LETTER : Afghanistan a victim of Cold War power play

Sir: I was interested to read Tim McGirk's article "Horsemen of Afghans' near apocalypse" (1 April) and was sorry he did not understand our game of buzkashi. It is an ancient game of skill and horsemanship, the forerunner of polo. It has its own subtleties and customs which Afghans, from Buzkashi playing regions will tell you.

Afghan politics were not chaotic and neither were its games until the West made Afghanistan into an arms depot in order to dismantle the Communists. It is ridiculous to say that Afghans have inflicted war and devastation on themselves. Afghanistan has been destroyed by foreign powers.

My country has been the victim of the Cold War and now the West has washed its hands of us.

Nasrullah Saifi

Exeter