312-2542 - Children in front of the Shrine of Khwaja Abu Nasr Parsa, built in the late Timurid style, Balkh (Mother of Cities), Afghanistan, Asia

312-2535 - Aimaq boys in front of yurt, Aimaq nomad camp, between Chakhcharan and Jam, Pal-Kotal-i-Guk, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2533 - Aimaq girl holding baby, Pal-Kotal-i-Guk, between Chakhcharan and Jam, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2531 - Shepherd boy tending his flock, between Chakhcharan and Jam, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2493 - Two early 12th century minarets built by Sultan Mas'ud 111 and Bahram Shah that served as models for the Minaret of Jam, Ghazni, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2503 - Famous Nuristan wooden statue of king on horse, Kabul Museum, Kabul, Afghanistan, Asia

39-3508 - Small Buddha statue in cliff (since destroyed by the Taliban), Bamiyan, Afghanistan

39-3511 - Small Buddha statue in cliff (since destroyed by the Taliban), Bamiyan, Afghanistan

2-5463 - Portrait of an elderly Pushtu nomad with turban and long beard in Afghanistan, Asia

39-156 - Portrait of a woman in burka in Afghanistan, Asia

6-2078 - Statue of Buddha, 38m high carved in the reign of Kanishka the Great, since destroyed by the Taliban, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bamiyan, Afghanistan, Asia

6-2083 - Defaced statue of the Buddha, 55m tall, carved in cliff by monks, since destroyed by the Taliban, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bamiyan, Afghanistan, Asia

312-1910 - Band-i-Zulfiqar, the main lake at Band-E-Amir (Dam of the King), Afghanistan's first National Park set up in 1973 to protect the five lakes, believed by locals to have been created by the Prophet Mohammed's son-in-law Ali, making them a place of pilgrimage, Afghanistan, Asia

312-1940 - The 65 metre tall Minaret of Jam, built by Sultan Ghiyat Ud-Din Muhammad ben San, in around 1190, with Kufic script and verses of the Koran on the exterior, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ghor Province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-1942 - Doorway at the shrine of Khwaja Abdulla Ansari, Sufi poet and philosopher born in Herat in 1006, Gazar Gah, Herat, Afghanistan, Asia

312-1943 - Friday Mosque (Masjet-eJam), restored since 1943, originally laid out in the year 1200 by the Ghorid Sultan Ghiyasyddin on the site of an earlier 10th century mosque, Herat, Afghanistan, Asia

312-1945 - The minaret of Bahram Shah, one of two minarets built by Sultan Mas'ud III and Bahram Shah with square Kufic and Noshki script, that served as models for the minaret of Jam, and believed to have originally been part of mosques, Ghazni, Afghanistan, Asia

312-1946 - The minaret of Sultan Mas'ud III, one of two minarets built by Sultan Mas'ud III and Bahram Shah with square Kufic and Noshki script, that served as models for the minaret of Jam, and believed to have originally been part of mosques, Ghazni, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2256 - Man looking at Minaret of Bahram Shah one of two early 12th century minarets, Ghazni, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2263 - Street market, Central Kabul, Afghanistan, Asia

312-1957 - Tourist climbing into the minaret by a window, 12th Century Minaret of Jam, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ghor (Ghur) (Ghowr) Province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-1961 - The Friday Mosque or Masjet-eJam, built in the year 1200 by the Ghorid Sultan Ghiyasyddin on the site of an earlier 10th century mosque, Herat, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-1963 - Twelfth century Ghorid ruins believed to be a mausoleum or madrassa, Jam to Obay, Chist-I-Sharif, Ghor (Ghur) (Ghowr) province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2011 - Pilgrims in front of tomb of the 11th century Sufi poet Abdullah Ansari, courtyard, Sufi shrine of Gazargah, Herat, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2014 - Timurid tilework on tower of the Citadel (Qala-i-Ikhtiyar-ud-din), originally built by Alexander the Great, but in its present form by Malik Fakhruddin in 1305AD, Herat, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-1994 - Ribbed dome of the mausoleum of Gaur Shad, wife of the Timurid ruler Shah Rukh, son of Tamerlane, The Mousallah Complex, Herat, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2003 - Tilework and mortar hole on minaret beside Gaur Sahd's mausoleum, The Mousallah Complex, Herat, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2071 - Pilgrims at the shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2083 - Memorial plaque of assassinated Mujahadin leader Ahmad Shah Massoud know as the ' Lion of Panshir' an Afghan National Hero, situated opposite the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2117 - Men pulling wooden cart piled high with red water containers along road, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2119 - Unique Timurid corkscrew pillars of the Shrine of Khwaja Abu Nasr Parsa, Balkh (Mother of Cities), Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2094 - Tiling round door, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assissinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2097 - Tilework detail, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2163 - Detail of decoration on minaret including Kufic inscription in turquoise glazed tiles, 12th century Minaret of Jam, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ghor (Ghur, Ghowr) Province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2169 - Detail of decoration on minaret including Kufic inscription in turquoise glazed tiles, 12th century Minaret of Jam, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ghor (Ghur, Ghowr) Province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2209 - Hajigak Pass, 12140ft (3700m), between Kabul and Bamiyan (southern route), Afghanistan, Asia

312-2274 - The Friday Mosque (Masjet-e Jam), Herat, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2279 - Detail of the Friday Mosque (Masjet-e Jam), Herat, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2354 - Minaret of Jam, UNESCO World Heritage Site, dating from the 12th century, with Quasr Zarafshan in background, Ghor Province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2352 - Detail of the minaret of the Friday Mosque (Masjet-e Jam), Herat, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2592 - Tiling around blue window, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2590 - Pilgrim at the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh, Afghanistan, Asia

39-3520 - Large Buddha, subsequently destroyed by the Taliban, Bamiyan, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Afghanistan, Asia

39-3524 - Cave painting at large Buddha cave before destruction by the Taliban, Bamiyan, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Afghanistan, Asia

238-5192 - The giant Buddha image at Bamyan, UNESCO World Heritage Site, since destroyed by the Taliban, Bamiyan, Afghanistan., Asia

816-388 - Portrait of a Afghan Tajik man, Wakhan corridor, Ishkashim, on the Afghanistan and Tajikistan border, Central Asia, Asia

1161-7936 - Pakistani soldier in traditional uniform of Kyber Rifles at Khyber Pass border with Afghanistan near Peshawar, Pakistan

1184-3485 - Men discussing in a corner of the Blue Mosque, Mazar-E-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

1184-3469 - Great Mosque of Herat, Afghanistan, Asia

1116-10924 - Afghan man in Bamiyan, Bamian Province, Afghanistan

1116-11138 - Old Afghan man and boy in Kharwalang, Vardak Province, Afghanistan

857-62787 - A Kuchi man fingers prayer beads in a nomad camp near the Turkmenistan border in, Kushk-i Kuhna district, Herat Province, Afghanistan

857-62786 - Members of a wildlife survey team, student Zalmai Moheb and team leader George Schaller, discuss wildlife with Kuchi nomads while policeman accompanying the team look on, in the range lands near the Turkmenistan border, Kushk-i Kuhna district, Herat Province, Afghanistan

857-55490 - A woman scoops mantu, steamed dumplings stuffed with spiced meat, onto a plate to serve to guests, at a home in Mazar-i Sharif, Afghanistan

857-33973 - Men and boys on bikes ride past a towering, ancient minaret, outside of Ghazni, Afghanistan, October 1, 2002. Made of brick decorated with Kufic and Naksh Script and floral motifs, the minaret dates back to the early 12th century and was built by Sultan Masud III of the Ghaznavid Dynasty, who ruled over an empire encompassing much of Afghanistan, Northern India, Persia and Central Asia. The minaret was once three times as tall as its current 70 feet, and is thought to have been part of a large mosque complex. Now an important truck stop on the road to Kandahar, Ghazni, located on the Lora River at the elevation of 2,225 meters, is the capital of Ghazni province and is a market for sheep, wool, camel hair cloth, corn, and fruit-it also continues to be a haven for Taliban insurgents.

857-33933 - Women in burqas flock like doves to the entrance of the main mosque at the Blue Mosque complex, Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh Province, September 23, 2002. Wednesday mornings are reserved for women to come and worship at the mosque.Elaborate tilework and decorated spires adorn the mosque, also known as the Shrine of Hazrat Ali (Hazrat Ali was the son-in-law of the prophet Mohammed), who is believed to be buried here. The shrine, of particular importance for Afghanistan's Shi'ite Muslims, was first built in the 12th century, destroyed by Genghis Khan, and rebuilt in 1481. The current mosque, considered by some to be one of the most beautiful in Central Asia, is a modern restoration.

312-1935 - Empty niche where one of the famous carved Buddhas once stood, destroyed by the Taliban, Bamiyan, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Afghanistan, Asia

312-1938 - The 65 metre tall Minaret of Jam, built by Sultan Ghiyat Ud-Din Muhammad ben San, in around 1190, with Kufic script and verses of the Koran on the exterior, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ghor Province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-1951 - Minaret supported by steel cables to prevent it from collapse, a project undertaken by UNESCO and local experts in 2003, The Mousallah Complex, Herat, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2147 - Detail of the 12th century Minaret of Jam at dawn, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ghor (Ghur, Ghowr) Province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2085 - Family looking at famous white pigeons at the shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2185 - Detail of the 12th century Minaret of Jam, including Kufic inscription in turquoise glazed tiles, Quasr Zarafshan in background, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ghor (Ghur, Ghowr) Province, Afghanistan, Asia

1116-11033 - Old Pashtun man in Sarobi, Kabul Province, Afghanistan

857-62769 - Mud houses cluster below steep hills and along a seasonal river, in the village of Dera Jawal, at the base of the Band-e Baba range, Herat Province, Afghanistan

1225-437 - Afghani farmer from Herat Province takes a break from working in rice paddies to smile for the camera, Afghanistan, Asia

832-394286 - Sufi priest studying the holy Quran in the Shrine of Mawlana Abdur Rahman Jami, Herat's greatest 15th century poet, Herat, Afghanistan, Asia

312-1969 - The Mousallah Complex, Gaur Shad's mausoleum, Herat, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2620 - White pigeons fly around the shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2616 - Pilgrim at the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

39-1157 - Musician, Tashkurgan, Afghanistan, Asia

39-2420 - Drummer and flute player near Shirzad, Afghanistan, Asia

1184-3495 - Beautiful interior of the Mausoleum of Mirwais Khan Hotaki, Kandahar, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2131 - Lady visiting a possible early 8th Century tomb of a 19th century AD saint behind mosque for blesssing for childbirth/sickness, No-Gonbad Mosque also known as Khoja Piada or Masjid-e Haji Piyada, Balkh, Balkh province, Afghanistan, Iraq, Middle East

312-2272 - Lady wearing a blue burqua outside the Friday Mosque (Masjet-e Jam), Herat, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2595 - Woman pilgrim at the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

857-62774 - A young boy smiles shyly in the Tajik village of Dera Jawal, at the base of the Band-e Baba range, Herat Province, Afghanistan

1225-128 - A village and terraced fields of wheat and potatoes in the Panjshir Valley, Afghanistan, Asia

1225-125 - The Panjshir Valley, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2518 - Watchtower at ruins which were once the site of a tall standing Buddha in a niche, Kakrak valley, Bamiyan, Afghanistan, Asia

312-1966 - Men reading in front of the Friday Mosque or Masjet-eJam, built in the year 1200 by the Ghorid Sultan Ghiyasyddin on the site of an earlier 10th century mosque, Herat, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2176 - The 12th century Minaret of Jam, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ghor (Ghur, Ghowr) Province, Afghanistan, Asia

857-62773 - A young girl smiles shyly in the Tajik village of Dera Jawal, at the base of the Band-e Baba range, Herat Province, Afghanistan

312-2051 - Detail of tilework on the Friday Mosque or Masjet-eJam, built in the year 1200 by the Ghorid Sultan Ghiyasyddin on the site of an earlier 10th century mosque, Herat, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Asia

1116-11155 - Afghan man and boys carrying a wedding ornament on the road to Tajekha, Vardak Province, Afghanistan

312-2481 - Tiling round shuttered window, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, founded in the 12th century, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

2-5433 - Man feeding white doves in front of the shrine of Ali at Mazar-i-Sharif in Afghanistan, Asia

312-2024 - The Citadel (Qala-i-Ikhtiyar-ud-din), originally built by Alexander the Great, but in its present form by Malik Fakhruddin in 1305AD, Herat, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2046 - Detail of tilework on the Friday Mosque or Masjet-eJam, built in the year 1200 by the Ghorid Sultan Ghiyasyddin on the site of an earlier 10th century mosque, Herat, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2597 - Famous white pigeon in minaret, Shrine of Hazrat Ali, who was assassinated in 661, Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan, Asia

1184-3443 - Shahr-e Gholghola (City of Screams) ruins, Bamyan, Afghanistan, Asia

1366-814 - Khujand, Sughd Province, Tajikistan. August 20, 2021. Memorial for the Soviet Afghanistan War in Victory Park in Khujand. Editorial Use Only

312-2213 - Colourful horse cart, Maimana, Faryab Province, Afghanistan, Asia

1350-5683 - burn victims of a IED attack in Afghanistan

312-2525 - Poppy field between Daulitiar and Chakhcharan, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2509 - Local man, between Herat and Maimana, after Subzak Pass, Afghanistan, Asia

312-2243 - Pai Mori Gorge, between Kabul and Bamiyan (the southern route), Bamiyan province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-1950 - Well inside the Citadel (Qala-i-Ikhtiyar-ud-din), originally built by Alexander the Great, but in its present form by Malik Fakhruddin in 1305AD, Herat, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Asia

312-1955 - The Friday Mosque or Masjet-eJam, built in the year 1200 by the Ghorid Sultan Ghiyasyddin on the site of an earlier 10th century mosque, Herat, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Asia

1225-126 - A farmer standing in a wheat field mixed with rapeseed oil in the Panjshir Valley, Afghanistan, Asia

1225-144 - The ruined city of Shahr-e Zohak in the Bamiyan province, Afghanistan, Asia