For the Love of a Son: One Afghan Woman's Quest for Her Stolen Child

Nadia, Suzie and other
relatives.
    Eldest son Duran : Duran has returned to live in Afghanistan. Although
Maryam has never seen her son again, he still communicates with his
mother through email messages. Many from time to time are abusive
and threatening. Maryam still loves her son and worries about the
dangers that surround him in that war-torn country.
    Uncle Hakim :
Hakim, father to Farid, Zarmina and Zeby, died of Alzheimer’s
disease in March 1994 in Paris.
    Cousin Farid :
Farid died of throat cancer in Paris on 5 April 2005. Although
Farid married several times, he never had any children. He is
buried beside his father in a Paris cemetery.
    Cousin Zeby :
Farid’s sister Zeby is married to a famous Afghan singer. Their son
is a keyboard player for his father as well as a fashion model in
Germany.
    Cousin Zarmina :
Zeby’s older sister lives with her husband and four children in
California. She is a happy homemaker.
    Sister Nadia :
Nadia lives in Virginia and still practices medicine.
    Niece Suzie :
Suzie lives in Virginia with her mother, Nadia. In May 2009, Suzie
graduated from George Washington University and started training as
a doctor.
    Auntie Shagul :
Sister to Maryam’s mother, Shagul died of old age in 2007 in
Fairfax, Virginia, where she is buried. She was
eighty-six.
    Cousin Amina :
Amina, daughter of Shair, died a few years ago. Maryam could not
learn the cause of Amina’s premature death, but fears it was linked
to her abusive husband.
     

Timeline
    Anglo-Afghan
Wars
    During a
seventy-year span there were three major Anglo-Afghan wars (between
the British-Indian territory and Afghan tribes): 1839–42, 1878–80
and 1919. Although the British won control of Afghan foreign
affairs, they were never successful at making Afghanistan a colony.
The British lost control of Afghan foreign affairs on 19 August
1919.
    Afghanistan
Modern-day Timeline: 1919–2010
    A chronology of
key events.
    1919 : Amanullah
becomes King.
    1919 : After the
third war with Great Britain, Afghanistan regains full
independence.
    1926 : King
Amanullah introduces social reforms.
    1929 : King
Amanullah is forced to flee due to strong opposition from
conservative forces.
    1929 : Nadir is
declared King by an assembly of tribal chiefs.
    1933 : King Nadir
is assassinated at a school-prize competition.
    1933 : Nadir’s
son, nineteen-year-old Zahir, is declared King.
    1953 : General
Mohammed Daoud, a member of the royal family, is appointed Prime
Minister by King Zahir.
    1963 : Daoud is
forced to resign his post after seeking economic and military
assistance from the Soviet Union.
    1973 : Daoud
seizes power during a successful coup against King Zahir, who is
forced into exile.
    1973 : President
Daoud declares that the time of kings has ended, proclaiming a
republic.
    1978 : The Soviet
Union aligns closer to Afghanistan, making increasing demands for a
fuller participation in the Afghanistan government.
    1978 : President
Daoud is killed in a coup led by the People’s Democratic Party, who
are supported by the Soviet regime. Leaders of the party are
Hafizullah Amin and Nur Muhammad Taraki.
    1979 : Amin and
Taraki enter into a power struggle, with Amin the victor. Afghan
tribes revolt and the Afghan army faces collapse. The Soviet Union
sends in troops to remove Amin. Amin is executed.
    1980 : Babrak
Karmal is installed as ruler, backed by the Soviet Union. Various
Mujahedin groups fighting the Soviet forces intensify their
resistance as the United States, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, China and
Iran supply funds and arms.
    1985 : War
against the Soviet troops and the Soviet-appointed government
further intensifies. An estimated 50 per cent of the Afghan
population is displaced by war and flees to neighbouring Pakistan
or Iran.
    1986 : The United
States supplies Afghan and foreign Mujahedin fighters with stinger
missiles, enabling the fighters to destroy Soviet
helicopters.
    1986 : Babrak
Karmal is replaced by Mohammed Najibbulah as head of the Afghan
Soviet-backed regime.
    1988 : The Soviet
Union begins pulling out their troops after Afghanistan, the United
States and Pakistan sign peace accords with the Soviet Union,
although Najibbulah remains in power, ensuring continuing strife
between Afghan factions.
    1991 : The United
States and the Soviet Union agree to end their associations with
all fighting factions in Afghanistan. This leaves the pro-Soviet
President Mohammed Najibbulah exposed to various Afghan factions
opposing any