Another shot from a moving car - Afghan lady with her shopping
On the outskirts of Peshawar we visited an Afghan refugee village (background here) the homes were went from very temporary lean-to's to more established mudbrick houses. Some of the refugees had been since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s, others as a result of US led forces targeting Taliban and al-Quaeda in Afghanistan. By the end of 2001 there was over 5 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Millions have been repatriated back to Afghanistan by Iran and Pakistan and many remain extremely vulnerable in Pakistan and in Afghanistan (and Iran). Afghan ethnic groups in Pakistan include Pashtuns, Tajiks, Uzbeks, Hazara, Turkmen, Balochi and others.
I am fortunate to know several young Afghans. They had managed to learn English and some office skills and was extremely hard working and enterprising. They were the sole breadwinners for their families, supporting their parents and younger siblings. Sometimes they were visibly very upset, their younger siblings having been harassed by corrupt police who threatened to send them back across the border unless they paid a bribe. They and their families are now living in Australia, those wonderful young people achieving their dream of attending university.
lovely........I'm impressed by all the color the Pakistanis seem to bring into their lives whether it's clothing , their vehicles, signs.....always seems bright and beautiful !
ok megan 1st off this is an amazing photo - fav - 2nd - sigh i really do not know how fortunate i am until someone like you tell me how life is there - holly cow!!!!!! - sigh
You gave us an amazing insight into a foreign country and culture here. I especially like the story behind this and I admire the youngsters you speak about a lot!
Sorry for the bulk thanks here, but I really wanted to say thank you everyone, I really appreciate your comments on this shot, I really did hesitate to share this story. I rewrote it several times, trying to depersonalise it and protect the innocent. I think we can flooded with these stories in the media and become desensitised a bit, and I didn't want to be preachy.
I've seen some very good cinema from this part of the world, especially Iran and Afghan, sad times down there, not just now but since the second world war, one thing after another. Usually funded or Fk.d up by you know who.
Sorry for the bulk thanks here, but I really wanted to say thank you everyone, I really appreciate your comments on this shot, I really did hesitate to share this story. I rewrote it several times, trying to depersonalise it and protect the innocent. I think we can flooded with these stories in the media and become desensitised a bit, and I didn't want to be preachy.
I have to go blow my nose now....