The Daily Reality of Armed Patrols on the Streets of Kandahar

Four men in Kandahar, Afghanistan stand holding rifles. They wear all-black clothing consisting of long tunics, boots, and caps. Three of the men have beards. All are wearing rectangular patches on their upper sleeves. The man in the front has on glasses.

Four men stand outdoors, holding rifles. They all wear dark-colored, long-sleeved garments that extend to their ankles, along with vests and caps. The man in the center front is the tallest and wears glasses. They are standing on a street in what appears to be a city, with buildings and signs visible in the background. The sky is overcast. Based on the location being the city of Kandahar, Afghanistan, these men appear to be Taliban.

The image shows a man in a dark uniform with a tactical vest standing next to two boys. The man has a beard, sunglasses, and a cap. He is wearing a tactical vest with various pouches and what appears to be a screen. The boys are dressed in traditional clothing and have their hands clasped together. They are positioned to the left of the man. In the background, there are buildings, cars, and a large advertising billboard with numbers "15" and "35". The scene appears to be in a city. The image is taken in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

A man in a black cap, black collared shirt, and black trousers is seated on a light gray plastic chair with a black metal frame. He is holding an AK-47 rifle with a silver receiver and magazine and a wood stock. He is wearing black boots and a black tactical vest. The background shows a city street scene, including a motorcycle and buildings. The man has a full dark beard. The location is Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Two young boys are walking across a street in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The first boy is carrying a large white bag over his shoulder, and the second boy has his hand on the first boy’s shoulder. The first boy is wearing a gray outfit with a green hat, and the second boy is wearing a blue outfit with a white hat and black scarf. In the background is a street scene with a white car, a motorcycle, and a variety of buildings with commercial signage.

A man wearing a black cap, shirt, vest, and baggy trousers is sitting on a gray chair while holding an AK-47 rifle. He has a beard and is positioned outdoors, beside a street. Behind him is a motorcycle, and in the background, there's a street scene with buildings and people. A stone wall and a sign are partially visible behind him. The photograph appears to be taken in Kandahar, Afghanistan, based on the architecture, clothing, and context.

Four men stand in an outdoor setting, likely in a city, holding rifles. The men are wearing similar dark-colored uniforms, hats, and tactical vests. One man wears glasses and has a beard, while the others have beards and sunglasses. A motorcycle is partially visible on the left side of the image. A building with a sign is visible in the background. The location is possibly Kandahar, Afghanistan.

An adult male sits holding a rifle in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The man has dark hair, a black beard, and wears a dark cap. He also wears a black tunic, black boots, and a tactical vest. He holds a silver AK-47 style assault rifle across his lap. The man sits in front of a stone wall with ornate ironwork on top. There is trash piled to his right and bags to his left. The ground is paved with stone.

Four men stand outdoors, holding rifles. All are wearing dark clothing, and two wear caps. The background suggests an urban street scene in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

A man wearing a dark colored uniform and a black and white checkered scarf partially covering his face is holding an AK-47 rifle. He is wearing a black baseball cap. A patch is visible on the left sleeve of his uniform. He is standing in a city street; a person taking a photo can be seen on the left, and a truck is blurred in motion behind him. Food stands and a building under construction are also in the background. The city is Kandahar, Afghanistan.

The image depicts two young boys standing beside an armed man wearing a dark uniform and protective vest with a badge on the arm. The boys are dressed in traditional Afghan clothing. The man is clasping the hand of one of the boys. A white car and a large advertising sign are visible in the background. The location is a street in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Three armed men stand in front of a building in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The man in the foreground on the right wears glasses, a black uniform, and a black cap. He holds an assault rifle. His name tag reads "فیل الرحمن." Another man in a similar uniform and cap, but wearing sunglasses, stands behind him, partially obscured. To the left, the third man, also armed and in a similar uniform and cap, stands slightly behind the other two. In the background is a building with lettering on it and what appears to be a flagpole with a white flag. There are also other people and vehicles visible in the distance.

A photograph depicts a member of the Taliban standing guard in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The foreground is dominated by the Taliban member, wearing a dark-colored uniform, sunglasses, and a cap. He has a long beard and is holding a rifle. A scarf is draped around his shoulders. To his left and slightly behind him, another Taliban member is visible, also in uniform. In the background, there is a busy city street with people, vehicles, and shops. A sign with the number "35" is noticeable on the left side of the street. Further in the background, a multi-story building with glass windows is visible. The overall scene suggests a security presence in a populated urban area.

The image shows three men standing outside a building in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The man on the left is wearing a black uniform with a tactical vest and sunglasses, and he is armed with an assault rifle. He also wears a military-style cap. Someone is taking a photo of the group with a mobile phone. The two men in the center and on the right are wearing traditional Afghan clothing, including turbans. They have beards and are wearing sandals. The building behind them has some numbers (0700301637 and 0703636481) and words written in Arabic or a similar script.

A man stands on a paved surface in an urban setting. He wears a grey uniform with a black and white patterned scarf covering part of his face. He has a black cap on his head, and a patch is visible on his left arm. He is holding an AK-47 rifle. Behind him, there are street food stalls with various fruits and drinks on display. A concrete building with arched windows is partially visible in the background, along with an electrical transformer mounted on a pole. The location is identified as the city of Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Three men stand in a row, holding rifles and wearing what appear to be black police uniforms and black baseball caps. The man in the center holds a black rifle with a prominent sight. The man to his right holds a rifle with a wooden stock. The man to his left holds a black rifle. The uniforms appear to be a tunic-style top and trousers. The ground is paved and a low building is visible behind the man on the left, with other buildings visible in the background. A car is visible on the right. The image is a low-angle shot looking up at the men.

Four men are in the foreground; two men on the left are dressed in dark clothing, holding what appear to be firearms. The man on the far left is wearing sunglasses and a dark-colored hat. The other two men are in traditional garb, including turbans. One man is wearing sandals. They are standing in front of a building with text in Pashto, including the phone numbers 0700301637 and 0703636481. The text also mentions a mosque, and the city of Kandahar.

Four men, dressed in black uniforms with matching caps and beards, stand in a line, each holding a rifle. The men are positioned in the city of Kandahar, Afghanistan. The background features a building with a large "S" sign on its side. The sky is clear. The men appear to be security personnel.

Four men stand in a line holding rifles, all wearing similar black uniforms, caps, and beards. The man in the center also wears glasses. Some of them wear black vests over their uniforms. The background includes a building with a blue and gold sign with the letter "S" visible. The location is believed to be the city of Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Two young boys walk across a street in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The boy in front wears a dark gray outfit and a green cap, carrying a large white sack. The other boy, slightly behind, is dressed in blue with a dark scarf around his neck. Both wear dark-colored shoes. In the background, a street scene unfolds with a mix of pedestrians, cars, and motorcycles. A four-story building with multiple windows dominates the backdrop, while various shops and stalls line the street. People are seen walking, pushing carts, and riding motorbikes. A white van is parked to the left of the frame. The overall environment suggests a busy urban intersection in Kandahar.

The image shows three armed men, likely Taliban soldiers, standing on a street in Kandahar, Afghanistan. They are wearing dark uniforms and hats, and two of them are carrying rifles. A young boy wearing traditional clothes and a prayer cap stands next to them. In the background, there is a partially constructed mosque, streetlights, buildings, and a fruit stand. The sky is hazy, suggesting the time of day is near dusk or dawn.

A man with a full beard wearing a dark brown uniform and vest with ammunition pouches stands in a city street holding a rifle. The man is also wearing a dark brown hat. The street contains cars, a tuk-tuk, and other people. The location is the city of Kandahar, Afghanistan. A building with solar panels on the roof is visible in the background, as well as a sign in Arabic.

Four men in black uniforms stand armed in what is purported to be the city of Kandahar, Afghanistan. They wear matching uniforms with caps and beards, and each holds a rifle. The men appear to be standing on a street, with buildings visible in the background. The lighting suggests it's daytime or dusk.

A man sits on a chair on the sidewalk in Kandahar, Afghanistan, holding a rifle. He is wearing a black cap, a black vest, and dark clothing. A motorcycle is parked behind him, and there is a building and street scene in the background.

Four men in black uniforms and hats stand in a street in what appears to be Kandahar, Afghanistan. They hold rifles. A building with a prominent "S" sign is visible. Traffic and other buildings are in the background.

Four armed men stand in front of a building with a sign in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The men are wearing matching black uniforms with vests and hats. Three of the men have beards, and one wears glasses. Each of them is holding a rifle. The sky is overcast.

Four men dressed in dark uniforms stand in a line, each holding a rifle. The men have beards and are wearing matching caps. The man in the center of the frame is wearing glasses. They are in front of a building with a large "S" sign on it, identified as being in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

A medium shot captures a guard, likely Taliban, standing on a street in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The guard is dressed in a dark uniform jacket, a black cap, and a black and white checkered head covering that obscures the lower half of his face. He holds an AK-47 assault rifle with a wooden stock and handguard, and a strap hangs from it. A building with distinctive arched windows is in the background. An auto rickshaw is to the right of the guard. The overall scene is urban, with the appearance of a street in Kandahar.

In Kandahar, Afghanistan, a bearded man in a black uniform with a badge on his chest and a dark cap is holding the hands of two young boys wearing traditional clothing. They are standing on a street with buildings and advertising signs in the background. Cars and other vehicles are visible in the street.

In Kandahar, Afghanistan, a man in a dark blue outfit and hat rides a bicycle laden with brown cardboard or paper. He is positioned on a street with a light blue and white car to his left and a light blue car behind him. To his right, a man in a similar dark blue outfit rides a motorcycle. Buildings line the street, with signs written in what appears to be Persian or Arabic script. Utility poles stand along the roadside, and other people are visible in the background. The street is paved, with no distinct markings. The sky is overcast.

The video captures a street scene in Kandahar, Afghanistan, during daylight hours, likely in the late afternoon given the lighting. The primary subject is a man standing on the side of a road, dressed in a dark, long, tunic-style coat and a black baseball cap. A black-and-white checkered keffiyeh covers the lower half of his face, while a black backpack is visible on his back. He is holding an AK-47 style rifle with a wooden foregrip and stock, suggesting he is security personnel or a guard. On his left arm, there is a white patch with an indiscernible black emblem or text. In the background, the street is active with several men, primarily wearing traditional Afghan shalwar kameez. Some are walking, while others are riding motorcycles; one motorcycle carries two individuals. The architecture behind the activity features ornate, light-colored buildings with arched windows and doorways, indicating a historical or traditional urban setting. The road appears paved, and the weather is clear. The overall scene depicts a normal day's activity in a public area, with an armed individual maintaining a watchful presence. No strong emotions are discernible from the individuals.

Four armed men stand in front of a building with a stylized "S" logo, likely in Kandahar, Afghanistan. All are wearing similar dark, traditional clothing and caps. Three have beards, and one wears glasses. They are holding rifles. Three of the men wear tactical vests. The background shows buildings under a light sky.

The image shows two men walking on a street in Kandahar, Afghanistan. One man is carrying a large black bag over his shoulder. The other man is walking beside him, wearing a light blue shalwar kameez and a scarf. A maroon three-wheeled motorcycle with the word "BERANG" written on its side is in the background, loaded with bottles. Other vehicles and buildings are visible in the background, along with storefront signs written in Dari.