In 1995-1996, Afghanistan was a nation grappling with profound turmoil and transformation. During my year-long stay working with Médecins Sans Frontières, the country bore the scars of years of conflict. The Taliban, a rising force at the time, were consolidating their power, particularly in the southern regions. Their strict interpretation of Islamic law and their promise of order resonated with some war-weary communities, but their advance deepened divisions and unrest.
In the central provinces, the humanitarian crisis was acute. Remote areas faced severe shortages of basic necessities, and access to healthcare was nearly non-existent. As part of our mission, we navigated treacherous roads and encountered displaced families living in dire conditions, often in makeshift shelters. Malnutrition, preventable diseases, and trauma were widespread, exacerbated by a lack of consistent aid due to the volatile security situation. Despite the challenges, our work provided a lifeline to many, though it often felt like a drop in an ocean of need.
The cultural and historical richness of Afghanistan was still evident amidst the chaos. The Buddhas of Bamiyan, ancient statues carved into cliffs, stood as silent witnesses to centuries of history. These magnificent relics symbolized resilience and continuity, even as their future seemed precarious under the shadow of the Taliban’s ideology.
Violence and factional fighting dominated much of the landscape. Various groups vied for control, with Kabul caught in the crossfire. The capital was a fragmented and dangerous city, reflecting the fractured nature of the country itself. By the end of 1996, Kabul fell to the Taliban, marking a significant shift in Afghanistan’s political and social trajectory. Their rise ushered in a period of austere rule that would last until their ousting after the September 11 attacks in 2001.
Through my photographs, I captured a country in flux: children playing in bombed-out streets, makeshift clinics teeming with patients, and the majestic mountains that framed the stark beauty of the land. These images remind me of the resilience of the Afghan people, who endured unimaginable hardship with dignity and courage. Afghanistan in 1995-1996 was a place of contrasts—of suffering and strength, destruction and perseverance—etched indelibly into my memory.
The Buddha statues valley dating from the 6th century and destroyed by the first Taliban regime in 2001. Bamyian, Afghanistan, 1995
Bamyian province in central Afghanistan, 1995
Hazara Afghan, Bamyan, Afghanistan, 1995
Band-e-Amir lakes between Yawkolang and Bamyan in central Afghanistan, 1995
Afghan villagers in remote places of central Afghanistan, 1995
MSF vehicle being with the Buddha site in the background. The Buddha statues were destroyed by the first Taliban regime in 2001. Bamyian, Afghanistan, 1995
Afghan villagers in Doab-e-Mikhezarin, a village in a valley connecting northern Afghanistan and Bamyan as an alternative to the Salang pass. Afghanistan, 1995
The Buddha statues valley dating from the 6th century and destroyed by the first Taliban regime in 2001. Bamyian, Afghanistan, 1995
Afghan villagers in remote places of central Afghanistan, 1995
Band-e-Amir lakes between Yawkolang and Bamyan in central Afghanistan, 1995
Bamyan valley, Central Afghanistan, 1995
Band-e-Amir lakes between Yawkolang and Bamyan in central Afghanistan, 1995
Kitchen in rural central Afghanistan, 1995
The Buddha statues valley dating from the 6th century and destroyed by the first Taliban regime in 2001. Bamyian, Afghanistan, 1995
Doab-e-Mikhezarin valley connecting northern Afghanistan and Bamyan as an alternative to the Salang pass. Afghanistan, 1995
Band-e-Amir lakes between Yawkolang and Bamyan in central Afghanistan, 1995
Bamyian province in central Afghanistan, 1995
Vaccination campaign against Polio, MSF-Belgium Taloquan, Afghanistan, 1996
Bamyian province in central Afghanistan, 1995
Band-e-Amir lakes between Yawkolang and Bamyan in central Afghanistan, 1995
Afghan villagers in remote places of central Afghanistan, 1995
Medecins Sans Frontieres medical exploratory mission in Afghanistan, 1995
Afghan villagers in remote places of central Afghanistan, 1995
Bamyian province in central Afghanistan, 1995
Herat, Afghanistan, 1995
Afghan villagers in Doab-e-Mikhezarin, a village in a valley connecting northern Afghanistan and Bamyan as an alternative to the Salang pass. Afghanistan, 1995
Afghan villagers in remote places of central Afghanistan, 1995
Bamyian province in central Afghanistan, 1995
The Buddha statues valley dating from the 6th century and destroyed by the first Taliban regime in 2001. Bamyian, Afghanistan, 1995
