Soviet-Afghan War

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Photograph 36 of 36

The national sport of Afghanistan is buzkashi. A headless sheep or calf, the buz, is carried by a rider the length of the field and dropped in a scoring circle. The riders fiercely grab for the carcass.

Sayed Jaffar reflects on the game. “In Afghanistan, this war is just like buzkashi. Everybody is pulling.”

Sayed Jaffar does whatever it takes to grab the carcass of Afghanistan: manipulating Soviets, mujahideen and the Afghan government so that the Ismaelis come out on top.