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This was the hotel right opposite where I first stayed in Kabul

and it was called Nur Hotel.

It had been recommended to me in Kandahar by fellow traveller.

It was the hippie trail.

40 years ago Afghanistan was the ultimate destination on the hippie trail

and the capital city Kabul was the place for adventurous young travellers.

One of those travellers was the then 19-year-old John Butt.

For this week's assignment, I brought him back here to tell his story

and how the hippie became a tribesman and a man, a messenger of peace,

under walking target.

Now 60, he remembers his younger indiscretions.

Of course we used to blow the odd chillum and enjoy the local produce

which was a very choice, a very high quality hashish, certainly.

Following the hippie trail ever eastwards, in 1970 the young John walked

over the mountains into neighbouring Pakistan.

He was hoping to make his way to India.

On route he found himself in the tribal lands at the Pashtuns.

People who see themselves as neither Afghan nor Pakistani,

but as a law unto themselves.

...