New Rules for Afghan Troops: Don't Retaliate for Offenses
Blowing your nose and patting a colleague on the head or back are normal for Westerners but offensive in Afghan culture
The booklet is intended to bridge the divide cultural divide between local forces and Nato troops and avoid the misunderstandings that have sometimes ended in violence, the Washington Post reported.
It warns Afghan soldiers that their international allies may blow their noses in public or "show their excitement by patting one another on the back or the behind", both taboos in Afghan culture.
Editor's Note: As of February 29, 2024, commenting privileges on reason.com posts are limited to Reason Plus subscribers. Past commenters are grandfathered in for a temporary period. Subscribe here to preserve your ability to comment. Your Reason Plus subscription also gives you an ad-free version of reason.com, along with full access to the digital edition and archives of Reason magazine. We request that comments be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment and ban commenters for any reason at any time. Comments may only be edited within 5 minutes of posting. Report abuses.
Please
to post comments
Too bad nobody there can read the booklet.
Why doesn't the booklet state that any false move and their heads will be blown off. Either let our soldiers fight or bring them home.
I googled around a bit for the actual pamphlet, without success. If anybody finds it, please post a link.
Anyway, I assure you that "green on blue" attacks are not about blowing one's nose in public.