Peshavar Waltz

Mujehadin camp near Peshavar in North-West Pakistan 1985. Journalist Charlie Parker is interviewing Soviet soldiers captured by the Mujehadin, when they overpower Pakistani guards. They release other troops, take over the camp and, to stall a counter-attack, build a barricade. They radio for assistance, but the Red Army breaks contact. Abandoned, they start to argue amongst themselves. Charlie is torn between covering the story and intervening to avert further bloodshed.

With the soldiers jumpy, an American officer arrives. He tells Charlie they have 20 minutes to surrender or face a Pakistani-Mujehadin assault.

Surrender, fight, run or wait for the Soviet army? The soldiers do not know what to do. Charlie tries to persuade them to give up, but is ignored. Why can they not make a decision? Charlie cannot understand why.

Time is running out when the sound of helicopters breaks the silence. They are Soviet. The soldiers start to celebrate. The bombs start to drop… This is the Peshavar Waltz.