BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Afghanistan’s children are a common to sight to U.S. troops patrolling the provinces under the control of Regional Command – East. The vibrant, pastel colors of their traditional clothing are highlighted in sharp contrast to the region’s sepia-toned, rugged landscape.
And they are also a colorful reminder of the importance of the coalition’s efforts here. While many Afghans do not yet lead care-free lives, they now have opportunities that were impossible under the Taliban’s rule.
Behind the heavily publicized warfare in Afghanistan, coalition units regularly conduct missions designed specifically to improve the day-to-day lives of Afghans. Presented with new schools – for both boys and girls – and significant improvements in countless governance and development projects, Afghanistan’s youngest generation may be its best hope to emerge from three decades of conflict.
The following is a collection of photographs taken of Afghan children during three such missions in the eastern Kapisa and Parwan provinces.