Afghan children with troop convoy in Wardak province

Afghan children curiously surround ISAF troop convoy in Wardak Province. Children across the region have grown up in this environment but remain fascinated by the army presence. Wardak, Afghanistan. 11/11/09.

Everywhere you go in Afghanistan, beautiful kids turn out to see what’s going on when a military convoy drives by or a group of ISAF soldiers on patrol enters their village. At first they are shy but then they overcome their shyness and wonder about this strange group of people – armed men and a woman without a burka, clad in fatigues, kevlar and body armor, armed with a camera. Pen, pen, they shout and almost die laughing when shown their picture on the display of the camera.
It seems strange but fascinating, that these children have been living with and in war most of their lives – and yet their smiles reach their eyes as they look at a complete stranger.