Luxembourg national. Former journalist in USA and Middle East region, worked briefly in Pakistan in 1984, 1985 and 1987-1988. I have spent 6 years in the USA (between 1975 and 1982), 5 years in Cyprus (1983-1987 and 1990-1991), nearly 2 years in Greece (1987 and 1988-1990, 1991), 1 year in Egypt (1989 and 1990), 7 months in Japan (between 1979 and 2000 - got married there in 1987), 6 months in England (1973-1974) and 6 months in Pakistan.

Random Thoughts: My favorite activity is hill walking but I rarely get a chance to do that anymore. I loved walking in the Margalla Hills near Islamabad in summer-autumn 1987. I know only some parts of northern Pakistan but it is certainly one of the most interesting and beautiful countries I have seen.
My languages: English, French, German.
About Afghanistan, I have visited that country 4 times - once from Iran in 1972 when the king was still there (he reigned 40 years - 1933-1973), and 3 times from Pakistan with mujahideen fighting the Soviets, in 1984, 1985 and 1987. Each time I stayed only between 4 and 6 days -- because I didn't have more time, unfortunately -- so I have never even seen the capital, Kabul. The first time in March 1972 I went to Herat and Kandahar, and in 1984 I spent 6 days with A.R. Sayyaf - the man who had just introduced Osama Bin Laden to Afghanistan 2 months before I met him in Jaji, Paktia Province (and he had helped Bin Laden to set up shop there -- I didn't know Bin Laden then, of course, although I did have connections in his country Saudi Arabia as I had made the Haj pilgrimage in 1972-73 and almost got married in Jeddah that time -- long story...). Then in 1985 and again in 1987 I spent a few days with other groups of mujahideen who launched rocket and mortar attacks in Kunar Province. Each time I went barely more than 10 miles into Afghanistan (on foot), but I also came under artillery fire each of the 3 times with the mujahideen (close enough to have shrapnel hit the ground a few feet from me). I wrote for the Middle East Times weekly at the time, which I had helped to found in Cyprus in early 1983.
You can see some of my Afghanistan photos from the years 1984, 85 and 87 when you click on the Afghanistan Set on my photo page: www.flickr.com/photos/erwinlux
There are also many pictures I took in Pakistan.

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