Afghanistan’s footballers have triumphed over Pakistan 3-0 in a friendly match, the first international game played in Kabul in a decade.
Reports received here said that 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.
At temperatures of over 30°C, thousands of football fans were packing the ground next to Kabul’s Ghazi stadium.
They cheered on their team who ran out in red kits adorned with an anti-polio logo.
Many fans had the Afghan flag painted on their faces. The crowd watched the match with discipline, with many saying that good relations between the two nations through sport was the most important thing.
Thousands gathered in restaurants and coffee shops in Kabul or watched the action on TV sets displayed in shop windows at electronic stores in the city. Shopkeepers, vendors, students, office workers all took time out to cheer their team on.
After Afghanistan’s third goal, the TV commentator could not contain his excitement: “I wish I had wings and could fly over the pitch. I am proud that I am an Afghan,” he said.
“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.
