Afghanistan’s War-Torn Kabul Comes Back to Life – Slowly but Steadily

The old town of Kabul in Afghanistan has been ravaged by war for decades, but relief efforts have been progressively turning the Old City around: homes and cultural artifacts are being restored, and the economy is steadily picking up.

Forty years of war in the country led to massive amounts of deterioration of historic buildings and districts. In Kabul, trash was piled in the streets so high that people had to exit their homes from the second floor. Businesses closed, jobs were gone, and the economy halted. To fight back, relief and rebuilding efforts started to be made, with the help of nonprofits such as the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) and Britain’s Turquoise Mountain Foundation.

“The restorations instilled a sense of pride in the local community,” says Luis Monreal general manager of AKTC. “Far more than a programme of historic preservation, the work has sought to contribute to the lasting redevelopment of the economy, society and culture of the country.”

Rebuilding homes and historic buildings, statues, roads, and bettering the overall infrastructure has greatly improved Kabul’s community: economy is rising back up through tourism, and through local men and women relearning old working techniques like carpet weaving, woodworking, glassblowing, and tile making.