Afghanistan's footballers have triumphed over Pakistan 3-0 in a friendly match, the first international game played in Kabul in a decade.
It was the first game between the two countries in the Afghan capital for 30 years and hopes were high it might also help ease political tensions.
The match was billed as an indication of Afghanistan's return to normality after decades of war.
It ignited fierce patriotic passions on both sides and was broadcast live.
The BBC's Karen Allen in Kabul says the friendly was being seen as a deeply symbolic moment.Afghan and Pakistani political leaders are due to meet for critical peace talks next week.
"It shows that after a very difficult period we are returning to normality," Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) Secretary General Sayed Aghazada told FIFA.com.
"Afghan football has improved in terms of organisation and infrastructure, and we now believe that football can play an even bigger role in our country."
Pakistan Football Federation Secretary General Ahmad Yar Khan Lodhi said he expected the game would help deepen the relationship between the two countries.
Pakistan head coach Zavisa Milosavljev told the BBC that his aim was to get international exposure for youth players and players "who don't play continually".
"Pakistan also has problems," he said. "We haven't played a single match in Pakistan."
Football was not banned during the Taliban's rule in Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001, but during their time in power they used the old Ghazi stadium in Kabul as a venue for executions, stonings and mutilations.
Ranked 139th in the world, Afghanistan had last played at home in 2003 against Turkmenistan.
Pakistan's team is ranked 28 places below Afghanistan and has not played in Kabul since 1977.
"The main goal of this game is to build good relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan," said Afghan coach Yousuf Kargar, AFP news agency reports.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Afghanistan beat Pakistan 3-0 in 'symbolic' football clash
Afghanistan's footballers have triumphed over Pakistan 3-0 in a friendly match, the first international game played in Kabul in a decade.
It was the first game between the two countries in the Afghan capital for 30 years and hopes were high it might also help ease political tensions.
The match was billed as an indication of Afghanistan's return to normality after decades of war.
It ignited fierce patriotic passions on both sides and was broadcast live.
The BBC's Karen Allen in Kabul says the friendly was being seen as a deeply symbolic moment.Afghan and Pakistani political leaders are due to meet for critical peace talks next week.
"It shows that after a very difficult period we are returning to normality," Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) Secretary General Sayed Aghazada told FIFA.com.
"Afghan football has improved in terms of organisation and infrastructure, and we now believe that football can play an even bigger role in our country."
Pakistan Football Federation Secretary General Ahmad Yar Khan Lodhi said he expected the game would help deepen the relationship between the two countries.
Pakistan head coach Zavisa Milosavljev told the BBC that his aim was to get international exposure for youth players and players "who don't play continually".
"Pakistan also has problems," he said. "We haven't played a single match in Pakistan."
Football was not banned during the Taliban's rule in Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001, but during their time in power they used the old Ghazi stadium in Kabul as a venue for executions, stonings and mutilations.
Ranked 139th in the world, Afghanistan had last played at home in 2003 against Turkmenistan.
Pakistan's team is ranked 28 places below Afghanistan and has not played in Kabul since 1977.
"The main goal of this game is to build good relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan," said Afghan coach Yousuf Kargar, AFP news agency reports.
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