created to be informative and entertaining, providing valuable insights into the steps required to achieve peace and rebuild Afghanistan. The target audience for the game is 10 to 12-year-old children, and it has been distributed in the Dari and Pashtu languages to disadvantaged children across the nation.

In the game, players embark on a journey through key events in the Afghan peace process, starting with the signing of the Bonn Agreement in December 2001. They navigate through the Emergency and Constitutional Loya Jirgas, witnessing the efforts to reconstruct the country, enhance education, and improve health services. The game mechanics are simple: very short texts describe activities and events symbolic of the Afghan peace process, while illustrations by an Afghan artist guide players through positive and negative situations. Players are either "rewarded" or "penalised" based on the choices they make, reflecting the challenges and opportunities faced in the pursuit of peace.

However, the game has faced challenges in illiterate rural areas, where locals struggle to understand the text and numeric components. Despite this limitation, the response to "The Road to Peace" has been positive, and it has proven to be a valuable tool on multiple levels. The game provides a unique and interactive approach to learning about the peace process, empowering young Afghans with knowledge and a better understanding of the complexities their country faces.

Another notable board game set in Afghanistan is "A Distant Plain," which focuses on the country's modern-day conflicts. Players take on the roles of different factions, such as the Coalition, the Government, the Taliban, or the Warlords, each with their unique objectives and challenges. The game highlights the complex dynamics of the Afghan conflict, including coalition-government joint operations, the volatile Pakistani posture, and the evolution of tactics and technology. "A Distant Plain" offers a strategic and educational experience, providing players with a deeper understanding of the intricate nature of Afghanistan's recent history.

Chess: a popular board game in Afghanistan with some variations from Western chess

Chess is a popular board game in Afghanistan, though it was forbidden during the Taliban regime. The game has a rich and unbroken tradition in the region, with the Afghanistan Chess Federation becoming active in the last few years, participating in the Chess Olympiad and other international tournaments.

There are some differences between the chess played in Afghanistan and Western-style chess. Firstly, in the Afghan version, the pawn can only move one space on its first move, whereas in Western chess, it can move two. Additionally, castling is not allowed. The names of the pieces are also different: there is no Queen, instead, that piece is referred to as a Wazeer (meaning a high-ranking official or minister). The knight is called asp (horse), the bishop is called feel (elephant), and the pawn is referred to as piyadeh (foot soldier). The rook is the same but is a chariot rather than a tower. Finally, check and checkmate are called kisht and maat, respectively.

Chinaaq: a game that starts with the breaking of a chicken wishbone and involves a wager

Chinaaq (pronounced "chin-aaq", meaning "wishbone" in Dari) is a traditional Afghan game that starts with the breaking of a chicken wishbone and involves a wager. Typically, the game is played during a meal with family and friends. To start, a wishbone is broken, and it doesn't matter who gets the larger piece as it is just a ceremonial beginning to the game.

Before or directly after the breaking of the wishbone, players make a wager. The wager can be for money, or even chores such as washing the other person's clothes or cleaning their house. The objective of the game is to trick your opponent into accepting any object into their hand without saying the phrase "Mara Yaad Ast", which translates to "I remember" in English. The game can be over in mere minutes, or it can take days or even weeks if both players have excellent memories. If one player forgets and accepts an object, the winner announces "Mara Yaad, Tura Faramoosh" ("I remember, you forgot") and the game ends.

Chinaaq is a simple and fun game, but it can get very intense. It is one of many unique games played in Afghanistan, including Barfee (played during the first snowfall of the season) and Teka (a plain-trick card game with bidding for four players in fixed partnerships). Afghanistan also has its own variations of globally popular games such as chess and Parcheesi (called "Ledo" in Afghanistan).

Barfee: a game played by adults when the first snow of the season occurs, involving sneaking to a friend's house and leaving a snowball or a note

Barfee (pronounced barf-ee) is a game played by adults in Afghanistan when the first snow of the season occurs. The game involves sneaking to a friend's house and leaving a snowball or a note on their front door, then trying to sneak back home without being caught. If the person initiating the game, or the "messenger", makes it home without being physically caught by the recipient, or "opponent", the opponent is then obligated to invite the messenger to a lavish meal. On the other hand, if the messenger is caught by the opponent before they make it home, the messenger is then required to host the meal themselves.

Barfee is one of many traditional games played in Afghanistan, alongside Chinaaq (a game involving a chicken wishbone), chess (known as "shatranj"), kite fighting and running (known as "gudiparan bazi" in Dari and "kaghazbad" in Pashto), and bujal bazi (a children's game played with sheep knucklebones).

Afghanistan has also been the setting of several board games, including "The Road to Peace", designed by the United Nations to educate children about the peace and reconstruction process in the country, and "Pax Pamir", a strategy game set in 19th-century Afghanistan during the collapse of the Durrani empire. Additionally, there are several war games that centre around the Soviet-Afghan War, such as "Combat Mission Afghanistan" and "A Distant Plain".

Card games: Afghans play a variety of card games, including Teka, Fis Kut, and Euchre (called Tikka or Fiscut in Afghanistan)

Afghans play a variety of card games, including Teka, Fis Kut, and Euchre (called Tikka or Fiscut in Afghanistan).

Teka is said to be the most popular social game in Afghanistan. It is a whist-based game for four players, with an auction in which the team that undertakes to win most tricks has the right to choose the trump suit. The game is played with a standard 52-card pack, with each player receiving 13 cards. Teka is a plain-trick game with bidding, where players are in fixed partnerships.

Fis Kut is also a plain-trick game for four players in fixed partnerships, played with a standard 52-card pack. In this game, the non-dealer's team chooses trumps.

Euchre, known as Tikka or Fiscut in Afghanistan, is a trick-taking game with a trump. It is widely played in the country, with almost every Afghan knowing how to play.

In addition to these games, Afghans play other card games such as Betrinu, Chor Voli, Dozdakaan, Nowrang, and Panjpar.

Panjpar, a two-player game, is featured in the novel "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini. It is related to the Russian game Prostoy Durak and the objective is to get rid of all your cards.

Card games are an integral part of Afghan culture, providing entertainment and social interaction. They can be played by people of all ages and bring friends and family together. These games vary in complexity, with some being easy to learn, while others offer more strategic and competitive gameplay.

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