Dec 08: Me at a battle monument at the base of the hill at Bala Hissar. Bala Hissar is a strategic land feature and key terrain for both tactical and strategic purposes...many battles have been fought here, both in ancient and modern times. More recently, Bala Hissar was the location of many key battles between the Afghans and the British Army back in the late 1800's and early 1900's. It was also the site of many battles with the Soviets during the Soviet invasion/occupation in the 1980's/early 1990's. This monument depicts and tells about battles against the British Army...I think our translators said it is written in Pashtu, which the other main language along with Dari in this area of Afghanistan...both languages have Persian roots.