The Mystery of Aga

The current developments in neighboring Afghanistan, with which Pakistan shares a disputed border, the so called "Durandline" and a common Pashtun population, is of vital importance to Pakistan. One of the salient issues is the future of the officially 1,7 Million (unofficial counts reach the amount of close to 4 Million) refugees still living here in Peshawar and other places throughout the country. All incentives by the Pakistani government and UNHCR to encourage their returning home are met with little enthusiasm. About ten thousand refugees left for their homeland during November, while a similar number took the opposite route taking refuge here. Considering their resistance to return home due to safety concerns and absence of a positive outlook for their economic future, the government has now decided to prolong their status as refugees for another six months. Deep concerns remain about their future here and the fatigue grows regarding the decade long hospitality Pakistan has been providing.

The "endgame" in Afghanistan will be the major topic in this part of the world in 2013. Over the last ten years the goalposts of the foreign engagement in Afghanistan have again and again been moved. The Taliban, once defeated and bedeviled, are back in the game and invited by numerous countries to open an office there. Reconciliation attempts and peace talks are being held in various places throughout the world with changing chaperons and willing heads of states on official photos accompanying these events.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar suggested this week, that peace talks between the Taliban and Afghan authorities should be held in Kabul and not on foreign soil. It should be up to them to choose which method they think is good to undergo a national reconciliation process: "The talks and negotiations cannot be held in Paris or Berlin."

Heading for a new year, which promises to be another challenging one for Pakistan - a stunned public learns that nearly 70 per cent of the parliamentarians did not file income tax returns and only half of the senators had paid any income tax last year. In a country of nearly 200 million people, less than 1 million pay any tax at all. The Chairman National Accountability Bureau publishes a report according to which the effects of corruption in Pakistan amount to 70 million Dollars daily. Elections are supposed to be held in spring and the army is anguished about the increasing losses of their own due to the constant number of bloody attacks by the Pakistani Taliban, the latest one last night on the International Airport in Peshawar. Hélas, no plans for a leisurely spring break in North Waziristan for me yet.

The "Wild Gang", my group of spouses who became close friends in Islamabad, dispersed during the summer break to all parts of the globe. A new group has emerged and given itself the name "The Agas" coming from coincidental conversation about a traditional country oven widely used in Scandinavia, France and Great Britain, the bliss and pride of a true housewife!  We privileged few come together and celebrate the virtues of domestic bliss, indulging in cooking, baking and heating experiences on and in that famous Aga stove - for the time being merely theoretically and virtually! How such a divine household appliance could have escaped our attention so far remains a miracle. Besides numerous cooking activities that can be handled by the oven simultaneously (wondering how many hands WE might need to satisfy that instrument) the manufacturer suggests using one of the compartments for warming a newborn sheep - we might soon end up raising sheep just to witness with our own eyes. The "Agas" love indulging and we gave up counting calories. A multilayer of crispy deep fried pastry, filled with velvety vanilla cream and dusted generally with powdered sugar passed as a light dessert - well, no marzipan inside, just thinly sliced almonds on top - an unbeatable and definitely convincing explanation.

The next round of Agas' activities has begun and we plunge into piles of Tweed fabric, challenging a local tailor with our ingenuity. Of course, high tea is served all the while and the unruffled tailor is leaving with a book full of orders and measurements and does not show any sign of despair - yet. But ideas just start to develop. Embroidery could add a bit of unusual glamour to the otherwise more frugal look of this traditional English weaving product, laces and ribbons in tiny shops with male vendors (which by the way are far more favorable to our cutting edge ideas than the few female ones in the business) - abundance in creativity potential! Next tea and appointment with the tailor for fitting will be in January.

Christmas season is fortunately encountered with no reservation by the people here, Jesus being one of their own prophets. On the contrary, people wish Merry Christmas and everybody loves the festive mood and sumptuous dinners during December, joyous and endless hours of eating and talking, the buffets as delightful to eat as to look at.

Wishing happiness, Merry Christmas and a more peaceful year!