There is hope in Afghanistan that the forthcoming parliamentary elections will mark another step away from decades of bloodshed. But in Kabul, Andrew North is frequently reminded of the country's violent past.
~snip~
These days, many outsiders often think it is the Taleban who were responsible for most of this country's troubles, forgetting the civil war that followed the Soviet withdrawal.
For people in Kabul at least, the worst memories come from that time, when mujahideen factions took control of the city, then proceeded to tear the city apart in internecine warfare.
~snip~
Government officials privately express anger and frustration at such calls, asking how they can possibly meet such demands without sparking renewed turmoil.
The chance to do so, they argue, was missed in 2001 after the overthrow of the Taleban when the US allowed them to return to their old fiefdoms.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/4165982.stm