There are no roads leading into the Shok Valley. The village, which stands sentinel over the valley, is home to one of the fiercest of the insurgent forces in Afghanistan—the Hezeb Islami al Gulbadin, or HIG.
Not many pistols can be labeled an overnight success as Springfield’s XD. While more than a few raised an eyebrow at the post Cold War Croatian 9mm creation when it was first imported, I bought one of the first ones and was amazed with its performance.