Kabul Jan

Afghans shop at an open air market a day before the celebration of the Persian New Year Nowruz in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, March 20, 2013. Nowruz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the year on the Iranian calendar. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Afghan youth, Nasrollah Valad-e-faqirallah looks on in front of his clothes store at an open air market in the city of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

An elderly Afghan Man, Feyz Muhammad Kashefi, 61, exercises in Shahr-e Now park in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

An Afghan couple feed pigeons outside of the Sakhi shrine during a snowfall in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday, Feb. 4, 2013. Kabul has been experiencing below freezing weather and snow for several days. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

An Afghan man walks in the Karte Sakhi cemetery, during a snowfall in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday, Feb. 4, 2013. Kabul has been experiencing below freezing weather and snow for several days. With the snowfall, Kabul has become more glowing and clean. Many Afghans pray to God due to snowfall, may all of their days be as white and glowing, peace forever. But for the poor and homeless, the winter months are an annual scourge, ushering in a series of unique obstacles and dangers.

Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Afghan children rest on the remains of a destroyed Russian armored personal carrier vehicle in Abdullah Ansari county in West of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Thursday, March 7, 2013. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Afghan refugee man, Ataullah and his wife Golmina Joureh sit with their kids in their small room as they pose for a photograph at their home in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

An Afghan girl holding an empty container over her head, as holds her mother's hand, while they wait to take the taxi behind Shah-Do Shamshira mosque in downtown Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

An Afghan man stands on the firewood, while Internally displaced Afghan young boys line up with their wheelbarow to receive firewood donated by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC)during a snowfall in a refugee camp, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Internally displaced Afghanis wait during a snowfall to receive firewood donated by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) in a refugee camp, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Internally displaced Afghan refugee men push handcarts carrying firewood for their homes after snowfall in Chamand-e Babrak refugee camp, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

An afghan girl covered in blankets as sits behind the Korsi to warm herself while a portrait of national hero of Afghanistan, Ahmed Shah Massoud is seen on the wall of her home in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2013. Traditionally, Korsi are heated with a brazier containing hot coals that is placed under the table that covered with blankets and all of family gather around that. During the cold winter temperature falls well below freezing in most parts of Afghanistan. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Afghan poor children burn plastic bags to make fire to warm up themselves during a cold day near the Darul Aman's palace damaged during the civil war of 1992 in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

An Afghan young boy holds a rooster, as he comes to sale it in birds seller market in downtown Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Afghan men eat their lunch in a traditional restaurant while a little waiter stands next to benches and waits to serve them in downtown Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Afghan men shows a handmade knife to an iron smith, as he asks its price at a small smithy workshop in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Internally displaced Afghan girl, Sita, 5, looks on, outside her makeshift home in a refugee camp after a snowfall in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

An Afghan boy holds his dog and controls it, as he waits for his turn to take part in a weekly dogfighting event in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. Dog fighting is a popular pastime among Afghans during the winter season as public matches are held every Friday, which is the official weekly holiday in Afghanistan. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Dog owners and spectators watch a dogfight in Kabul Afghanistan, on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. Dog fighting is a popular pastime among Afghans during the winter season as public matches are held every Friday, which is the official weekly holiday in Afghanistan. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

An Afghan man sales a pelican, as his son touches the beak of it, while the passers-by watching them in a street in Shahr-e Kohne (old city) of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday, Feb. 11, 2013.

An Afghan woman sews the clothes of her family as they gather next to him at her home in Abdullah Ansari county in West of Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, March 7, 2013. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Afghan girl, Mumina Hossaini weaves carpet as her little brother stands behind him at her home in Abdullah Ansari county in West of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. Hundreds of women and young girls weave carpet at their home or factories and support their families. One of Afghanistan's most expensive and recognized exports are carpets and rugs that made out of wool. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Afghan boys try to answer to the question of their teacher during a mathematics class in Abdullah Ansari county in West of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. Abdullah Ansari County in west of Kabul located on top of the hill. People in this region are in group of poor people in Kabul. These people usually face lots of problems in their daily life. All of their streets are full of mud. Children sit on the floor in their small classroom without any heater. They try to educate with no stationery and book. Their teacher teaches them for free as there have no income. These children need help to continue their education. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Afghan boys gather around their religious teacher to read Islam's holy book "Quran" as they attend their daily class on reading the verses of the Quran, in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust27

An Afghan boy reads the Quran, Islam's holy book, as he attends his daily class on reading the verses of the Quran, in Abdullah Ansari county in West of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. Abdullah Ansari County in west of Kabul located on top of the hill. People in this region are in group of poor people in Kabul. These people usually face lots of problems in their daily life. All of their streets are full of mud. Children sit on the floor in their small classroom without any heater. They try to educate with no stationery and book. Their teacher teaches them for free as there have no income. These children need help to continue their education. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Afghan boys eat their lunch after attending in their daily class to reading the verses of Islam's holy book "Quran" in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Afghan boys and girls leave their Quran's class in Abdullah Ansari county in West of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. Abdullah Ansari County in west of Kabul located on top of the hill. People in this region are in group of poor people in Kabul. These people usually face lots of problems in their daily life. All of their streets are full of mud. Children sit on the floor in their small classroom without any heater. They try to educate with no stationery and book. Their teacher teaches them for free as there have no income. These children need help to continue their education. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

An Afghan boy holds the hand of his blind father as they walk toward their home, during a rainy day in a street in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. His father lost his eyes in a suicide attack. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Afghan man shaves his beard bathe at a Hamam, or public bath, in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. The public baths are thought to originate from Turkey, and are found in the big cities of Afghanistan where they are mostly used by poor people, who after decades of war, most do not have access to hot or cold running water in their homes.. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

An Afghan boy washes himself in a hamam, or public bath, in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. The public baths are thought to originate from Turkey, and are found in the big cities of Afghanistan where they are mostly used by poor people, who after decades of war, most do not have access to hot or cold running water in their homes. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

An Afghan man sits on the ground as holds a glass of a car for use instead of his home's window near Abdullah Ansari county in West of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Afghans walk on a Nader Khan hill as a spy balloon is seen on the sky in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, March 4, 2013. The spy balloon become part of the Kabul landscape and is seen on the sky of Kabul. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

An Afghan burqa-clad woman clad sits next to a wall in a street in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, March 18, 2013. Persian writing on the wall reads, "peace." Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

An Afghan boy swings during a celebration of the Persian New Year Nowruz at the Kart-e-Sakhi shrine in Kabul, Afghanistan,Thursday, March 21, 2013. Afghanistan celebrates Nowruz, marking the first day of spring and the beginning of the year on the Iranian calendar. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

An Afghan boy dances in Eastern style, during Nowruz celebration near the Kart-e Sakhi mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, March 21, 2013. Afghanistan celebrates Nowruz, marking the first day of spring and the beginning of the year on the Iranian calendar. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Afghan boys plays on the swings near the Shoda lake in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, March 10, 2013. Kids attempt to pick up a coin from the ground to imitate their national game Buzkeshi which is played by their fathers. Buzkashi (literally "goat dragging" in Persian), also known as kokpar[1] or kupkari[2] is the Central Asian sport in which horse-mounted players attempt to drag a goat or calf carcass toward a goal. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Internally displaced Afghan refugee children play in Chamand-e-Babrak refugee camp in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sunday, March 3, 2013.Thousands of Afghans displaced by the war in their own country live in slum-like conditions in refugee camps on the edge of the capital. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Internally displaced Afghan woman holds her child, as she stands through a muddy alley in Chamand-e Babrak refugee camp in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday Jan. 31, 2013. More than 1.2 million Afghans have been forced to flee their homes due to violence in the past years and urged the Kabul government and the international community to tackle the country's growing crisis of refugees internally displaced by war. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

An Afghan boy walks on a muddy road covered with flood water, after heavy rain in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. The war-torn country still faces the challenges of poverty, unemployment and a lack of infrastructure. Photo/Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Kabul Jan

Stories

Ali Hamed Haghdoust

Kabul Afghanistan - winter 2013. Kabul is the capital of Afghanistan that is one of the most challenging places in the world and very historic city of the region, that has been built almost 4000 years ago that's always alive, Kabul’s population was 500,000 just after the fall of the Taliban, today it is 5 million. Around 1.5 million people come to Kabul from other parts of Afghanistan every year looking for work. Many families move from cold areas to warm areas, as they do not have any way of keeping themselves protected from the cold weather in the hard winter. Afghans rarely have electric or gas heating; they rely on burning wood, so during the long winters it always smells of firewood and cold air coming down from the mountains. Three million refugees have returned from Iran and Pakistan. They live in tents in refugee camps in Kabul and other urban areas. The extreme poor live in absolute poverty. The majority of these people are landless and homeless. Kabul is better off than anyplace else in Afghanistan, yet hardship is visible on the streets. Downtown is crowded, so there's always noise and people and cars moving around. In Kabul center, big houses and businesses are being built. The city nurtures a micro-economy of independent businessmen and women, Thousands of shop owners open their doors for business every morning. Security is seen everywhere, all the time: a reminder of the never-ending threat of an attack. Yet life goes on even in the face of an uncertain future. Today, in the post-Taliban era, daily life for most Afghans revolves around the exigencies of rebuilding a war-ravaged state. On the brighter side of daily life, the ban enforced by the Taliban on most forms of entertainment has been lifted, and the social atmosphere has become more relaxed. Afghans are again enjoying their life. They are trying for better future with composure.