Leaders
Mohammed Zahir Shah/Kamal Khan(Octopussy)(Non Alligned/Despotism)(Rough Pick as he's technically too young but he's also an exiled Afghan Prince in the source material).
(Base Game lacks portraits for Fascism, Communism, and Democratic Leaders. As such they are not a requirement, just would be nice to have).
Advisors
Mahmud Khan/No Replacement yet
Haji Faiz Muhammed Zikeria/No Replacement Yet
Mohammad Hashim Khan/No Replacement Yet
Muhammed Nowroz/No Replacement Yet
Noor Mohammad Taraki/No Replacement Yet
Abdul Hossein Aziz/No Replacement Yet
Abdul Majid/No Replacement Yet
Fictional Notes
-Helmajistan in the past is said to have been a bastion for religions such as Hindu and Buddhism as well as Zarathustranism(TTL's Zoroasterianism from
Thus Spoke Zarathustra).
-Given the Region it is located in, it most likely had an "Arabian Nights" period with flying carpets, Djinns and the like. Beyond text I'm not sure yet how to implement this, unless someone stumbles onto a Genie Lamp. I should point out that Agrabah from
Aladdin, our stand in for Baghdad, is located in Qurac(Iraq).
-John Watson was a veteran of the then current war in Helmajistan in 1881 when he was injured. Accounts differ on if it was the shoulder or the leg. Either war he was sent home and ended up sharing a flat with Sherlock Holmes, the two becoming the iconic duo they are today.
-In 1888, two British Con Men, Daniel Dravot and Peachy Carnehan travelled to the Kafiristan region of Helmajistan. Dravot was shot by an arrow but unharmed due to the arrow hitting his leather Bandolier and stopping. Two warring tribes both took him to be a god. Dravot became mad with power and forced a woman to be his only for her to bite him, causing him to bleed and making the people turn on him until he was killed. Carnehan returning to England with his skull, a crown still on it(
The Man Who Would be King)(Since I don't currently have a ruler for Helmajistan, I was thinking maybe of a more spiritual idea. Basically let's say Dravot's identical son of something like that travelled to Helmajistan. Like Dravot he looks just like a white beard Sean Connery, maybe with a Michael Caine played best friend tagging along. The people are surprised. What are the odds. Is he truly a god to be here alive when the elders remembering him dead? The "This person looks like our Leader" trope is used a lot anyway. So maybe Danny Dravot or whatever becomes King and goes a little mad. Does he start a war? Do the people realize he's not a god just crazy and kick him out? Who knows.
1970's and 1980's
-The Soviet Invasion of Helmajistan in 1979 included the likes of Balalaika(
Black Lagoon) on the Soviet front along with the 9th Company(
9th Company). The CEA(TTL' s CIA from the book
The President's Analyst) became involved in helping the Mujahideen. U.S. Congressman Charlie Wilson(Real but based on his portrayal by Tom Hanks in
Charlie Wilson's War) was able to increase U.S. aid to Helmajistan, which he would come to regret due to leading indirectly to the War on Terror. Among the agents sent to aid the rebelling Mujahideen were Kazuhira Miller and the Diamond Dogs. The squad was ambushed and killed with only Miller surviving until Venom Snaker and Revolver Ocelot were sent. Alex Mason and his squad to help defeat weapons dealer Raul Menendez, who was secretly working with Mullah Rahman, the Mujahideen leader killed in 1986. Revolver Ocelot was also sent there and gained the nickname "Shalashaska" for his brutality from the Mujahideen(
Metal Gear Solid). In 1987, British 007 Agent Damian Drake(Timothy Dalton's Bond in
The Living Daylights, with Bond as a codename, his real identity is his spy character from
Looney Tunes: Back in Action) was sent in to help. At the time the Russian commander was Uri Gregorov(
Syphon Filter 2). In 1988, Helmajistan was visited by Colonel Sam Trautman and John Rambo(
Rambo III)(Rule of cool indicates Rambo should be an option as a type of Leader of the allied occupation of Helmajistan in the 80's chapter).
The Eugenics Wars: The 1990's
-In the 1990's during the Regime of the Taliban, there is likely a chance for a women's uprising led by Osama, no not that Osama. His role is taken here be either Saif Rahman Yasin from the Jack Ryan Novels, or Mouse Bin Suleiman(The Jack Ryan Amazon series due to no picture of Yasin currently existing). Instead the Osama referenced here is from the 2003 film of the same name. A teenage girl forced to disguise herself as a boy due to the oppressive Taliban regime. Naturally this could lead to a rebellion that sees the Taliban overthrown, resulting in the Irony of a woman named Osama being the downfall of the Taliban, especially if her full false identity literally is Osama Bin Laden.
The 2000's
In 2002, the Nuristan rebels, led by Abdul Bismillah Malik, obtained two nuclear warheads, which they planned to sell to the UWO(United World Organization. Our UN stand in from Batman: the Movie). Russian arms dealer Sergei Zavorotko informed the association of Hitmen ICA of this, who sent agent 47 to retrieve the warheads. 47 killed two members of the rebellion Mohammad Amin and Liutenant Ahmid Zahir and assassinating Khan Abdul Malik and base commander Lt.Yussef Hussein, retrieving the warheads. A Sikh cult was able to hijack the helicopter carrying the nukes and bring them to India, where death cult leader Deewana Jr was rising in power, leading to his assassination by 47 as he knew about the warheads.
-Another 2003 set development are the exploits of television journalist Kim Baker, a reporter who puts herself in harm's way frequently in wartorn Helmajistan. This would most likely be used as a framing device should the US go to war in Helmajistan, with Kim Baker reporting on important events in the conflict. She is often compared to Lois Lane for how often she puts herself in danger for a story(
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot).
-In 2003, one Taliban Leader was named Assef(
The Kite Runner). It's possible he loses an eye to the orphan Sohrab.
-In 2005, a Frenchman named Jack opens a restaurant called Kaboul Kitchen(Based on Journalist Marc Victor doing the same thing and the TV Show
Kaboul Kitchen. While unlikely to be a major player. This could be mentioned in story based snippets. Such as characters eating there or it being mentioned destroyed if Kaboul is attacked).
-In 2008, while selling the Stark Industries Jericho Missile, Tony Stark Jr was abducted by the terrorist organization the Ten Rings, but was able to escape by building a suit of armor like that of his father's. This in turn led him to vastly improve the Iron Man designs. To reiterate, the original Iron Man had a similar experience in the comics but was abducted in Sarkhan(Vietnam) here.
The 2020's
In 2025, Raul Menendez attempts to assassinate the Helmaj president during a meeting with Russia. An attack is launched on the convoy. If it succeeds then Helmajistan will likely join the SDC, China's faction in the Second Cold War. A Cold War which threatens to escalate into the Nuclear War seen in the Fallout series.