the films capture a time when afghanistan was changing, modernising, filling with ideas. king zahir, the last afghan king, imagined a forward—looking country, united under one flag. all asia was emerging from the second world war. the old imperial power, britain, in retreat. new countries were born. india and pakistan, afg hanistan�*s most intimate neighbour. in 1956, pakistan drew up its first constitution. it declared itself as something completely new — an islamic republic.