VII

Acknowledgments
This piece of research work grows out of almost two decades of scholarly interest in, as well as a personal fascination with, the land and people of Afghanistan. My experience as an officer in the Afghan Refugee Commissionarate (Peshawar), an acquaintance with almost all intellectual / literary figures of Afghanistan and close links with other people both inside and outside Afghanistan, have all been of great help in completing this work. I am extremely grateful to the selection committee of the Social Science Research Council (South Asia Regional Fellowship Program) for selecting me as fellow for the year 2003. I am also obliged and grateful to Ittay Abraham, Program Director; Malini Sur; and others for organizing South Asia Regional Fellows Workshop in Negombo, Sri Lanka (December 17-19, 2003). I personally gained much from the workshop and the chance for interaction with scholars in various fields, and this new experience helped me in reviewing this project. I am highly indebted to Dr. Parvez Khan Toru, Director Pakistan Study Centre, University of Peshawar for granting me three months leave for my research project. I am also thankful to Dr. Azmat Hayat Khan, Director Area Study Centre (Central Asia, China, Russia & Afghanistan), University of Peshawar (Pakistan), who has been kind enough to accept my request for affiliation as fellow in his institution, and who provided me all available facilities in the Centre. I wish to record my sincere appreciation and thanks to Dr. Sarfraz Khan of Area Study Centre for his guidance, criticism and expert suggestions.

VIII I am profoundly indebted to my old friend Mr. Salim Shah (serving in SDPI) for his generous help and guidance throughout my fellowship period. I am also thankful to Dr. Adil Zareef, Sar Muhqiq Zalmay Hewadmal (Minister Advisor of Cultural Affairs, Afghanistan), Professor Rasul Amin ( ex-Minister of Education, Afghanistan), Dr. Sher Zaman Taizai, Syed Fida Younas (exCouncil General of Pakistan in Afghanistan), Mr. Farmanullah Khan (Afghan Refugee Commissionrate, Peshawar), Mr. Ajmal Khattak, Mr. Afrasiyab Khattak, Dr. Wiqar Ali Shah Kaka Khel, Mr. Zahir Baburi and Dr. Abdul Karim Khan for interviews, discussions and dialogue. A thanks also goes to Dr. Pervez Khan Toru for editing and James Caron (Ph. D candidate, University of Pennsylvania, USA) for proofreading and formatting the manuscript. There are others, whose names cannot be named cannot be listed here, who provided me extremely valuable information and data. They know who they are, and I hope to repeat my gratitude to them in person. Opinions and any errors of fact or judgment are, of course, entirely my own responsibility. At the end, I would like to express my profound love and respect for my wife and kids, whose good wishes and passions have always been a constant source of inspiration for me during my research.

Dr. Fazal-ur-Rahim Marwat