The Cave-Dwellers of Bamian
Parliament and politics mean little to the people forced to live in caves beside the remains of Bamian's giant Buddhas.
Parliament and politics mean little to the people forced to live in caves beside the remains of Bamian's giant Buddhas.
Ground-breaking television channel attracts both praise and threats.
For Afghan women to get out of the home and onto the hustings takes some encouragement and some new-found courage.
Lack of security and opposition from family members are minor obstacles to some of the candidates standing for parliament in a staunchly conservative region.
Candidates in Herat claim some of their rivals are seeking to gain unfair advantage, but campaigning has generally been free of intimidation.
Family problems and desperate circumstances lead many young women to burn themselves to death.
Arabs and Kurds are trading insults online as the election debate moves into cyberspace.
Insurgents kill five policemen in attacks around the country.
By Meethaq Fadhil in Nassriyah (ICR No. 103, 27-Jan-05)