Kandahar - on Taliban... ...holy land and stronghold

Kandahar is today the stronghold of insurgents, Taliban fightingagainst Karzai Gouvernment and NATO coalition. The insurgentsmake themselves justice. They terrorize or kill those collaboratingwith the government.

a Photo story by Caroline Poiron/LightMediation

2758-04: Night patrol of the Afghan National Police, improvised Checkpoint. About 5,000 police officers work in the region on Anti-terrorism.

Contact - Thierry Tinacci - LightMediation Photo Agency - email: thierry@lightmediation.com - mobile: +33.6.61.80.57.21

2758-01: March 1996, the Taliban leader, Mullah Omar, dressed in the habit of the Prophet, declaredhimself "Commander of the Faithful" in front of Hundreds of Taliban fighters and call all Muslims to Jihad.

2758-02: March 1996, the Taliban leader, Mullah Omar, dressed in the habit of the Prophet, declaredhimself "Commander of the Faithful" in front of Hundreds of Taliban fighters and call all Muslims to Jihad.

2758-03: March 1996, the Taliban leader, Mullah Omar, dressed in the habit of the Prophet, declaredhimself "Commander of the Faithful" in front of Hundreds of Taliban fighters and call all Muslims to Jihad.

2758-04: Night patrol of the Afghan National Police, improvised Checkpoint. About 5,000 police officerswork in the region on Anti-terrorism.

2758-05: Night patrol of the Afghan National Police, improvised Checkpoint. About 5,000 police officerswork in the region on Anti-terrorism.

2758-06: Night patrol of the Afghan National Police, improvised Checkpoint. About 5,000 police officerswork in the region on Anti-terrorism.

2758-07: Night patrol of the Afghan National Police, improvised Checkpoint. About 5,000 police officerswork in the region on Anti-terrorism.

2758-08: Night patrol of the Afghan National Police, improvised Checkpoint. About 5,000 police officerswork in the region on Anti-terrorism.

2758-47: Prayer Time for the insurgents, the political prisoners inside the SARPOSA prison courtyard.

2758-09: Night patrol of the Afghan National Police, improvised Checkpoint. About 5,000 police officerswork in the region on Anti-terrorism.

2758-10: Night patrol of the Afghan National Police, improvised Checkpoint. About 5,000 police officerswork in the region on Anti-terrorism.

2758-11: Night patrol of the Afghan National Police, improvised Checkpoint. About 5,000 police officerswork in the region on Anti-terrorism.

2758-12: Night patrol of the Afghan National Police, improvised Checkpoint. About 5,000 police officerswork in the region on Anti-terrorism.

2758-13: Colonel Fazal Ahmad Shirzaal in night patrol with his men, bodyguards and police. Everyevening, the police improvise improvise around the city.

2758-14: Kandahar in December 2009. Post Central Afghan National Police. Rosi Mohammad, 18, wasarrested for allegedly trying to infiltrate and to prepare an attack against a police station.

2758-15: Kandahar in December 2009. Post Central Afghan National Police. Rosi Mohammad, 18, wasarrested for allegedly trying to infiltrate and to prepare an attack against a police station.

2758-16: Kandahar in December 2009. Post Central Afghan National Police. Rosi Mohammad, 18, wasarrested for allegedly trying to infiltrate and to prepare an attack against a police station.

2758-35: Entrance to the Central Post of the Afghan National Police.

2758-17: Kandahar in December 2009. Post Central Afghan National Police. Rosi Mohammad, 18, wasarrested for allegedly trying to infiltrate and to prepare an attack against a police station.

2758-18: Kandahar in December 2009. Post Central Afghan National Police. Rosi Mohammad, 18, wasarrested for allegedly trying to infiltrate and to prepare an attack against a police station.

2758-19: Kandahar in December 2009. Post Central Afghan National Police. Rosi Mohammad, 18, wasarrested for allegedly trying to infiltrate and to prepare an attack against a police station.

2758-20: Kandahar December 2009. Post Central Afghan National Police. Rosi Mohammad, 18, wasarrested for allegedly trying to infiltrate and to prepare an attack against a police station.

2758-21: Kandahar December 2009. Post Central Afghan National Police. Rosi Mohammad, 18, wasarrested for allegedly trying to infiltrate and to prepare an attack against a police station.

2758-22: Kandahar December 2009. Post Central Afghan National Police. Rosi Mohammad, 18, wasarrested for allegedly trying to infiltrate and to prepare an attack against a police station.

2758-23: Kandahar December 2009. Ahmadullah, 20, as thchadri (burqa) and Rahmatullah, 25 have beeninspected on the roadside near their motorcycle. The police discovered explosives under the chador.

2758-24: Kandahar December 2009. Ahmadullah, 20, as thchadri (burqa) and Rahmatullah, 25 have beeninspected on the roadside near their motorcycle. The police discovered explosives under the chador. They

2758-02: March 1996, the Taliban leader, Mullah Omar, dressed in the habit of the Prophet, declared himself "Commander of the Faithful" in front of Hundreds of Taliban fighters and call all Muslims to Jihad. December2009 the cemetery is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in Afghanistan. He lends healing effects. Those who come to pray here are all supporters of Jihad. In the foreground is the tomb of a Mullah killed and buried

in 2007.

2758-25: Kandahar December 2009. Ahmadullah, 20, as thchadri (burqa) and Rahmatullah, 25 have beeninspected on the roadside near their motorcycle. The police discovered explosives under the chador. They

2758-26: Kandahar December 2009. Ahmadullah, 20, as thchadri (burqa) and Rahmatullah, 25 have beeninspected on the roadside near their motorcycle. The police discovered explosives under the chador. They

2758-27: Kandahar December 2009. Weapons taken by the Afghan National Police. PK, RPG, rocketlauncher, a Kalashnikov, explosives photographed by the anti-terrorism department of the Afghan

2758-28: Kandahar December 2009. Weapons taken by the Afghan National Police. PK, RPG, rocketlauncher, a Kalashnikov, explosives photographed by the anti-terrorism department of the Afghan National

2758-29: Kandahar December 2009. Weapons taken by the Afghan National Police. PK, RPG, rocketlauncher, a Kalashnikov, explosives photographed by the anti-terrorism department of the Afghan National

2758-30: Kandahar December 2009. Weapons taken by the Afghan National Police. PK, RPG, rocketlauncher, a Kalashnikov, explosives photographed by the anti-terrorism department of the Afghan National

2758-31: Colonel Sardar Mohammad Zazai, Head of the Afghan National Police of the Province and hisbodygards. About 5,000 police track down the terroristes and criminals.

2758-32: Colonel Sardar Mohammad Zazai, Head of the Afghan National Police of the Province and hisbodygards. About 5,000 police track down the terroristes and criminals.

2758-24: Kandahar December 2009. Ahmadullah, 20, as thchadri (burqa) and Rahmatullah, 25 have been inspected on the roadside near their motorcycle. The police discovered explosives under the chador. They werepreparing a suicide attack.

2758-33: Entrance to the Central Post of the Afghan National Police. Panel of Police Chief Malalai Karkar,woman police officer killed by insurgents in 2008.

2758-34: Entrance to the Central Post of the Afghan National Police. Panel of Police Chief Malalai Karkar,woman police officer killed by insurgents in 2008.

2758-35: Entrance to the Central Post of the Afghan National Police. 2758-36: Director of the SARPOSA Prison, Bawar Abdullah and his son Saadullah Bawar. His second sonwas killed during the attack on Taliban prison, June 13, 2008

2758-37: Director of the SARPOSA Prison, Cheif Abdullah Bawar in front of the political prisoners cells. 2758-38: Director of the SARPOSA Prison, Cheif Abdullah Bawar in front of the political prisoners cells.

2758-39: EXCLUSIF political prisoners cells. Abdul Kahaliq, political prisoners, sentenced to 16 years,was found to have transported weapons to the Taliban.

2758-40: In SARPOSA Prison, political prisoners, the facilitators are sentenced from 5 to 16 years, whenfound transporting weapons.

2758-31: Colonel Sardar Mohammad Zazai, Head of the Afghan National Police of the Province and his bodygards. About 5,000 police track down the terroristes and criminals.

2758-41: In SARPOSA Prison, political prisoners, the facilitators are sentenced from 5 to 16 years, whenfound transporting weapons.

2758-42: Guards police in front of SARPOSA PRISON

2758-43: SARPOSA Prison. reconstruction of the wall attacked in june 2008 by Taliban. 2758-44: Prayer Time for the insurgents, the political prisoners inside the SARPOSA prison courtyard.

2758-45: Prayer Time for the insurgents, the political prisoners inside the SARPOSA prison courtyard. 2758-46: Prayer Time for the insurgents, the political prisoners inside the SARPOSA prison courtyard.

2758-47: Prayer Time for the insurgents, the political prisoners inside the SARPOSA prison courtyard. 2758-48: Prayer Time for the insurgents, the political prisoners inside the SARPOSA prison courtyard.

2758-51: Kandahar December 2009. Weapons taken by the Afghan National Police. PK, RPG, rocket launcher, a Kalashnikov, explosives photographed by the anti-terrorism department of the Afghan National Police.

2758-49: Prayer Time for the insurgents, the political prisoners inside the SARPOSA prison courtyard. 2758-50: Prayer Time for the insurgents, the political prisoners inside the SARPOSA prison courtyard.

2758-51: Kandahar December 2009. Weapons taken by the Afghan National Police. PK, RPG, rocketlauncher, a Kalashnikov, explosives photographed by the anti-terrorism department of the Afghan

2758-52: Political prisoners cells. interview of Kahaliq Abdul (right), political prisoners, sentenced to 16years, was found to have transported weapons to the Taliban.

2758-53: Political prisoners cells. interview of Kahaliq Abdul (right), political prisoners, sentenced to 16years, was found to have transported weapons to the Taliban.

2758-54: Political prisoners cells. interview of Kahaliq Abdul (right), political prisoners, sentenced to 16years, was found to have transported weapons to the Taliban.

2758-55: Political prisoners cells. interview of Kahaliq Abdul (right), political prisoners, sentenced to 16years, was found to have transported weapons to the Taliban.

2758-56: Political prisoners in Sarposa jail

2758-06: Night patrol of the Afghan National Police, improvised Checkpoint. About 5,000 police officers work in the region on Anti-terrorism.

2758-57: In the library of SARPOSA Prison, a political prisoners. Kahaliq Abdul (left) sentenced to 16years, was found to have transported weapons to the Taliban.

2758-58: Library for the inmates of the Prison Sarposa surpervised by the Director of the Prison AbdullahBawar.

2758-59: Kitchen of SARPOSA Prison. 2758-60: Cook for the detenees at SARPOSA Prison.

2758-15: Kandahar in December 2009. Post Central Afghan National Police. Rosi Mohammad, 18, was arrested for allegedly trying to infiltrate and to prepare an attack against a police station.

2758-61: Bread making at SARPOSA Prison. 2758-62: Bread, bakery of SARPOSA Prison

2758-63: Guards Police of SARPOSA Prison 2758-64: Kandahar airport. December 2009. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) landed on the tarmac.The MQ-9 Reaper, the USAF-UK, the latest generation of UAV is able to fly for 24 hours and carries a load

2758-65: Kandahar airport. December 2009. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) landed on the tarmac. The MQ-9 Reaper, the USAF-UK, the latest generation of UAV is able to fly for 24 hours and carries a load of morethan half a tonne and comprising Agm114 Hellfire missiles, and laser guided bombs. It can destroy the enemy on a motorcycle carrying weapons in Kandahar.

Kandahar: onTaliban holyland andstronghold

Kandahar is today the stronghold ofinsurgents, taliban fighting against KarzaiGouvernment and NATO coalition. Theinsurgents make themselves justice. Theyterrorize or kill those collaborating with thegovernment.

All supporters of the Jihad come and prayat the cemetary where in March 1996,their Taliban leader, Mullah Omar,dressed in the habit of the Prophet, anddeclared himself "Commander of theFaithful" in front of Hundreds of Talibanfighters and call all Muslims to Jihad.Today, the cemetery is one of the mostsacred pilgrimage sites in Afghanistan. Itlends healing effects.

The Afghan police of Kandahar deal withinsurgents everyday. 5000 men patrolnight and day around the city improvisingcheckpoints to make it safe for thepopulation. But as they are not well paid, lots of the police officers change sides andbecome taliban fighters. Also, youngafghan are paid by taliban to infiltrate andprepare attacks against police station.Some will try to make an suicide attack,hiing explosives under a tchadri.

When The police track down insurgents,they bring the detenees to the secretservice and then, are taken to the

SARPOSA Prison if they are not taken bythe CIA. The SARPOSA prison is locatedon Route number 1, the road leading toHelmand region. It is the only prison inthe area. 150 gards securise theentrances. Inside, out of 900 prisoners,350 are political prisoners. As prisonersroam on a beaten earth floor in a vaultedgallery, without cell, they auto-managethemselves. The prison is medieval. It wasattacked in june 2008 by taliban fightersand still is in reconstruction today. Inside,the political prisoners are held in one area.In the name of the Mollah Omar, they prayeach day for Allah. After interviewing onefacilitator, it is clear that they all want theoccidental out of the country and Chariainstalled again in all of the country.

Today, the americans use drones tolocate the terrorists. The MQ-9 Reaper,the USAF-UK, the latest generation ofUAV is able to fly for 24 hours and carriesa load of more than half a tonne andcomprising Agm114 Hellfire missiles, andlaser guided bombs. It can destroy theenemy on a motorcycle carrying weaponsin Kandahar.

Captions

2758-01: March 1996, the Taliban leader,Mullah Omar, dressed in the habit of theProphet, declared himself "Commander ofthe Faithful" in front of Hundreds ofTaliban fighters and call all Muslims toJihad. December 2009 the cemetery isone of the most sacred pilgrimage sites inAfghanistan. He lends healing effects. Those who come to pray here are allsupporters of Jihad. In the foreground isthe tomb of a Mullah killed and buried in2007.

2758-02: March 1996, the Taliban leader,Mullah Omar, dressed in the habit of theProphet, declared himself "Commander ofthe Faithful" in front of Hundreds ofTaliban fighters and call all Muslims toJihad. December 2009 the cemetery isone of the most sacred pilgrimage sites inAfghanistan. He lends healing effects. Those who come to pray here are allsupporters of Jihad. In the foreground isthe tomb of a Mullah killed and buried in2007.

2758-03: March 1996, the Taliban leader,Mullah Omar, dressed in the habit of theProphet, declared himself "Commander ofthe Faithful" in front of Hundreds ofTaliban fighters and call all Muslims toJihad. December 2009 the cemetery isone of the most sacred pilgrimage sites inAfghanistan. He lends healing effects. Those who come to pray here are allsupporters of Jihad. In the foreground isthe tomb of a Mullah killed and buried in2007

2758-04-05-06-07-08-09-10-11-12: Nightpatrol of the Afghan National Police,improvised Checkpoint. About 5,000

police officers work in the region onAnti-terrorism.

2758-13: Colonel Fazal Ahmad Shirzaal innight patrol with his men, bodyguards andpolice. Every evening, the police improviseimprovise around the city.

2758-14: Kandahar in December 2009.Post Central Afghan National Police. RosiMohammad, 18, was arrested for allegedlytrying to infiltrate and to prepare an attackagainst a police station.

2758-15: Kandahar in December 2009.Post Central Afghan National Police. RosiMohammad, 18, was arrested for allegedlytrying to infiltrate and to prepare an attackagainst a police station.

2758-16: Kandahar in December 2009.Post Central Afghan National Police. RosiMohammad, 18, was arrested for allegedlytrying to infiltrate and to prepare an attackagainst a police station.

2758-17: Kandahar in December 2009.Post Central Afghan National Police. RosiMohammad, 18, was arrested for allegedlytrying to infiltrate and to prepare an attackagainst a police station.

2758-18: Kandahar in December 2009.Post Central Afghan National Police. RosiMohammad, 18, was arrested for allegedlytrying to infiltrate and to prepare an attackagainst a police station.

2758-19: Kandahar in December 2009.Post Central Afghan National Police. RosiMohammad, 18, was arrested for allegedlytrying to infiltrate and to prepare an attackagainst a police station.

2758-20: Kandahar December 2009. PostCentral Afghan National Police. Rosi

Mohammad, 18, was arrested for allegedlytrying to infiltrate and to prepare an attackagainst a police station.

2758-21: Kandahar December 2009. PostCentral Afghan National Police. RosiMohammad, 18, was arrested for allegedlytrying to infiltrate and to prepare an attackagainst a police station.

2758-22: Kandahar December 2009. PostCentral Afghan National Police. RosiMohammad, 18, was arrested for allegedlytrying to infiltrate and to prepare an attackagainst a police station.

2758-23: Kandahar December 2009.Ahmadullah, 20, as thchadri (burqa) andRahmatullah, 25 have been inspected onthe roadside near their motorcycle. Thepolice discovered explosives under thechador. They were preparing a suicideattack.

2758-24: Kandahar December 2009.Ahmadullah, 20, as thchadri (burqa) andRahmatullah, 25 have been inspected onthe roadside near their motorcycle. Thepolice discovered explosives under thechador. They were preparing a suicideattack.

2758-25: Kandahar December 2009.Ahmadullah, 20, as thchadri (burqa) andRahmatullah, 25 have been inspected onthe roadside near their motorcycle. Thepolice discovered explosives under thechador. They were preparing a suicideattack.

2758-26: Kandahar December 2009.Ahmadullah, 20, as thchadri (burqa) andRahmatullah, 25 have been inspected onthe roadside near their motorcycle. Thepolice discovered explosives under thechador. They were preparing a suicide

attack.

2758-27: Kandahar December 2009.Weapons taken by the Afghan NationalPolice. PK, RPG, rocket launcher, aKalashnikov, explosives photographed bythe anti-terrorism department of theAfghan National Police.

2758-28: Kandahar December 2009.Weapons taken by the Afghan NationalPolice. PK, RPG, rocket launcher, aKalashnikov, explosives photographed bythe anti-terrorism department of theAfghan National Police.

2758-29: Kandahar December 2009.Weapons taken by the Afghan NationalPolice. PK, RPG, rocket launcher, aKalashnikov, explosives photographed bythe anti-terrorism department of theAfghan National Police.

2758-30: Kandahar December 2009.Weapons taken by the Afghan NationalPolice. PK, RPG, rocket launcher, aKalashnikov, explosives photographed bythe anti-terrorism department of theAfghan National Police.

2758-31: Colonel Sardar MohammadZazai, Head of the Afghan National Policeof the Province and his bodygards. About5,000 police track down the terroristes andcriminals.

2758-32: Colonel Sardar MohammadZazai, Head of the Afghan National Policeof the Province and his bodygards. About5,000 police track down the terroristes andcriminals.

2758-33: Entrance to the Central Post ofthe Afghan National Police. Panel ofPolice Chief Malalai Karkar, woman policeofficer killed by insurgents in 2008.

2758-34: Entrance to the Central Post ofthe Afghan National Police. Panel ofPolice Chief Malalai Karkar, woman policeofficer killed by insurgents in 2008.

2758-35: Entrance to the Central Post ofthe Afghan National Police.

2758-36: Director of the SARPOSAPrison, Bawar Abdullah and his sonSaadullah Bawar. His second son waskilled during the attack on Taliban prison,June 13, 2008

2758-37: Director of the SARPOSAPrison, Cheif Abdullah Bawar in front ofthe political prisoners cells.

2758-38: Director of the SARPOSAPrison, Cheif Abdullah Bawar in front ofthe political prisoners cells.

2758-39: EXCLUSIF political prisonerscells. Abdul Kahaliq, political prisoners,sentenced to 16 years, was found to havetransported weapons to the Taliban.

2758-40: In SARPOSA Prison, politicalprisoners, the facilitators are sentencedfrom 5 to 16 years, when foundtransporting weapons.

2758-41: In SARPOSA Prison, politicalprisoners, the facilitators are sentencedfrom 5 to 16 years, when foundtransporting weapons.

2758-42: Guards police in front ofSARPOSA PRISON

2758-43: SARPOSA Prison.reconstruction of the wall attacked in june

2008 by Taliban.

2758-44-45-46-47-48-49-50: Prayer Timefor the insurgents, the political prisonersinside the SARPOSA prison courtyard.

2758-51: Kandahar December 2009.Weapons taken by the Afghan NationalPolice. PK, RPG, rocket launcher, aKalashnikov, explosives photographed bythe anti-terrorism department of theAfghan National Police.

2758-52: Political prisoners cells. interviewof Kahaliq Abdul (right), political prisoners,sentenced to 16 years, was found to havetransported weapons to the Taliban.

2758-53: Political prisoners cells. interviewof Kahaliq Abdul (right), political prisoners,sentenced to 16 years, was found to havetransported weapons to the Taliban.

2758-54: Political prisoners cells. interviewof Kahaliq Abdul (right), political prisoners,sentenced to 16 years, was found to havetransported weapons to the Taliban.

2758-55: Political prisoners cells. interviewof Kahaliq Abdul (right), political prisoners,sentenced to 16 years, was found to havetransported weapons to the Taliban.

2758-56: Political prisoners in Sarposa jail

2758-57: In the library of SARPOSAPrison, a political prisoners. Kahaliq Abdul(left) sentenced to 16 years, was found tohave transported weapons to the Taliban.

2758-58: Library for the inmates of thePrison Sarposa surpervised by theDirector of the Prison Abdullah Bawar.

2758-59: Kitchen of SARPOSA Prison.

2758-60: Cook for the detenees atSARPOSA Prison.

2758-61: Bread making at SARPOSAPrison.

2758-62: Bread, bakery of SARPOSAPrison

2758-63: Guards Police of SARPOSAPrison

2758-64: Kandahar airport. December2009. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)landed on the tarmac. The MQ-9 Reaper,the USAF-UK, the latest generation ofUAV is able to fly for 24 hours and carriesa load of more than half a tonne andcomprising Agm114 Hellfire missiles, andlaser guided bombs. It can destroy theenemy, terrorist on a motorcycle carryingweapons in Kandahar.