SOF Article: "Guns of the Kyber Pass" (ballistics freakshow alert!)

Jim March

Jim March

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Oct 7, 1998
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The next time you're at a magazine rack, peek into the latest "Soldier of Fortune" magazine. Normally not my thing, but this article caught my attention.

Some idiot took a tour way off the beaten path through some back-country Pakistani gunsmith-specialty towns bordering Afganistan. Some of this stuff will shock, amaze and horrify. The main "horror" is that anybody would be crazy and pissed enough to fire a home-brew scaled-up broomhandle Mauser design from 1895 and set it up to take AK47 magazines and fire 7.62x39 rifle fodder.

Picture the non-HI half of shop ONE trying to get started in the exciting world of gunsmithing and ammo loading.

AAAAAAHHHHH!

I couldn't stop laughing. Picture home-brew shells and ground-up matchheads for primers! Truth is, most of these guys deserve weapons that god-awful...the #1 cottage industry in these towns is guns with kidnapping firmly in the #2 slot. #3 seems to be clan warfare, there's descriptions of houses with built-in fortifications and firing slits.

(moan!)

Why the Russians thought they could take on these crazy barsterds is beyond comprehension.

Jim
 
It sounds to me as if these fellas must be either insane or suicidal. Either way, not the kind of folks I want to spend Sunday afternoon with.
 
Well... As we used to say about dealing with insurgent forces, your first gun only has to be good enough to get you your second. I just thank God every day for my good fortune to have been born into a good family and a relatively safe country/environment.

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When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.

 
What's wrong with clan warfare?

It worked in Scotland...

-Dave

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Look at my best friend's (non-for-profit) beer page! Bierland.com
 
Back in 1994 - I and few friends visited that area of Pakistan near to the border of Afghanistan - Most of the population are from the tribe of Pathan - They speak Posto - the name Pathan means hills tribe.

Yes - they bring all sort of guns - Kalashnikov, light automatic gun from China and home made guns! At 1st encounter - it's really scarry for us (as Malaysians who never handle any gun before).

There was no hotel nearby that village so we stayed in the local mosque. On the 1st day the reps of the villagers told us that we don't have to buy foods for our breakfast, lunch and dinner for 3 days. According to them it is their responsibility to provides free foods for us who they considered as their guests for that period. After 3 days then only we are not considered as guests any longer. So we enjoyed their free home made foods brought by their family members to the mosque.

I and another friend suffered a cold - so we go to the local clinic - they provided a medical check up & supplied medicines for free as well - we were trying to convince the doctor that we should pay the treatment given to us - the doctor just refused to agree on accepting our money - he said "We are not rich but it is a shame for us to ask money from our guest who come from far away country".

They talked about fighting using swords and fire arms. It seems they were very proud about their clans' bravery.

Back at Malaysia - I always thought that they are just as human as us - they are brave & not scared of fighting or death and at the same time they are also very helpfull and have kindness in their heart as well!
 
A while back on the old KF HI forum we talked about this.

It's almost an embarrasment to think of the amount of "personal safety equipment" I have collected and reserved for "just in case". I think of those in the United Kingdom, of Mohd in Malaysia, down under in Australia, in Japan... who cannot own so much as a bolt action 22 rifle.

I also hear what Mohd is saying about the bravery and kindness of those he met. I'm sure that he shares my gratitude that neither of us have to find out if it's in us to behave like them in their adversity.

Seems like my new signature line fits this situation pretty well.

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"All who follow the leading of God's Spirit are God's own sons." Romans 8:14


 
The article mentions the same Pathan tribe Mohd encountered. SOF isn't exactly a 100% trustworthy source but I've heard other tales of that area. It's been a "tense zone" for a LONG time now...it's also possible Mohd's good experience had something to do with his being Islamic. Those guys tend to take their faith REAL seriously...the nearby Taliban are pretty extreme.

Not my idea of a vacation spot...Kathmandu would be a GREAT trip. If Nepal could ever get their gov't under control they'd be a real paradise.

Jim
 
I'll try to find the mag, Jim, and thanks for info.

One of the things I have always admired about the true Moslem is their dedication to hospitality -- as Mohd experienced. Other admirable qualities are fearlessness, bravery and loyalty. But fringe extremists shed a bad light as they usually do in any group or religion.

Kathmandu is finished at an ideal destination, I think. Like most third world capitals it has become overcrowded, filty, corrupt, and polluted. You have to get outside the valley to experience the real Nepal.

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ

 
I want to go to Afghanistan someday mohd. I have friends from Pakistan and we are planning to do stuff and visit places in that area. I just need the time and the money, and do my homework. Can be very dangerous.
 
Kaka,

I would love to go to Pakistan myself. My father was born there in a village called Gujranwala. Unfortunately given the problems between India and Pakistan I doubt it would be a good idea. Add to that my being an American citizen and that calls for double trouble at this time..

Arvind
 
Mohd's good experience had something to do with his being Islamic. Those guys tend to take their faith REAL seriously...
Click to expand...
Jim.

I think your opinion is correct. I forgot about that fact in my prev posting. If ever you want to visit that place I suggest you to get a good Pakistani friend as an acompany. Big trouble can crop up from a small misunderstanding!

I tell you one story ... I and few Malaysian friends were entering India from Bangladesh - when we were travelling by train from Haridaspur (Indian border town with Bangladesh) to Culcutta (remember the story of Black Hole of Culcutta?) - we were being harassed & provoked by few Indian youth - they were gathering around us and one of the Indian youth grab my friend's cap (topi) and throw it down - what we did at that time were just smiled and we told them that we were from Malaysia - we took out our pasports and showed them the word MALAYSIA - before dispersed one of the youth told us in his broken English: "We hate Pakistani! We hate every Muslim especially those who befriend Pakistani! You all are Muslim so you are not entertain here!". We kept on smiling and kept on nodding our head till we were left unharm.

I hope you understand - the deep hatred in the heart sometimes can cause you to be a very unreasonable kind of human!

Arvind.

We also visited Amritsar the capital of Indian Punjab - most of them are Sikh. We were treated well there - nobody harassing or provoking us - everything went fine there. While actually Punjab is the border state of India to Pakistan.

I guess the further away you are from the border of 2 countries that have enmity, the greater the hatred or sentiment of the population ... I might be wrong!

Pakcik Bill.

When I visited US in November, 1995 I was adviced to shave my beard and not to wear my cap (topi). According to some of our embassy people the US Immigration people might mistaken me as a Muslim extremist that will create havoc at the Comdex! I might be interograted or maybe have to sleep few nights behind the bar! ... that scare me you know!

Jay.

I like to advice you to get your Pakistani friend to acompany you in your visit to Pakistan. I guess you will be safe there as long as you don't have the appearance and behaviour of a CIA people!

NEPAL HO!
 
Mohd,

I'm happy to hear that your visit in Amritsar went very well. I also applaud the restraint you and your friends showed in the face of hostility that was shown to you. Most people including myself would've shown a great deal of less restraint when faced with a situation like that. What part of India were you travelling in when you faced that problem. Outside of Punjab especially in the areas of Bombay there is unfortunately a great deal of anti-Muslim sentiment. Pretty much this has to do with the government that has been in power there. The party in power in those areas are controlled unfortunately by people from the Shiv Sena and other extremist parties. They are the same coalition that recently won elections in India. In addition, to Muslims having problems, there have been problems encountered by Christians and Sikhs as well. For a long time, since the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, there was a substantial anti-Sikh sentiment as well that exists to this day in certain parts of India. In 1984 after the assassination, there were anti-Sikh riots and the only reason why a large number of Sikhs were not massacred was because in most of the Sikh neighborhoods, they had prepared for such a problem by arming themselves and being vigilant. My cousin relayed to me that in his neighborhood, some mobs did come in, but upon finding the people armed and ready, they withdrew quickly not being willing to face being slaughtered. During that entire time, the police and other law enforcement agencies did nothing but stood around. When the mobs did attack, they attacked mostly women, old people and even children in areas where the men were not around.

Arvind
 
I forgot to add one note in my message. Most of the mob related violence against Sikhs was done by hired thugs of some extremist politicians who wanted to take advantage of the situation in the hopes of getting votes. In many cases, in neighborhoods where Sikhs were having problems, Hindu neighbors gave shelter to those Sikhs to avoid their being killed.

Arvind
 
Likewise, I would not want to go onto a strange ( American )Indian reservation without an Indin friend along. On the WRPT Rez in Schurz, I walk in and people say how much they miss having me around.

When I don't like myself I can either work toward becoming the kind of person I like, or I can find someone to look down on and hate so that I can tell myself I'm not perfect but I'm infinitely better than *that* scum. A better me is rewarding but very hard and slow, and in my deity's time, not my own. Comparing myself favorably to others is so much easier, but all said and done, I'm still the same person I dislike.

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"All who follow the leading of God's Spirit are God's own sons." Romans 8:14


 
As somebody suggested, do your homework before you travel. It can become deadly dangerous in seconds if you find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I had my share of brushes with the Maoists in Nepal. I was lucky.

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ

 
Thanks for the advice mohd. Interesting subject. I allways joke around saying I will wear a pair of plaid golf pants and Jerry Lewis buck teeth and glasses .Like the movie the Nutty Professor. But I do know it is very dangerous territory.
 
When I am in a questionable place in a foreign land I try to become invisible. I wear local dress and try to observe local customs. I also try to learn a few words of the local language and keep my mouth shut unless I absolutely have to open it. This works most of the time.

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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ

 
Kaka, I would say that that would work and also make sure to have a friend or a few friends from the region as their company can go a long way to keep trouble away. Mohd, for the most part, Punjab itself has relatively few problems within religion, race etc. Not only is it bordering Pakistan, but Pakistan Punjabis and Indian Punjabis share a common culture, language etc. Also there are many Moslems in the Indian side of Punjab and within families, sometimes parents will raise one child as Hindu, other child as Sikh. In some Moslem families, they also raise one child as Moslem and one child as Sikh because of common heritage. Outside Punjab, however, I would be more careful. Maybe also have someone who is familiar with that particular area accompany you.

Arvind
 
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