Chaman, a border town of Balochistan, connects Pakistan with neighboring Spin Boldak of Kandahar province of Afghanistan. Chaman derives its name from Chaman Das, a prominent Hindu fruit trader in the area before partition. The Hindu community – with a population of 3500-4000 people - has been living in the town since before partition. Although not immune to the violence that has engulfed the rest of the country in the last decade, Chaman has largely been unaffected by faith-based conflict. The Hindus in the area are traders by profession and have lived peacefully among the Muslim majority. Janmashtami, which marks the birth of Lord Krishna, was celebrated in the area last week. -Text and Photos by Matiullah Achakzai