“A half-century ago, Afghan women pursued careers in medicine; men and women mingled casually at movie theaters and university campuses in Kabul; factories in the suburbs churned out textiles and other goods.

“There was a tradition of law and order, and a government capable of undertaking large national infrastructure projects, like building hydropower stations and roads, albeit with outside help. Ordinary people had a sense of hope, a belief that education could open opportunities for all, a conviction that a bright future lay ahead. All that has been destroyed by three decades of war, but it was real.”

Once Upon a Time in Afghanistan, a photo essay by Mohammad Qayoumi

Filed under: events, experience, links, photography, war, peace, and justice

7 Responses to “Once Upon a Time in Afghanistan”

1. 
   Yoosuf said on 16 June 2010 at 11:02 am:

   That was when the Soviet union, USA break the Soviet Russia in to multiple parts and every thing went wrong and fighting…………..

2. 
   Dane Troup said on 16 June 2010 at 11:10 am:

   This might change a couple things over there. Just not sure if it will be for the better or worse.

3. 
   Nate Hunzaker said on 16 June 2010 at 11:15 am:

   Fascinating. I remember listening to an NPR story on Ahmad Zahir and the changes to Afghanistan since the era of his fame, but it I had no idea they were as progressive as the photos depict.

4. 
   sebastian said on 16 June 2010 at 11:26 am:

   Not to mention their very own Elvis: Ahmad Zahir.

   Seems that he was quite a hero there until he died, not without controversy about how, while having some songs with elements of political criticism.

   Here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmad_Zahir

5. 
   Tom said on 17 June 2010 at 9:58 am:

   For anyone else interested in the history of Afghanistan and the West then the BBC’s Adam Curtis has a brilliant (though lengthly) ongoing series of articles on the topic that you can find here on the BBC website

   Not a quick read by any means but absolutely fascinating stuff.

6. 
   PEX said on 17 June 2010 at 12:56 pm:

   but if not bastard Brzezinski and his plan to conquer the world that Afghanistan would normlanoy secular country such as Lebanon

7. 
   Bill said on 17 June 2010 at 8:10 pm:

   I remember the time when Afghanistan was the country the hippies liked the most on the hippie trail to India – they always used to say they were glad to get out of Iran and into Afghanistan ’cause the Afghani people were so friendly

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