This picture shows a view of the pavilion of Afghanistan during the Expo 2020 in the Gulf Emirate of Dubai.-AFP photos

Afghan antiques dealer Muhammad Umar Rahimi carried his most prized possessions to display at Expo 2020 Dubai, hoping to portray his war-scarred homeland in a light different to that under Taleban rule. Near a fast food outlet on the sprawling world fair site in the United Arab Emirates, with no sign to indicate the location of the Afghan Pavilion, Rahimi has on display 300 items-from daggers and carpets to saffron and deep-blue lapis lazuli stones.

"When the Afghan government collapsed, Expo organizers decided that this be turned into a people's pavilion for the people of Afghanistan," Rahimi, who has been living in Vienna for more than 40 years, told AFP. The 63-year-old said it was then that he took it upon himself to contact Expo and organize the pavilion, which was running the risk of not opening at all as the Taleban took control of Kabul in mid-August.

An Expo 2020 spokesperson said that in light of developments in Afghanistan the fair welcomed "the initiative of the Afghan business community to run the pavilion and share with the world the story of the people of Afghanistan". Far from the scenes of war and destruction, traditional robes, hand-woven rugs and lute-like rubabs decorate the pavilion at the fair that opened earlier this month. "This exhibition is extremely important for Afghanistan," said Rahimi. "There are a lot of Afghans who live here."

With the help of two of his sons and his brother, all of whom live in Austria, Rahimi transported items from his personal collection at his own expense. "It's part of my blood. It's my profession," he said. "We worked day and night, 20 hours a day... and completed this in 72 hours."

The Afghan pavilion opened about a week after Dubai inaugurated the six-month Expo on October 1, with a delay of nearly a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. According to the Afghan consulate in Dubai, one of seven emirates that make up the UAE, the Gulf country is home to approximately 150,000 of its citizens. Many of them run successful businesses, while others work in shops, restaurants and construction.

'Fertile land'

On August 15, Taleban fighters took Kabul after a lightning offensive launched in May as the United States and NATO began the final stages of withdrawing their troops. The hardline Islamists are seeking diplomatic recognition as well as assistance to avoid a humanitarian disaster, having returned to power after two decades of war. No country has yet to recognize the Taleban, whose first stint in power between 1996 and 2001 was brutal with public executions and a ban on women leaving the home unchaperoned.

Rahimi did not want to comment on the political situation in Afghanistan but stressed the overwhelming desire for peace and for a safe, stable and prosperous homeland. He said his participation in the Expo was to introduce people to his home country and what it can offer. "It is so Afghanistan's name is not forgotten, and people see our culture and fertile land," Rahimi told AFP. "We want peace... and we have hope in the future of Afghanistan." Fawaz Al-Shamri, who had stumbled upon the Afghan pavilion after visiting the nearby Saudi one, said that it was enlightening to learn more about the Afghan culture. "This is a chance to see what they offer," said the Saudi citizen. - AFP