Afghanistan Gallery #1 Photo Gallery by Clayton Esterson at pbase.com

The most Popular Afghanistan Photos | Afghanistan Gallery #1 | Afghanistan Gallery #2 | Music of Afghanistan (1968)

Afghanistan Gallery #1

Photographs of Afghanistan, mostly in Kabul in 1967-68. Dr. Bill Podlich, photographer. Scanned from slides and restored by C. Esterson.
If you have information or questions on any of the photos, please e-mail me.
Last photo update: 2004. Check out Afghanistan Gallery #2 for new pictures with higher resolution and dust removal.

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Nan for Sale	Big Sister	Spice Merchant	Ready to Eat
Friendly Crowd	Kabul International	American International School of Kabul (AISK)	Grade School under the Trees
Shopping for Canned Goods.	Rug for Sale	Women Shopping	Street Cafe
Sweet Dessert	School Lunch Time	Conversation	Little Sisters
Laundry Day	Afghan Hound	Gunga Din	Slow but Sure
Sheep at the Market	Shepards	Donkey Ride	Embroidered Cloth
Military Band	Lighting the Hookah	Bamiyan Valley	Buddha Statue in Bamiyan
Foot of the Statue	Detail on Buddah Statue	Hand Powered Grind Stone	Framing Factory
Time for Prayers	Afghan Housing	Tent City	Highrise in Istalif
Weighing Fish	Sweet Shop	Tower of Ghazni	Detail on Arch

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comment |

Amina Baha		26-Apr-2018 20:09
Greetings. I would like to use a few of the pictures for an art project on Afghanistan. I can't seem to find many pre war photos. Please let me know how I can get permission and rights. Amina.Baha@gmail.com

Best Annabelle Dollhouse From Kidkraft for Little Ones		25-Dec-2017 17:23
Cool Music of Afghanistan!

Guest		23-May-2017 11:09
Bill Podlich and Afghans 1967 - Summer Of Love, I wonna thank you and long may you run!

SmartmilToys.com		12-Nov-2016 13:58
it is so good!

Roxane Koffi		11-May-2016 13:31
Powerful ! :D Woaw I never though see these pictures thank you so much !World is never stoping to change. I feel really lucky to have oportunity to see these pics . This is why I say travel is one best thing we should do in our lifes!!! Life is too short and things change too quickly for no try to travel and discover unknown places .♡♥♥ sorry for the bad english but I think you'll understand what I mean say! I WISH EVERYONE LIVING HIS LIFE AS THEY NEED!

Roxane Koffi		11-May-2016 13:25
Powerful ! :D Woaw I nevver though see these pictures thank you so much !World is never stoping to change. I feel really lucky to have!! oportunity to see these pics . This is why I say travel is one best thing we should do in our lifes!!! Life is to short and things change to quickly for no try to travel and discover unknown places .♡♥♥

Guest		21-Jan-2016 15:34
After reading "kite runner" & "and the mountain echo" I do want to visit Afghan, of course I know I can't. Now, because of thses precious pictures, I'm shock & really really happy, thank you so much for sharing.

Farhad Amirjan		03-May-2014 19:38
Afghanistan is a 4 season country with 5000 yrs of history. According to National Geographic and USGS (United States Geological Survey) "Afghanistan is rich in mineral reserves and has 47 minerals ranging from Uranium to Coal whilst apart from 47 just from mining Lithium and producing it to the world's market, Afghanistan will be Saudi Arabia of Lithium". But the question is... Farhad Amirjan

Richard Williams		29-Jan-2013 23:51
Mr. Esterson, Excellent work on this collection. I am researching a book on the Sherpur Cantonment (British Cemetery) in Kabul. Do you know of anyone that photographed this place? Decades of war and vandalism have left many headstones destroyed or their metal plaques removed to be sold as scrap. If any photos existed of the grounds before these unfortunate decades then it might be posssible to recover what has been lost. Perhaps some AISK Alumni might have taken photos. Thanks, Richard Williams

Mahdi24		18-Jan-2013 13:45
Afghanistan has changed since 2002 and will improve itself if neighbor countries let Afghanistan to stand.

Guest		01-Dec-2012 23:31
IF afghanistan was still like it used to be in the 60s and 70s there would be no need to go to a foriegn land to live, may allah bring the glory back to our beloved watan, i was born there and left afghanistan in 1985 during the invasion and before the bastard evil cold hearted fucking taliban came into power, may each and all of them burn in hell for torturing our ppl and our land, these arab pakistani fucks should all be dead

Guest		13-Oct-2012 16:59
when i see the picturs then, dont ask....

Guest		25-Aug-2012 07:10
nice

Guest		23-Jul-2012 06:23
I am Shah naasir ,i am very happy when i see the culture of afghans ,may god live long.

Diba		27-Mar-2012 22:20
WOW beautiful gallery ! i miss Afghanistan i wish the world was better place so that countries like Afghanistan can be appreciated for its rich culture and amazing sights not to mention the vary honorable, hospitable and brave people. if they would just give us a chance we can shine brighter than the sun.

Douglas Howser		30-Jan-2012 17:07
beautiful work! you've captured the essence.

Afghanistan Photos		20-Sep-2011 10:54
I don't think but I am sure the author of this page did a great effort to provide these all useful staff for both Afghans and non-Afghans. It is good time to start posting on web Afghanistan related contents to spread the fact of Afghanistan. www.afgpictures.com Afghanistan Photos

Tamera C. Wilson		29-Aug-2011 01:34
Hello! You have some great pictures. I need to ask some educational questions if you are willing please contact me back in an email. Thank you!!!

Faisal Aryan		12-Jul-2011 11:08
Really very beautiful pictures. Long Live Afghanistan , Long Live Afghans. God bless our country. Love all uzbak, tajak, hazara, pushtoon, and every one who is taking care of my beautiful country. God bless you all.

Guest		01-Jul-2011 15:20
These pictures break my heart.

Guest		25-Jun-2011 16:46
Nice pictures, we miss those beautiful atmosphere. Hope for a better future to Afghan...

effildIncitle		11-Jun-2011 12:30
Thanks For This Post, was added to my bookmarks.

Kanishka Sahel		20-Apr-2011 09:15
bah bah dosta besyar coment hay zibah noshta kardin! Marhamat kardin ba khod wa Afghanistani khod, waqehan Afghanistan tarikh derinay 5000 sala dard bebenid en zibaye hay boland tar az tasawor ra ke ba mowjodyad dar haman jay tarikhy wa zibah bayad goft ke Allah baray man JANATI hadia karda bayad ke dar en janat bod wa khidmat kard wa aman arozoie derenaye har syastmadari + garahi ke ba dedani Afghanistan dar rawabit syasi, ashtimahi, aqdisati qesmi ke da Net awal Name az Afghanistan ast bayad bashad dar degar harsahay seyasat wa rawabit wa inshallah hamin janwanhay naw ba afkari bozorg-o- +garah khod in Afghanistan ra khwaham matrah sakht!!! Beyain ba ham dowa konim ta Allah ba ma basahd dar Abadi Afghanistani Awalll (1) ksahel@gmail.com

Guest		22-Mar-2011 20:26
Great Pictures, brought lots of memory! Wish Afghanistan Progress not Regress.... --AN

sdfhjqfdsghuy/		09-Mar-2011 12:57
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Guest		01-Mar-2011 21:19
thank you for the current photos as I am reading Caravans by James A. Michener and needed some visuals to understand the land better. Barbara

Eng Abdul Fahim		09-Feb-2011 09:25
هر شب ز غم عشق تو من خواب ندارم / فکر دل من کن که دگر تاب ندارم پس گریه نمودم ز فدای غم عشقت / چشمم به زبان امد و گفت اشک ندارم

Guest		23-Jan-2011 05:04
OH my dear and lovely coutry you were beautiful , you are beautiful and you will always be beautiful , we all love you sooooooooo much.

Nargis		10-Dec-2010 03:25
GOD BLESS MY BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY AFGHANISTAN ..... :)

Negina		10-Dec-2010 03:23
Afgahnistan was such a beautiful country and still is and will be!!!(:

Guest		29-Sep-2010 19:49
what happened?

Jahan azimy KABUL JAN		27-Jul-2010 15:50
salam my dears,as you saw the pictuers our lovly AFGHANISTAN is so nice,lets pray for a peaceful AFGHANISTAN.TANX LONG LIVE afghanistan.0772564682.

Guest		06-Mar-2010 02:26
Afgahnistan was such a beautiful country, so full of life and good people. It is so sad that thanks to a few butt holes the country is now at war. Why can't the fighting just stop? Such a beautiful country and people destroyed by bad politics and men whom rather firght with bombs instead of face to face with words. May god save the good people of Afghanistan.

Guest		01-Mar-2010 23:35
Excellent Pictures! Thank you for bring back some real good times from Kabul. zarinas.com

Guest		30-Dec-2009 20:24
excellent photos of a bygone era, very sad to see how things have changed

Guest		30-Dec-2009 09:13
good photos thank you for sharing…

Paolo Peggi (aka Bracciodiferro)		28-Dec-2009 17:30
Great gallery, lot of excellent photography! V Paolo

Jeroen Bosman		24-Dec-2009 19:22
Very interesting series, thanks for all the work and the sharing. v.

Long Bach Nguyen		24-Dec-2009 19:08
Great collection of images and wonderful documentary of the history of Afghanistan.

Guest		13-Dec-2009 16:25
about the photo of Paghman Gardens - Then & Now Hi, My husband shows me this photo. The girl who sit is just look like me. I am sure that I've never been there even I am not born yet in that year. I would like to know who is that girl. Has any clue?

RAHIM KHAN SHARANWAL		11-Dec-2009 14:53
I LOVE AFGHANI TALIBAN AND PEPOL

Awrang		22-Oct-2009 18:50
its so nice pictures ,thanks allot , it so fantastic , thanks for corporations in this case, good luck , that is relay nice picture from beautiful kabul jan

Toofan		24-Jul-2009 00:33
I have to say after a few years i could find , what i wanted, that is the best what i ever could find in internet, impressival pictures, that give me a new power to be an afghan,very very ver nice job. thank you so much , tnx tnx tnx

Albis		23-Jun-2009 17:22
I am writing from Kabul...the contrast between the beautiful land captured in the Sixties and today's Afghanistan is striking (but where on Earth isn'it so?). Nevertheless it is still possible to feel the enchanting charm of this country that made Babur choose for his tomb in Kabul the following words: If there is a paradise on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this. Albis Francesco Gabrielli di Quercita

faisal		01-Jan-2009 18:40
it scatters my heart into piece by watching pics of my beloved tat how it was in its early years,even i was not born at tat time but i hav alway heard the story frm my dad tat our country was nt lik how it is now,but i couldn't image it with out seeing any pics, but these photos hav done it..i wish once again my Afghanistan develop again as it was n those years n thx fr sharing it..

Keith Lewis		30-Dec-2008 15:01
After watching the Kite Runner I went on line to look up Afganistan and came across these wonderful pictures. In the summer of 1972 I passed through Afganistan during my epic overland from the UK to Singapore.The country has since remained in my memory not only for its profound beauty but for the kindness of its people. These pictures bring back so many memories for alas the slides that I took with my Petri rangefinder have long since deteriorated and have been lost. I wish well to all Afghan people and hope that the country can return to the years before the Russian invasion.

Guest		29-Dec-2008 21:02
It is true that I am away from my hometown but still proud of being an Afghan. I adhore my countrymen . I wish luck for an individual Afghn fellow. And I appreciate all those who had gatherd these pictures when I saw these lovely inoccent children photos I was on cloud nine . kabeer

Guest		27-Sep-2008 19:18
It breaks my heart to see how our Gorgeous Country has changed! Thank you so much for those very beautifull pictures they remembers us that there was a time when our Beloved Afghanistan was so beautifull and peacefull! May Allah return those times!! Amin I LOVE MY AFGHAN PEOPLE! Allah Negahdare HAR AFGHAN

AFGHANISTAN		24-Sep-2008 16:12
We need a king..A king that was like back in the 1970's. We don't need a president or Talibans. Afghanistan was soo peaceful and beautiful before these things happened. Now look at Afghanistan, poor and reckless we need to do something about this!

Guest		24-Jul-2008 01:19
I can't believe how beautiful it was. All my life I've seen a completely different one. I hope peace will come again to this land some day.

Numan Akhundzada		15-Nov-2007 01:06
Thank you so much for putting the photoes in the site. although, I wasn't born that time that the photes show, but I really appreciate it. Because it realizes me my country in the past and in the moment. as an Afghan, I really appreciate it again and Long Live to Afghanistan.

Guest		22-Aug-2007 19:46
It's heartbreaking to see, the FREEDOM that once exsisted in Afghanistan, when DEMOCRACY ruled. How can people "progress" like that???

Skycrosser		28-Jul-2007 19:08
From whence I came as both body and spirit...one day I shall return... As either the mystical dust in the skies of the Dashte Margo or as the songs of the nightengale flying above the Pamir Highlands. Afghanistan, a people and culture that defines the legacy of the tribal planet... even through recent history...much as past history...life has been wretched... Afghans still feel poorly for those of whom were not born with the privilege to be Afghans... Oone day the Taliban and the Arab maruaders who have brought shame and exploited Afghanistan's weakness from years of Soviet domination and Ethnic social wars...will wither away and once more...I pray...that no longer would the world be able to find or recall where Afghanistan could be found on a map.

Nabila		28-Jul-2007 04:14
Makes me incredibly sad to see these pictures. I am sitting here crying, remembering my childhood memories of Kabul. What's happened to this poor country and its people is such an injustice. Thank you for sharing these pictures.

Mohammedullah khan yaqubi		18-Mar-2007 22:21
by seeing this i really trust that Afghanistan was the "Heart of asia" LONG LIVE AFGHANISTAN

Fatima Saber		03-Jan-2007 21:09
The pictures make me real sad. Thats the afghanistan my parents knew and it doesn't seem likely that I will ever see afghanistan that way. It was such a heart wrenchingly beautiful country.

EMangl		27-Sep-2006 15:03
might be this gallery that brings you most visitors, if you can trust google ;-)

Guest		15-Sep-2006 00:51
just finished the book titled "the places in between", and that was how i came to find this wonderful collections of photos, they are very telling, and makes me sad for what is happening today. Thanks for sharing these valuable glimpse !

Andrea, Germany		22-Aug-2006 09:02
Just like Mike I'n just reading "Caravans" by Michener, such a lifely novel where Micheners own experiences of Afghanistan are woven in. After 40 years of ups and downs there I get the felling that not much has really changed in that country and that people struggle for the same things just as they did then. No matter what government rules them and I'm sure the western people will never really understand Afghanistans soul and shall stop trying to press their own kind of civilisation on these folks. I found this site with these fine fotos after looking for pictures of Qala Bist, discribed in the novel. Very impressiv pictures. Thanks a lot

Guest		07-Aug-2006 23:36
I was just wondering who the last person was that posted a comment named Malikyar. Drop a name for goodness sake. Sheeesh!

Guest		07-Aug-2006 23:33
All the pictures of Afghanistan are great I just wish you wouldn't have added the few pictures of Pakistan in there. Just my opinion! Haris

Malikyar		14-Jun-2006 15:59
Greetings, I have been away from my country for the past 14 years and beleive it or not I am just crying watching all these photos. God bless you for this good work, both the photographer and Afghanland website!

Mike Barrow		13-May-2006 11:33
Hi! I am reading James A. Michener's Caravans, a novel set in Afghanistan. The book itself tells me what an outstanding country it is, but these photographs are simply awesome. Thank you very much!

Guest		07-May-2006 19:01
Salaam to everyone, I loved viewing these amazing pictures of Afghanistan. I hope we all go back to Afghanistan one day and live happily ever after. Thank-you to everyone who worked so hard to make this website. Peace out & khoda hafiz

veno from toronto		02-Apr-2006 23:31
OMG! every picture say million words about afghanistan. tho i was very lil when i left kabul afghanistan, but these pictures made me feel like i was never away from afgh... love every scene of it. i wish we all go back one day to the beautiful land of afgh.. cannt wait.

Huma Sidiqi		25-Sep-2005 11:49
woww this is wonderful thank you so much for the pictures they were wonderful, it brought the memories back home thank you very much i appreciate this alot because the afghan people dont get much so this is appreciated God Bless Afghanistan INSHALLAH the peace willy be fully back soon

t		30-Aug-2005 16:01
hi there is a blond wo man in street how afghan man didnt eat her

Zoharia Khaliq		12-Aug-2005 01:08
Thank you for this beautiful web page Afghanistan even though is 5,000 years old is a beautiful country. When I saw the afghan movies and these pictures it makes me feel so good as if I was raised there. Love you Afghans. from Zoharia Khaliq of Lv.Nv. of America. Khuda Hafiz!

NaamE XxX BAaz		11-Jul-2005 09:24
beautiful Afghanistan Pictures. Iam 20 years old i seen most of those places looking at these pictures in a couple of years it will be that same Afghanistan . love afghanistan

a girl from Afghanistan		08-Jul-2005 15:27
this is site is really wonderful! i was in Kabul in May for the first time and it was the best experience in my life. and its really nice to see how Afghanistan used to be. my only wish is to live in Afghanistan one day with peace and happiness. may God bless Afghanistan and the afghan people. thank you very much for sharing these wonderful pictures.

Naveed Kakar		03-Jul-2005 22:17
This site is a real dedicated effort.

ariana delawari		25-Jun-2005 08:06
this site literally brings tears to my eyes. i have only seen afghanistan after the many years of war, so to see her in her prime is so beautiful and sad to me. you can see my photographs that i have taken over the last three years on my website www.arianadelawari.com thank you for sharing these with me. it is incredible what war can do to a city. lets work together to restore afghanistan to her rightful state.

Mehdi Yari		27-Mar-2005 11:51
Thank You very Very much for putting these photos on the website and saving the history of Afghanistan. When i saw the pics for the first time, it remind me the golden age of My Loving Country Afghanistan, i have heard about those age from my father and other elders of my family but had never seen that. Your Photos gave me the Opportunity to have the idea and a beautiful look of that Time. I am Living in ruin version of Afghanistan and I always pray to Allah to bring those things to our country back that we have lost because of War and the enemies of humanity and peace. God Bless AFGHANISTAN. Thank You Very Much. Mehdi Yari

Guest		20-Jan-2005 22:50
Congratulations on showing this gallery. Pictures of Afghanistan from th 1960's and 70's, really are jewels of a lost world. Everyone who has them, should list them on the internet for history's sake. I visited Afghanistan a few years ago, but everytime i see pictures from your era i feel so much that i missed the country in it's prime. Much of the infrastructure is utterly eradicated now in terms of buildings. The culture remains as always, but scenes in your photos such as whole crowds of people wearing Turban is quite rare. Nowadays, it's a mix of old and modern which is a shame. Your photos remain as a moment in time now erased from the face of the earth. The psyche of the Afghan is now deeply scarred by the b***** Russians and the subsequent civil war,and i dont think it will ever fully recover to the type of atmosphere that must have been there when you visited. You are very lucky.

Vinay		02-Nov-2004 11:22
Fascinating, you are lucky to have gone to Afghanistan in more stable times. It is a really beautiful country.

Tawab		22-Feb-2004 17:09
Thanks for putting up the great pictures you have of Afghanistan.

Robert		01-Jan-2004 18:02
These are great images! I am reading Michener's book Caravans and these images (though shot several decades later) beautifully illustrate the people & locations around the country. The image of the Qala Bist arch is especially good. Thanks for sharing them, Robert Boulder, Colorado

Guest		24-Dec-2003 05:31
Love this galary, you have saved afghanistan's history with these pictures

Anushree Dey		15-Dec-2003 18:57
Dear Ms. Gallegos, I have sent a response to your question to your email account. Am typing the same here in brief. The Buddha is said to have very curly hair. This is always depicted as tiny curls on His head. The size and the style vary across Asia. This is further been enhanced by the depictions on the Buddha in statues at Nagarjuna Konda and other places. The murals at Ajanta also support this. Thank you. Regards Anushree Dey

Elaine		12-Sep-2003 12:40
Does anyone know what the name of the hat of beads on the Buddah's head is called? Thanks for any responses.

Seng Phomphanh		28-Apr-2003 14:57
Thank you for sharing the images of Afghanistan, I wish the best for her people especially the women.

HarFang		19-Apr-2003 01:16
Very nice pictures, unbeleivable. After the photos we are used to seeing in the newspaper. This brings light on a country that has being fried, buy a hanfull of power hungry men since a couple of decades. And the story is not finished, since the power that may be are still struggling there. I just hope we shall not see this madness repeated in our own country again.

war sucks		07-Mar-2003 05:44
no one sucks, except for those evil politicians (in many countries)who encourage killing of innocent people... (Really, real man should fight man to man, one against one... only the shits order people to kill.)

Guest		04-Mar-2003 00:34
Afghanistan doesn't suck. Those that were allowed to practice terror there do. Nice gallery!

Guest		04-Mar-2003 00:22
AFGHANISTAN SUCKS

Dave		02-Feb-2003 23:26
Clayton, These images by Dr. Podlich show an Afghanistan that is quite different from the war-torn country I saw this past summer. I just hope that one day that these proud people are able to live in peace once again. I only wish that I had taken a real camera and not the disposible one that took the pictures in my travel gallery. Dave

Maria		29-Jan-2003 21:28
By the way, loved the Decorating-Cakes and Kabul's-Only-Traffic Light pics...

Maria		29-Jan-2003 21:27
Seems to me that there isnt a big difference from what we know of Afghanistan now and how it was like in the 60s-- What wars can do!... thanks for these pics...

Dave Wojta		08-Sep-2002 22:27
What a terrific grouping of photos of Afghanistan! I was in Kabull in 1966-67 and this brings back many fond memories. Thank you for this wonderful treat. The titles are great as well. The atmosphere around Kabul was pretty light hearted then and I find them quite appropriate. Thanks again.

Guest		05-Jun-2002 15:56
I see nothing wrong with the titles. I think they are great, as well as the photos. I don't think that the pictures are meant to be "professional," or politically motivated in any respect. They just look like photos of daily life in the country, and the titles are just a way of identifying what the picture is about.

Someone		20-May-2002 19:34
I like the pictures a little but what I am very dissapointed by are the titles! I think that they shouldf be more professional! It is not a comical subject. Thank You!

Guest		23-Apr-2002 13:01
good job guys!

Carol Safi		15-Apr-2002 18:39
Great pictures. I noticed on the AISK page that Peg had mentioned "restored." I'm assuming that she was talking about the terrible fading that I have from my slides from 1964 through 1978. Especially the Etckakrome. How did you do it? I also want to transfer the 10 boxes of slides I've got to a CD. Any good slide scanners you recommend?

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