Intercontinental Hotel Kabul 15, January 2010
Posted by thegulfblog.com in Central Asia.Tags: Adam Curtis, Afghanistan, Intercontinental hotel, Kabul
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The Intercontinental was perched above the city with wonderful views. It was where the western businesspeople, the diplomats and the rich tourists all stayed. But it also quickly became the place for the Kabul elite to go – for tea, for parties, and for weddings. They were the modern people of Kabul who were helping to make the King’s vision come true.They were also a “slimy opportunistic clique” – according to Nancy Hatch Dupree. She was an American archaeologist who knew everyone in Kabul.
And then rock music came to Kabul, courtesy of the Intercontinental Hotel.
The Intercontinental’s food and beverages manager asked a musician called Claude Selvaradna to create a house band for the hotel. Claude had been a sergeant in the Sri Lankan army but now he lived in Kabul and he knew that rock music was the future. He brought in some musicians from Sri Lanka and put together a band he called The Esquire Set.
For what can probably be described as the definitive history of Kabul take your time and go through its history at Adam Curtis’ blog at the BBC.
The Gulf blog 
Great article,please show more of what afgahnistan used to look like.