Another shot from a moving car - Afghan lady with her shopping by lbmcshutter

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.
Just imagine spending the larger part of your life in a refugee camp... Great picture.
January 24th, 2012  
Greta photo
January 24th, 2012  
Amazing view of life! Glad that some of those you met have achieved a better life - I hope many others get the life they deserve soon too.
January 24th, 2012  
Great shot, touching story, love the yellow colour of her robes.
January 24th, 2012  
War,,,, what is it good for.
January 24th, 2012  
Great photo and story
January 24th, 2012  
Great capture. She use to be 6ft tall.
January 24th, 2012  
great shot Megan! great backstory!
January 24th, 2012  
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 !
January 24th, 2012  
Stunning shot - that yellow really stands out, I feel for her with the load she has to carry (in more ways than one). What an experience you had.....
January 24th, 2012  
wonderful image- imagine carrying shopping on my head? amazing
January 24th, 2012  
makes me stop and realize how incredibly fortunate I am...
January 25th, 2012  
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
January 25th, 2012  
Such a different way of life - nice capture!
January 25th, 2012  
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!
January 25th, 2012  
@stiggle @peterdegraaff @alia_801 @zferrie @tigerdreamer @beckys @mwarren365 @bobbyj @mjmaven @filsie65 @jenrobcarr @shepardx2 @adobewaters @cglist @jannaellen

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.
January 25th, 2012  
Fab shot, even better that it's from the car as it's well composed. I'm really enjoying hearing your experiences from around the world.
January 26th, 2012  
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.
January 26th, 2012  
Great photo and story - such a different way of life!
January 27th, 2012  
Wonderful story and shot Megan.
January 28th, 2012  
What a wonderful story and fantastic image to match. Please hang around until September, I have a PNG image that comes to mind when I see this shot.

I have to go blow my nose now....
January 29th, 2012  
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