1960’s Afghanistan Was Very Different Before The Taliban

When you think of Afghanistan, you probably don’t think of short skirts, nice cars, and liberal lifestyles. Still, just as Iran looked very different in the 1970s, these fascinating pictures show that Afghanistan in the 1960s was a very different country from the one that exists today.

The pictures were taken by American university professor Dr. Bill Podlich, who in 1967 took a two-year leave of absence to work for UNESCO in Afghanistan. He served as the Expert on Principles of Education at the Higher Teachers College in Kabul, and during this time, he took many photographs of life as it was back then. The Soviets invaded only a decade later, and Afghanistan was pulled into war; following Taliban rule and the U.S. invasion in 2001, the country now bears little resemblance to the peaceful and prosperous nation you can see in the pictures below.

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01. Young Photographer At Paghman Gardens

Fun in the sun: Jan (left) and Peg (right) Podlich at Paghman Gardens, which was destroyed during the years of war before the 2001 U.S. invasion of Afghanistan.

02. Students At The Higher Teachers College Of Kabul

Hard at work: Students at the Higher Teachers College of Kabul, where Dr. Podlich, the photographer, worked and taught for two years with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation.

03. Co-education

04. Education Under The Trees

05. Afghan High School Girls

Friends: Pictured are Afghan girls coming home from school. The girls and boys were educated up to the high school level, and although both sexes wore uniforms, the girls were not allowed to wear a chadri on their way to secondary school. Able young women attended college, as did the men.

06. Kindergarten Dance

Playtime: Young students in blue uniforms can be seen dancing to music in a school playground

07. Bus Trip

Journeying: Peg Podlich, in the sunglasses, taking a family trip on a bus from Kabul to Peshawar in Pakistan

08. Big Sister

Family bond: Two colorful sisters, hand in hand, pose for a photograph in Kabul, surrounded by trading locals

09. Decorating Cakes

Tasty feast: A smiling Afghan boy is pictured decorating mounds of different cakes piled high on plates

10. Rush Hour

11. Afghan Hound

12. Sharing Tea & Music

Picnic In Afghanistan shows a group of young Afghans sharing tea and music in their free time

While he was teaching, Podlich’s daughters attended classes at the American International School of Kabul, which had several American and international students with parents who lived and worked in the country.

Dr. Podlich’s daughter Peg states these images are vital in her eyes.’ When I look at my dad’s photos, I remember Afghanistan as a country with thousands of years of history and culture,’ Peg Podlich told the Denver Post.

‘It has been a gut-wrenching experience to watch and hear about the profound suffering which has occurred in Afghanistan during the battles of war for nearly 40 years. Terrible forces have beaten down fierce and proud yet fun-loving people.

‘The incredible collection is now managed by Peg’s husband Clayton Esterson, who immediately recognized the historical significance of the pictures.’ Many Afghans have written comments [on the website] showing their appreciation for the photographs that show what their country was like before 33 years of war,’ he said.

13. Blonde & Afghans

Taking in the view: A blonde Peg Podlich pictured in Kabul, shortly after arriving, as locals walk past

Timeline of Events in Afghanistan

1996: Taliban seize control of Kabul, prohibiting women from work and introducing Islamic punishments such as stoning to death and amputations.

1997: Taliban was recognized as legitimate rulers by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. They now control about two-thirds of the country.

October 7, 2001: President George W. Bush announces that U.S. and British troops have begun striking Afghanistan for harboring the al-Qaeda terrorists blamed for the September 11 attacks.

December 2002: The U.S. ends with about 9,700 troops deployed, mostly going after Taliban insurgents.

May 2011: Bin Laden is found hiding in neighboring Pakistan and killed in a U.S. special operations raid. There are still about 100,000 troops in Afghanistan.

June 2011: Saying the U.S. is meeting its goals in Afghanistan, Obama announces his withdrawal plan: Bring home 10,000 troops by the end of 2011.

May 2014: Obama announces his plan to pull virtually all U.S. troops out of Afghanistan by the end of 2016 when his second term in office will draw close.

October 15, 2015: In a reversal, Obama says the situation is too fragile for the American military to leave. He announces plans to keep the current force of about 9,800 in place through most of next year to continue counter-terrorism missions and advise Afghans battling a resurgent Taliban. The goal was to decrease to some 5,500 soldiers in 2017.

14. Hanging Out At The American International School Of Kabul (aisk)

A class at the American International School of Kabul where Peg and Jan attended. After class, the girls were supervised by Indian ladies wearing saris and were driven with about 20 students back through Kabul

15. Shopping For Scarves

Shopping trip: One of Dr. Podlich’s daughters, Jan, smiles during a trip to Istalif, a village 18 miles northwest of Kabul

16. Frying Up Dessert

Cooking: A smiling man is pictured frying Jilabee, a sweet dessert, on an outdoor fire, with children gathered around

17. Aisk Parking Lot

A car park of the American International School of Kabul, which the Podlich girls attended. The school no longer exists, although alums stay in touch through Facebook and hold reunions every few years in different cities around the U.S.

18. Kabul Gorge

19. Bus Driver

As well as building a relationship with the Afghans he encountered, the amateur photographer set out to document their way of life.

20. Salang Pass Tunnel

The Salang Tunnel, located in Parwan province, is a link between northern and southern Afghanistan, crossing the Hindu Kush mountain range under the rugged Salang Pass. The Soviet-built tunnel opened in 1964.

21. Friendly Crowd

22. Art Show

23. Under The Trees

24. Bamiyan Valley

Using his Kodachrome film, his images show a peaceful Afghanistan’s strides towards a more liberal and Westernised lifestyle – a stark contrast to harrowing sights seen during the Taliban regime.