An Afghan coal miner washes up after a shift in a mine. Coal remains a major source of energy in Afghanistan. Five years after the American-led invasion to oust the Taliban from Afghanistan, efforts to reform the judiciary, towards religious freedom, and towards relaxing strictures on women were still underway. Life for most Afghans revolved around rebuilding the war-ravaged state.

Women wearing traditional burqas walk past a Kabul government building destroyed during the 1990s civil war. Five years after the American-led invasion to oust the Taliban from Afghanistan, efforts to reform the judiciary, towards religious freedom, and towards relaxing strictures on women were still underway. Life for most Afghans revolved around rebuilding the war-ravaged state.

A man douses flames on a former brothel, set on fire by rioters along with bars and other symbols of foreign presence after a traffic accident involving American troops resulted in the deaths of Afghan civilians. Five years after the American-led invasion to oust the Taliban from Afghanistan, efforts to reform the judiciary, towards religious freedom, and towards relaxing strictures on women were still underway. Life for most Afghans revolved around rebuilding the war-ravaged state.

Two boys play inside an abandoned swimming pool, destroyed during the 1990s civil war. Five years after the American-led invasion to oust the Taliban from Afghanistan, efforts to reform the judiciary, towards religious freedom, and towards relaxing strictures on women were still underway. Life for most Afghans revolved around rebuilding the war-ravaged state.

An Afghan boy covers his eyes as a dust storm sweeps through the city. Five years after the American-led invasion to oust the Taliban from Afghanistan, efforts to reform the judiciary, towards religious freedom, and towards relaxing strictures on women were still underway. Life for most Afghans revolved around rebuilding the war-ravaged state.

Afghan families live in an abandoned school on the outskirts of Kabul. Many returning Afghans returning face a harder life at home than they did in refugee camps in Pakistan. Five years after the American-led invasion to oust the Taliban from Afghanistan, efforts to reform the judiciary, towards religious freedom, and towards relaxing strictures on women were still underway. Life for most Afghans revolved around rebuilding the war-ravaged state.

A Sikh boy sits in the grounds of a ruined temple that is now home to several returned Hindu families. Five years after the American-led invasion to oust the Taliban from Afghanistan, efforts to reform the judiciary, towards religious freedom, and towards relaxing strictures on women were still underway. Life for most Afghans revolved around rebuilding the war-ravaged state.

Machine-gun ammunition lies on top of a sandbag, in a position overlooking a mountain pass on the Pakistan border - a route used by Taliban insurgents. Five years after the American-led invasion to oust the Taliban from Afghanistan, efforts to reform the judiciary, towards religious freedom, and towards relaxing strictures on women were still underway. Life for most Afghans revolved around rebuilding the war-ravaged state.

An Afghan boy shelters from the rain, wearing a plastic bag for protection. Five years after the American-led invasion to oust the Taliban from Afghanistan, efforts to reform the judiciary, towards religious freedom, and towards relaxing strictures on women were still underway. Life for most Afghans revolved around rebuilding the war-ravaged state.

An Afghan man practices martial arts early in the morning on a hilltop overlooking Kabul. Five years after the American-led invasion to oust the Taliban from Afghanistan, efforts to reform the judiciary, towards religious freedom, and towards relaxing strictures on women were still underway. Life for most Afghans revolved around rebuilding the war-ravaged state.

A villager briefly detained by US soldiers after they had been attacked by Taliban guerillas in the area, prays in an orchard. Five years after the American-led invasion to oust the Taliban from Afghanistan, efforts to reform the judiciary, towards religious freedom, and towards relaxing strictures on women were still underway. Life for most Afghans revolved around rebuilding the war-ravaged state.

A boy plays in a building damaged during the civil war. Five years after the American-led invasion to oust the Taliban from Afghanistan, efforts to reform the judiciary, towards religious freedom, and towards relaxing strictures on women were still underway. Life for most Afghans revolved around rebuilding the war-ravaged state.

General News - 3rd prize