Dogs Bark and People Die, the first novel in the Jackson Wade and Dog military thriller series, takes place in Afghanistan and Pakistan. For the readers that are not familiar with the demographics and topography of the action areas, I offer a short tutorial.

AFGHANISTAN

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is hard to find on the world map unless you use Google Earth. It is land locked between Pakistan to the east and south; Iran sits on its western border; Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan rest on its northern boundary; and even a sliver borders with China to the far northeast. It is size of Texas, and Its population is equal to Canada or California and is mostly composed of ethnic Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks. Pashto is the official National language, but Dari, a form of Persian/ Farsi, is also spoken. Its population is overwhelmingly Muslim, tribal, poorly educated, and restrictive in social norms.

Most of the Afghan action takes place in and around an Afghan border town called Spin Boldak or Spin Boldak District in southern Kandahar province. Spin Boldak is linked by highway with Kandahar City to northwest and Quetta, Pakistan, to the southeast. Spin Boldak is an important entry and exit port between Afghanistan and Pakistan; the district is dominated by Pashtun tribesmen and tribal rule.

PAKISTAN

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is the world’s fifth-most populous country and the 33^rd largest in area. It has a long coastline along the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman in the south. It borders India to the east, Afghanistan to the west and northeast, Iran to the southwest, and China in the northeast.

Most of the Pakistan action takes place in and around Quetta, Pakistan, in Balochistan Province. Quetta is a natural fort, surrounded by imposing mountains., It is the capital of Balochistan Province and a major Pakistani military center and an Afghan refugee collection point. It is reported to be the sanctuary for the Afghan Taliban leadership.