Lorenzo Tugnoli

Afghanistan: Before and after August 2021

work in progress
The Taliban have never been more powerful since 2001. The area contested or controlled by the insurgents now comprises more than half of the country and have steadily grown in recent years. Since the peace negotiations between the US government and the Taliban began, the fighting between the Afghan security forces and the insurgents have escalated as both parties try to gain leverage at the negotiating table in advance of direct peace talks. The recent escalation in the war had disastrous consequences on the civilian population. Afghanistan remains one of the deadliest conflict in the world, civilian casualties are at an all-time high and the conflict is causing continued waves of internal displacement.

Since the peace negotiations between the US government and the Taliban began, the fighting between the Afghan security forces and the insurgents have escalated as both parties were trying to gain leverage at the negotiating table in advance of direct peace talks.
As the Taliban grew stronger and the main cities were the only areas still under firm government control, a stream of refugees moved closer to urban centers and the Afghan Security Forces suffered heavy casualties in the last effort to prevent the full collapse of the country. This transition revealed the deeply corrupt and clientelist nature of the Afghan state that could not resupply the Army and maintain local authorities’ loyalty. Soon, one province after the other negotiated a surrender to the Taliban.
Many urbanite Afghans now fear the return to the draconian rules that the Taliban imposed during the late 1990s. In turn, the Taliban have been successful in pushing the foreign invader out and now need change guerrilla into governance and morph from a ragtag militia group into a legitimate government.

BAGRAM, AFGHANISTAN - OCTOBER 9, 2021: A Taliban militants shows his pistol at a checkpoint outside the former US base of Bagram. Bagram military base and its airfield were used by the Russian army then by the US army and is now under the control of the Taliban.(Photo by Lorenzo Tugnoli/ Washington Post/ Contrasto)
GHAZNI, AFGHANISTAN - DECEMBER 3, 2019: Members of the Ghazni police force stand to attention at the entrance of a police outpost outside Ghazni city. Taliban militants were often attaching Afghan security forces at night. Some of the bases came under fire on a daily basis.(Photo by Lorenzo Tugnoli/ Washington Post/ Contrasto)
LASHKAR GHA, AFGHANISTAN - MAY 26, 2021: Civilian take shelter inside a house in Helmand while fighting between the Taliban and the Afghan security forces rages nearby. Some civilians returned to their houses in the district of Nawa, near the city of Lashkar Gha despite fighting still ongoing in the area. After American troops began leaving Afghanistan early May the Taliban mounted an offensive near the southern city of Lashkar Gha. Afghan security forces were struggling to hold the besieged city in Helmand province.(Photo by Lorenzo Tugnoli/ Washington Post/ Contrasto)
KUNDUZ, AFGHANISTAN - JULY 15, 2021: Elite special forces unit Ð known as KKA or Afghan Special Unit Ð take shelter from gunfire during a night operation. After American troops began leaving Afghanistan in early May 2021 the Taliban mounted an offensive and took control of many district in northern Afghanistan. Security forces were struggling to hold the besieged city of Kunduz.(Photo by Lorenzo Tugnoli/ Washington Post/ Contrasto)
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - OCTOBER 10, 2021: Inmates wait for a decision on their case inside the prison of a police station in Western Kabul. Most prisoners were released during the Taliban take over. Now the Taliban are enforcing Islamic rules and struggling to transfer form a village-based guerrilla insurgency into a national security force to police urban areas.(Photo by Lorenzo Tugnoli/ Washington Post/ Contrasto)
LASHKAR GHA, AFGHANISTAN - MAY 27, 2021: A member of the Afghan security forces, injured during the fighting, is evacuated on a military flight from Kandahar airfield to Kabul. After American troops began leaving Afghanistan in early May the Taliban mounted an offensive in the southern city of Lashkar Gha. Afghan security forces were struggling to hold the besieged city.(Photo by Lorenzo Tugnoli/ Washington Post/ Contrasto)
KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN - JULY 30, 2021: Women and children, recently arrived from the provinces collect water in a IDP camp inside the city of Kandahar. In the weeks prior the Taliban gained territory and encircled the city of Kandahar. Thousands of refugees streamed to the city and security forces found themselves engaged in a battle inside the city limits.(Photo by Lorenzo Tugnoli/ Washington Post/ Contrasto)
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - SEPTEMBER 20, 2021: Images depicting women and clean shaved men have been painted over from hairdressers and beauty parlours shop windows. Even if the Taliban have not officially requested it, owners have acted in fear of retaliation.(Photo by Lorenzo Tugnoli/ Washington Post/ Contrasto)
LASHKAR GHA, AFGHANISTAN - MAY 26, 2021: An area of Camp Bastion, previously used by US forces as living quarters, now lays abandoned.(Photo by Lorenzo Tugnoli/ Washington Post/ Contrasto)
HELMAND, AFGHANISTAN - MAY 25, 2021: The Arghandab river marks a stretch of land between the cities of Kandahar and Lashkar Gha. At the time this image was take some areas around the river were controlled by the Taliban and intense fighting were ongoing.(Photo by Lorenzo Tugnoli/ Washington Post/ Contrasto)
Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, December 2019 -Taliban fighters drive on a road of Khogiani district and display their flag. The area was previously control by the Islamic State then retook by the Taliban. >< Provincia di Nangarhar, Afganistan, dicembre 2019 - Combattenti talebani guidano su una strada del distretto di Khogiani mostrano la loro bandiera. L'area era precedentemente sotto il controllo dello Stato islamico, quindi riappropriata dai talebani.
Kabul, Afghanistan, February 2019 - Shakila, 35 years old, stands in her mud house surrounded by her children in Hewad Wall informal settlement. Her husband is addicted to heroin and she support her family begging in the city market. All of her daughters are already engaged, including 7-year-old Sabrina (on the right). Sabrina's father engaged her to a friend in order to repay a debt of 100.000Afs (around 133$). After the engagement, half of the agreed sum is paid to the family. The other half is paid once the girls reach the right age to be married. Almost two-thirds of the Afghan population lives in areas directly affected by conflict and many families took the tough decision to relocate to refugee camps near urban centers. According to UNHCR data 340 thousand people were forced to flee from their homes in 2018 setting the total of internal displaced people to a record number of almost 2 million. >< Kabul, Afghanistan, febbraio 2019 - Shakila, 35 anni, circondata dai figli nell'insediamento di Hewad Wall. Suo marito v® ¬èdipendente da eroina e Shakira sostiene la famiglia chiedendo la caritv†ÀÜ al mercato. Tutte le figlie sono giv†ÀÜ state promesse in fidanzamento, inclusa Sabrina di 7 anni (a destra). Il padre di Sabrina l'ha promessa in matrimonio ad un amico per rimborsare un debito di 100.000Afs (circa 133 $). Dopo il fidanzamento, metÀÜv† della somma concordata viene pagata alla famiglia. L'altra metÀÜv† viene pagata quando le ragazze raggiungono l'etv†ÀÜ giusta per sposarsi. Quasi due terzi della popolazione afgana vive in aree direttamente colpite dal conflitto e molte famiglie hanno preso la difficile decisione di trasferirsi nei campi profughi vicino ai centri urbani. Secondo i dati dell'UNHCR, 340mila persone sono state costrette a fuggire dalle proprie case nel 2018, portando il totale degli sfollati interni a un numero record di quasi 2 milioni.
Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, December 2019 - A group of Taliban fighters gather in the morning in Khogiani district. Abdul Rahman (centre), 20 years old, joined the Taliban 6 years ago. He was a farmer before. He lost a hand trying to defuse a bomb. Some members of his family fought against the soviets occupation. He says he would be glad to return to farming when there will be an islamic government in Afghanistan, but he also add that he will miss jihad because "this is what feeds you in the after life". >< Provincia di Nangarhar, Afhanistan, dicembre 2019 - Un gruppo di combattenti talebani si raduna al mattino nel distretto di Khogiani. Abdul Rahman (al centro), 20 anni, si è unito ai talebani 6 anni fa. Prima era un contadino; ha perso una mano nel tentativo di disinnescare una bomba. Alcuni membri della sua famiglia hanno combattuto contro l'occupazione sovietica. Dice che sarebbe felice di tornare al lavoro agricolo quando ci sarà un governo islamico in Afghanistan, ma aggiunge anche che gli mancherà la jihad perché "questo è ciò che ti nutre nell'aldilà".
Loy Mandah, Afghanistan, February 2020 - A group of elders from surrounding villages wait to meet the local police commander inside a military outpost in the village. This area near the city of Lashkar Gah has seen a lot of violence in recent months. This outpost and the surrounding area have been under constant fire from clashes between the afghan security forces and the Taliban. During the reduction of violence there were no clashes. >< Loy Mandah, Afganistan, febbraio 2020 Ð Gruppo di anziani dei villaggi nei dintorni in attesa di incontrare il comandante della polizia locale allÕinterno di un avamposto militare del villaggio. Questa area, nei pressi della cittˆ di Lashkar Gah, ha testimoniato parecchia violenza negli ultimi mesi. Questo avamposto e lÕarea che lo circonda sono stati costantemente sotto il fuoco derivante dagli scontri tra le forze di sicurezza afgane e i talebani. Durante la Òriduzione della violenzaÓ non ci sono stati scontri.
Achin, Afghanistan, November 2019 - Abdul Mateen (left), 45 year old, originally from Pakistan, was a member of ISIS religious police in Achin. He prevented illegal drug cultivation and made sure everybody prayed five times a day. He was a member of the Pakistani Taliban and came to Afghanistan when the Pakistani army launched an operation in the border areas. He then the pledged allegiance to ISIS together with the other fighters. Rahmatullah Sufyan (right), 30 years old, is also originally from Pakistan. He was a member of the Pakistani Taliban and came to Afghanistan when the Pakistani army launched an operation in the border areas. He then the pledged allegiance to ISIS together with the other fighters. Rahmatullah was injured in a drone attack and he spent two month bedridden in hospital. They both surrendered to Afghan forces before the fall of ISIS in Achin and now they are in detention. >< Achin, Afganistan, novembre 2019 - Abdul Mateen (a sinistra), 45 anni, originario del Pakistan, era un membro della polizia religiosa dell’IS, a Achin. Ha vietato la coltivazione di droga e si è assicurato che tutti pregassero cinque volte al giorno. Era anche membro dei talebani Pakistani ed è arrivato in Afganistan quando l’esercito pakistano ha lanciato un’operazione nelle aree di confine. Ha poi giurato fedeltà all’Isis, insieme agli altri combattenti. Rahmatullah Sufyan (a destra), 30 anni, è anch’esso originario del Pakistan. Era un membro dei talebani pakistani quando l’esercito pakistano ha lanciato un’operazione nelle aree di confine. Ha poi giurato fedeltà all’Isis, insieme agli altri combattenti. Rahmatullah è rimasto ferito nel corso di un attacco di drone e ha trascorso due mesi in un letto di ospedale. Sia Abdul che Rahmatullah sis ono arresi alle forze afgane prima della caduta dell’Isis ad Achin e ora sono in stato detentivo.
Ghazni, Afghanistan, December 2019 - A demining team of the Afghan national army detonate an improvised explosive device that have been found on the Ghazni-Kandahar highway. A team from camp Sultan search this road for IEDs on a daily basis and often found one or many that have been set up by the Talibans the night before. Improvised explosive devices are one to the leading cause of casualties among civilians and members of the Afghan security forces. >< Ghazni, Afganistan, dicembre 2019 - Sminatori dell’esercito nazionale afgano detonano un ordigno esplosivo trovato sull’autostrada Ghazni-Kandahar. Una squadra del campo Sultan controlla quotidianamente questa strada alla ricerca di ordigni esplosivi improvvisati e spesso ne trovano uno o pivp di uno messi da talebani la note precedente. Gli ordigni esplosivi improvvisati sono una delle cause maggiori di morti tra civili e membri delle forze di sicurezza afgane.
Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, December 2019 - A group of Taliban fighters parade their equipment in a remote hide out in Khogiani district. >< Provincia di Nangarhar, Afganistan, dicembr 2019 - Un gruppo di combattenti talebani mostrano i loro armamenti in un rifugio remoto nel distretto di Khogiani.
Kabul, Afghanistan, March 2019 - A girl stands at the entrance of her family mud house in Hussain Khail informal settlement, in the outskirts of Kabul. Her uncle and brother were killed in an airstrike that struck the compound were the family lived in the village of Chardara, in the northern province of Kunduz. Survivors were stuck in the crossfire between the Taliban and the Afghan Army for an entire day before they could leave the area. During a break in the fightings they were evacuated directly to Kabul. Almost two-thirds of the Afghan population lives in areas directly affected by conflict; Aaccording to UNHCR data 340 thousand people were forced to flee from their homes in 2018 setting the total of internal displaced people to a record number of almost 2 million. >< Kabul, Afghanistan, marzo 2019 - Una bambina all'entrata della casa di fango in cui abita con la famiglia nell'insediamento di Hussain Khail, alla periferia di Kabul. Suo zio e suo fratello sono stati uccisi in un attacco aereo che ha colpito la casa dove viveva con la famiglia nel villaggio di Chardara, nella provincia settentrionale di Kunduz. I sopravvissuti sono rimasti bloccati dai combattimenti a fuoco tra i talebani e l'esercito afghano per un giorno intero prima che potessero lasciare l'area. Durante una pausa dai combattimenti sono stati evacuati direttamente a Kabul. Quasi due terzi della popolazione afgana vive in aree direttamente colpite dal conflitto; secondo i dati dell'UNHCR, 340mila persone sono state costrette a fuggire dalle proprie case nel 2018, portando il totale degli sfollati interni a un numero record di quasi 2 milioni.
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - FEBRUARY 7, 2021: Concrete blast walls have been built on both sides of this entrance to Massoud square. One of the main access to the city from northern Afghanistan, the area is particularly sensitive because located near the american Embassy and a military base. On September 17, 2019 a suicide bombing in Massoud Square killed 22 people and injured 38.KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - 7 FEBBRAIO 2021: Su entrambi i lati di questo ingresso a piazza Massoud sono stati costruiti muri in cemento armato. Uno dei principali accessi alla città dal nord dell'Afghanistan, l'area è particolarmente sensibile perché situata vicino all'ambasciata americana e ad una base militare. Il 17 settembre 2019 un attentato suicida in piazza Massoud ha ucciso 22 persone e ne ha ferite 38.(Photo by Lorenzo Tugnoli for The Washington Post/Contrasto)
Bamyan province, Afghanistan, September 2020 - A view of Dragon valley in Bamyan Province. Bamyan province is one of the few provinces in Afghanistan not affected by the recent escalation of violence.Provincia di Bamyan, Afghanistan, settembre 2020 - Una vista della valle del drago nella provincia di Bamyan. La provincia di Bamyan è una delle poche province dell'Afghanistan non colpite dalla recente escalation di violenza.
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