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Desert Dunes Beckon for Afghanistan's 4x4 Fans
Dozens of SUV drivers gather weekly to entertain spectators and offer rides to underprivileged people in a tradition that has lasted over four years, with no serious accidents reported.
- On any Friday dozens of drivers charge SUVs up steep ochre dunes in the Kandahar desert, performing an `anarchic ballet` near the historic bastion of the ruling Taliban while many vehicles look like new.
- For about four or five years Rahim has climbed Kandahar's dunes, where drivers say young drivers no longer fear them, offering rare fun after Taliban authorities banned entertainment since 2021.
- Customised vehicles with `snorkel` air intakes and spotlights are common among drivers, whose cars range from around $8,000 to ten times that amount, said drivers.
- The trucks attract fans from all walks of life, offering unity as Kandahar's young men bring underprivileged people to the dunes and return them home amid the UN's 45 percent humanitarian estimate.
- Samih said `Accidents do happen here, but the good thing is that when a collision happens, no one asks for compensation`, reflecting local norms about safety risks, despite rare incidents.
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37 Articles
37 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources37
Leaning Left4Leaning Right7Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution42% Center
Bias Distribution
- 42% of the sources are Center
42% Center
L 21%
C 42%
R 37%
Factuality
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