More than six months have passed since the Taliban took over the capital Kabul in August 2021. Already scarred by four decades of war, Afghanistan's rapid regime change has left a scar that will take a long time to heal.
"During my three and a half years living and working as a reporter in Afghanistan, I visited almost every province in the country. Since the Taliban takeover, I decided to return to many of them to understand how people are looking at life under their new rulers," said reporter Stefanie Glinski.
Due to the economic crisis, more and more people do not have enough money to buy food, even though food is still widely available in the market.
Food distribution in northern Jowzjan province, Afghanistan.
Most people, even in the capital Kabul, do not have clean water in their homes. People fill containers with water for drinking and cooking.
Tea vendors warm their hands on a cold day in Kabul.
Countless residents have left in search of new lives, swelling the Afghan diaspora to more than 5 million people worldwide. Others have decided to stay, or have no choice but to leave, and console themselves by saying they will give the Taliban – even though they are still not internationally recognized – a chance.
Taliban guards sit on the roadside in Mohammad Agha district of Logar province.
Taliban guards drink tea in Kabul.
Ziaul Rahman, a 21-year-old Taliban man stationed in Afghanistan's Logar province.
"We don't want the Russians, the Americans, or the Taliban. We just want peace," said Lal Mohammad, an Afghan man. "At least today I can tell my children that the war is over."
Mandawi market in Kabul is always bustling.
Sayed Jafar, a carpet seller, sits in his shop in Kabul. Since the Taliban took over, his business has essentially stopped as most of his customers have left the country.
Initially, the Taliban government detained all drug addicts, putting many of them in prison. But now, more addicts and beggars are seen on the streets of Kabul.
The August 2021 fighting devastated the town of Sangin (in Helmand province), which was once right on the front line. Every house was destroyed, only a few were rebuilt and people were starting from scratch.
People clean up debris after the war in Sanin (Helmand province).
Construction workers began rebuilding the house.
Malalai Maternity Hospital, where up to 100 babies are born every day. Of the 446 staff there, 400 are women.
Nurses and midwives working at Rabia Balkhi Hospital (Kabul) are having lunch.
Nakiba, 30, holds her two-month-old son, Mustafa, in front of the door of what used to be a clinic in Sangin town, now destroyed by bombs.
Lal Mohammad, 48 years old (from Maidan Wardak province).
Naila, 10 years old (from Wardak province), has had nightmares for months now, even after the war stopped.
Shaista, 50 years old (Jowzjan). Since the Taliban took over the country, her husband and children have lost their jobs.
Madina, 50 years old (Jowzjan).
So much has been lost in this country since the events that shocked the world six months ago. But somewhere between the ruined buildings and the devastated economy, Afghanistan still has some sunshine.
On a snowy morning, the reporter met Mr. Naim Naimy, 63 years old, from a southern province of Afghanistan. He had traveled 6 hours to come here, only to see the capital Kabul covered in white snow.
“I checked the weather forecast and decided to come here,” Mr. Naimy smiled as he stood among the snow-covered trees. “I really love snow.”
A man walks through a snow-covered road in Hezarak district (Panjshir province).
A boy flies a kite on a rooftop in Kabul.
