magazine Afghanistan part 2 21st Century Life in Afghanistan by Damian Bird Continued The carrying of provisions on the head is a real skill with roads as bad as this. The belt being worn by this young man, with the Soviet star on the buckle, would have been pulled from the dead body of a Soviet soldier killed by the Mujahadeen during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. The calm atmosphere in this bakery was mesmorising. The baker is using a wood fired bread oven to prepare traditional Afghan round bread. British ISAF soldier on foot patrol near Kandahar. The ANA soldiers resting after a morning of training, before lunch. Kabul. A young ANA soldier becomes one with his AK47. Finger on the trigger. A British soldier imparts soldiering “know how” to new ANA recruits of all ages. The bread for sale is being kept fresh under this blanket. Two loaves are left out to tempt the appetite of passers- by. When it’s January near Kandahar you make sure you put on as many layers of clothing as possible to keep out the cold. An Afghan six-seater taxi. Even a mud wall is better shelter than nothing against the harsh January weather. Village some miles outside Kandahar. A 1960s Afghan truck serving nearly half a century after its creation. British ISAF officer staying in touch with the public. Kandahar. British Landrover slows down so as not to splash a mother and daughter on their way home. These bizarre buildings are brick kilns. Kabul. A proud grandfather. Even this Landcruiser bottomed out just outside Kandahar whilst on patrol. Afghan horse and carts don’t weigh nearly 3 tonnes and whilst less comfortable are more in-tune with Afghanistan’s medieval infrastructure. Tea is often drunk with opium infusions in Afghanistan which certainly leads to a relaxing brew. Kabul butcher. Afghan taxi with a full compliment of passengers. This taxi only had two seats in the front but two passengers per seat reduces the cost to each passenger. Kabul. When life is led without TV or mod cons a snowball can be very amusing even to adults. A Soviet tank minus any part that could be removed and re-cycled. This tank would have been left to rot following the 1970s Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and would have fallen prey to the Mujahadeen. They can be seen scattered all over Afghanistan and serve as ghostly reminders of Afghanistan’s war torn modern history. Football with no goals and Afghan rules. Kandahar. Friends. Kabul. This horse had just been allowed to dance on its hind legs and run in the river. Afghans are very kind to their horses and treat them like beloved pets. Be good to your horse and your horse will be your friend for life not to mention your transport. Flying over the Hindu Kush mountains in a British Herculese with two Toyota Landcruisers on board. The cold was bitter. Kandahar. Cigaret and snack salesman in Kabul, working on a sale or retun basis. Traditional round Afghan bread being baked in a wood fired oven. Son of Mujahadeen fighter in front of 1970s Sovet tank. Carpenters. Kabul. The ANA new recruits learning how to ‘square bash’. Kabul. Many one man factories operate out of metal cargo crates, which provide both excellent prefab shelter as well as a secure lock up.