David Osuna: Wahab, where are you from?
Wahab Kamal: Wardak, Afghanistan, located in the central part of the country some 6o miles southwest of the capital, Kabul. Wardak is the name of
my tribe as well as of the province where it is settled. Provinces are formed by different tribes that cluster together. Due to the size of
the Wardak tribe, it is the only one contained in this province.
David Osuna: What do you do?
Wahab Kamal: I graduated in Social Science at the University of Kabul, and actually work in the trade business among the U.S. and Afghanistan
(crafts, Jewelry, antiques, etc.).
David Osuna: I understand that you have Afghan Hounds (Tazis) at home. Would you tell us about them?
Wahab Kamal: Yes, I currently have three males, two at my house and one at my cousin's. The ones at my house are a black-faced red (Suhr), my
personal favorite, and a striped one, that is what you call brindle (Palangy). The one at my cousin's house is a black (Tour).
David Osuna: How do you keep them? Do they live in the house?
Wahab Kamal: No, they are outside dogs. They are loose all the time; they know their territory and stay around it.
David Osuna: For how long have you had Tazis?
Wahab Kamal: All my life, I know they have been with the family for over 100 years. It is a tradition. Three very important possessions are your
horse, your gun and you Tazi.
David Osuna: What do you feed them?
Wahab Kamal: Usually leftovers from the table, most food based on wheat bread.
David Osuna: How do you handle your breedings?
Wahab Kamal: We usually breed females to the one dog we are interested in - no mixing! Sometimes we even travel far to use the dog we think is the
most suitable for our female.
David Osuna: What do you look for in a dog you want to breed to?
Wahab Kamal: Speed, hunting skills and beauty, as well as temperaments. We hope to find the one with all traits together.
David Osuna: How do you handle stud services?
Wahab Kamal: We usually split the puppies, half to the breeder, half to the stud owner.
David Osuna: Do you sell them?
Wahab Kamal: Never! That is against tradition, it is embarrassing and a shamful practice! We give them as presents or trade them, but we never sell
them.
David Osuna: What do you hunt with them?
Wahab Kamal: Hare, fox, wolves, mountain sheep and deer.
David Osuna: What about leopards or wildcats?
Wahab Kamal: They used to, many years ago, but there are none left any more.
David Osuna: I understand that at some time they hunted along with hawks. Is this practice still carried on?
Wahab Kamal: Not that I know of. I have never known about it.
David Osuna: You went to an American dog show earlier this year (the Afghan Hound Club of Greater Houston Specialty in March '97). What did you
think about it?
Wahab Kamal: To tell you the truth ... they blew my mind! I just couldn't believe the coats; it's incredible how long they can get!
David Osuna: What differences did you see between our dogs and yours?
Wahab Kamal: Size - they are bigger here, of course - coats, and some colors: I had never seen dominos. Black and tans in Afghanistan do not have
light markings on the face; it is also rare to see white chests, especially in black and tans. We have black-faced red, brindle, dark and
light, cream, white, black and gray.
David Osuna: Without considering the length due to the different care, do you see a big coat difference?
Wahab Kamal: Well, our dogs' coats don't receive the care yours do, but I think they have the same amount of hair. The dogs from the north, towards
the mountains, have heavier coats. We call them Babars; they are usually stocky in body, very agile for climbing. In the central area we have
medium coats, called Kosa, and going south, towards the plains of Kandahar and Kalat, you find them even smooth-coated, called Laghars. These
are very slim dogs with longer legs, very thin in the stomach, very fast runners, but nevertheless all are great hunters.
David Osuna: That means there is a definite type difference between so-called mountain type and desert type, right?
Wahab Kamal: Oh yes, and obviously defined by weather and terrain.
David Osuna: Do you think that our dogs remain true to type?
Wahab Kamal: Most definitely - other than the coats and size, they look the same! Even their minds!
David Osuna: What do you mean?
Wahab Kamal: I have talked to breeders here, about their intelligence, and I will give you two examples. If my dogs see me pick up a gun or my
hunting gear, they go crazy - they know we are going to hunting! Also, dogs have been stolen from me, and from information given to me by
other tribesmen, I know that the thieves have taken them over 100 or 150 miles away, and when they take them they even cover the dogs eyes,
but when they set them free to hunt ... they return to me!
David Osuna: So much for the dumb Afghans ... have you heard about that?
Wahab Kamal: Yes ... right!
David Osuna: Getting a little bit into the history of your country, what happened to the royal dogs?
Wahab Kamal: When the Russians invaded Afghanistan (1979), most of the dogs were destroyed. A few were taken to Russia, while the very few left
were disbanded and practically disappeared. That was a very difficult time.
David Osuna: People in other countries consider Tazis to be extinct. Do you agree?
Wahab Kamal: No. There are quite some left. You just have to know where to look.
David Osuna: So there is still hope for the preservation of the Tazi in Afghanistan?
Wahab Kamal: Most definitely. In fact, I am interested in importing some from here and vice-versa.
David Osuna: What is the current situation in Afghanistan?
Wahab Kamal: There are some internal problems, political power-oriented. We have the religious students (Ulema) about 75% against the commanders
25% (Shuras) which rely for their power on wealth and weapons, but the Ulema keep gaining terrain. About 90% of the people want the Shah
back, but he doesn't feel safe to return as of yet.
David Osuna: To close this very interesting and informative interview, do you want to add any other comments?
Wahab Kamal: Yes, due to the political situation I was limited to travel, and they had restrictions for the use of cameras of any kind, but I
promise you next time I will bring more pictures and even a video.
David Osuna: Thanks a lot. We will be waiting!
Wahab Kamal: Thank you. This has been a very exciting experience to me and my people. They still cannot believe (like me) the coats of your dogs.
Copyright note:
This interview and all photos used in this context are protected by copyright. Copying, publishing, distributing or storing of any content of this interview is expressly prohibited without prior written permission from David Osuna or Afghan Hound .net.
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