Children play on a tank in the Panjshir Valley while waiting for ceremonies to begin in honor the one year anniversary of the assasination of Ahmad Shah Masood, September 9, 2002. The Panjshir Valley was a stronghold for the Tajik people and the famous commander Masood in their struggle first against the Soviets and then against the Taliban. The valley and villages of the Panjshir were subjected to heavy bombing and destruction during the Afghan-Soviet war, but was never fully occupied. Now it is the heartland for the powerful Tajik ethnic group, the second largest in Afghanistan, who came to partial power after the fall of the Taliban.

central asia panjshir panshir tajik military army two boys tank artillary