Boy Soldiers
Afghanistan’s adults unanimously say they are tired of fighting, but their children seem to enjoy the numerous paraphernalia of war, from tanks to heavy guns to grandfathers’ rifles, that one…
Afghan Refugees
Afghanistan’s civil war has displaced millions and created a whole class of impoverished people. A visitor to Afghanistan is particularly struck by the haunting presence of destitute kids whose future…
Baptism by Fire
“You’ve come here to see the war, so you are going to see it,” Aziz was trying to wake up journalists who had just settled down for yet another night…
Travel in Afghanistan
They say there are only good drivers in Afghanistan: all the bad ones are lying at the bottom of mountain gorges. For lack of choice, road transport was the most…
Taliban Prisoners of War
Afghanistan’s civil war was responsible for the existence of tens of thousands of prisoners captured by the two major parties to the conflict, the Taliban and the Northern Alliance. One…
Rooster Fights in Afghanistan
Afghan men and boys like to watch fights between roosters. Well, maybe women and girls would love them too, but who will let them?
All Afghan Men Are Warriors
All Afghan men are warriors. The old ones were fighters in the past, the young ones will become soldiers in the future. There is a chance, though, this vicious circle…
Baby-Selling in Afghanistan
Most Afghan families have many children, too many, in fact, for some. On the other hand, there are childless couples for whom adoption is the only choice. In Afghanistan, this…