Looking beyond the headlines and into the heart of Afghanistan
Most people know Afghanistan as a country forever at war. But for centuries it’s been a destination for explorers and adventurers. What makes this land so fraught and yet so fascinating? Lyse Doucet takes a trip across the Afghanistan that doesn’t feature on the news – a country of stunning natural beauty and a proud, independent people. It’s a journey to meet Afghan poets and politicians, wrestlers and warlords. In the north, a Mujahadeen turned Governor dreams of building a glittering Afghan Dubai. In the southern city of Kandahar, bodybuilders dream of being the next Arnold Schwarzenegger. In Afghanistan's cultural capital, Herat, men and women stand side by side as equals on poetry night while inhabitants of the peaceful province Bamiyan attempt to kick-start tourism with ski excursion in the mountains. Lyse unlocks a nation she’s known for 25 years, exploring the culture, heritage and values of an extraordinary people.
