Al-Beruni took trouble to travel in India, worked hard in learning some basic Sanskrit. He learnt Hindu Astronomy, Maths and other sciences. He was strongly committed to Islam and did not appreciate some of the finer details of Hinduism. He laid the foundation for the invasion of Northern India by his Kingdom. 1200 - 1800 A.D. I am taking a short-cut, because I am taking up too much space in this site. The British try to get into Afghanistan before Russia does. But is defeated by the guerilla tactics of the Afghan tribes. Britain manages to install a friendly King in Kabul and returns to "civilisation" in India!! 1800-1970: Sorry, I have made this so long. The communists depose the King and manage to bring much-needed modernity to Afghanistan. In my opinion, they did a lot of good for the Afghan people (I do not like Marxists - have to accept facts also). But the Paks and Yanks had "plans" for Afghan. "Mujahideen" were dispatched from Pak, with American weapons. Russians intervened. After a few years, they also went home. Then came the TALIBAN - No TV, no music, women who showed their angle or the jeans under the black-tent would be KILLED (I saw a clip of a woman being shot dead in a Kabul Baazaar). They organised a canon fire on the Bhamiyan Buddha to the shouts of "Allah Hu Akbar", still could not destroy the huge Statue. At least 50 years of work by their ancestors was seriously damaged. Is it any surprise that people who saw that clip think badly of Islam?
