Kidnapped by the Taliban (24 page)

Kuchi nomads are leaving Pul-i-assim, bound for Kabul. This is the same road and quite close to the spot where we were abducted by the Taliban.

A pair of mujahideen stand watch in an area near Pul-i-assim.

This is a typical Afghan meal, which I share with village elders. It includes naan, chicken, rice, and vegetables. I am about to eat a slice of tomato.

The opulent appearance of this mosque in western Afghanistan is typical for a mosque in the city.

In a remote community in Kabul province, apricot trees grow in the foreground, the structure on the left is a school, and the building on the right is a home.

A verdant valley outside of Kabul City is a great reminder that well-managed resources produce tangible results.

Employers know they can find men looking for work on this bridge over the Kabul River.

Kuchi nomads make their living driving herds of sheep, goats, donkeys, and camels to the city. A single sheep may sell for as much as $250.

Darul Aman Palace, on the outskirts of Kabul, was constructed during the reign of King Amanullah Khan. Though its name means “abode of peace,” it was virtually destroyed during battles among rival mujahideen factions in the early 1990s.

My coauthor, Jim Lund, walks the streets of Kabul, March 2014.

Many of the streets of Kabul are lined with vendors selling fruit and all types of wares.

Afghans are endlessly creative in finding ways to carve homes into whatever space is available, as on this hillside in Kabul.

These snow-capped mountains surround Kabul.