This general view from a hilltop shows the empty seats of Buddha statues (far L and R), destroyed by the Taliban in 2001, in Bamiyan province on November 9, 2009. Bamiyan, some 200 kilometres (124 miles) northwest of Kabul, stands in a deep green and lush valley stretching 100 kilometres through central Afghanistan, on the former Silk Road that once linked China with Central Asia and beyond. The town was home to two nearly 2,000-year-old Buddha statues before they were destroyed by the Taliban, months before their regime was toppled in a US-led invasion in late 2001. Getty Images logo Getty Images 1 week ago

This general view from a hilltop shows the empty seats of Buddha statues (far L and R), destroyed by the Taliban in 2001, in Bamiyan province on November 9, 2009. Bamiyan, some 200 kilometres (124 miles) northwest of Kabul, stands in a deep green and lush valley stretching 100 kilometres through central Afghanistan, on the former Silk Road that once linked China with Central Asia and beyond. The town was home to two nearly 2,000-year-old Buddha statues before they were destroyed by the Taliban, months before their regime was toppled in a US-led invasion in late 2001.

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  1. In this photo taken on Monday, Sept. 7, 2009, Taliban commander Baz Mohammed, center, speaks during an interview with the Associated Press at his headquarters in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. Mohammed, a commander in a pro-government militia, is supported by the government as both share a common enemy, the Pakistan Taliban serving under the replacement of their chief Baitullah Mehshud, killed during a CIA missile strike last month.
  2. In this photo taken on Monday, Sept. 7, 2009, Taliban commander Baz Mohammed, center, speaks during an interview with the Associated Press at his headquarters in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. Mohammed, a commander in a pro-government militia, is supported by the government as both share a common enemy, the Pakistan Taliban serving under the replacement of their chief Baitullah Mehshud, killed during a CIA missile strike last month.
  3. Afghan police sort through weapons surrendered by around 80 former Taliban fighters just two days after President Hamid Karzai asked his fellow countrymen to embrace the government and lay down their arms in western Herat, Afghanistan, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. Karzai on Thursday in his inaugural speech said he would welcome and help anyone who agreed to stop fighting and return to their homes.
  4. Former Taliban fighters gather at a police station after surrendering to US and Italian soldiers just two days after President Hamid Karzai asked his fellow countrymen to embrace the government and lay down their arms in western Herat, Afghanistan, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. Karzai on Thursday in his inaugural speech said he would welcome and help anyone who agreed to stop fighting and return to their homes.
  5. An Afghan police officer, left, takes a weapon from a former Taliban fighter, second right, just two days after President Hamid Karzai asked his fellow countrymen to embrace the government and lay down their arms in Herat, Afghanistan, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. Around 80 former Taliban abandoned their weapons Saturday in western Herat.
  6. An Italian soldier stands near weapons surrendered by around 80 former Taliban fighters just two days after President Hamid Karzai asked his fellow countrymen to embrace the government and lay down their arms in western Herat , Afghanistan, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. Karzai on Thursday in his inaugural speech said he would welcome and help anyone who agreed to stop fighting and return to their homes.
  7. Former Taliban fighters are seen at an amnesty ceremony with Afghan police, Italian and U.S. troops after surrendering their weapons just two days after President Hamid Karzai asked his fellow countrymen to embrace the government and lay down their arms in western Herat, Afghanistan, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. Karzai on Thursday in his inaugural speech said he would welcome and help anyone who agreed to stop fighting and return to their homes.
  8. Afghan police officers sort through weapons surrendered by around 80 former Taliban fighters just two days after President Hamid Karzai asked his fellow countrymen to embrace the government and lay down their arms in western Herat, Afghanistan, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. Karzai on Thursday in his inaugural speech said he would welcome and help anyone who agreed to stop fighting and return to their homes.
  9. Internally displaced Pakistani tribal people, who fled their villages due to ongoing fighting between Pakistani security forces and Taliban militants, wait for relief food in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009.
  10. Internally displaced Pakistani tribal women and their children, who fled their villages due to ongoing fighting between Pakistani security forces and Taliban militants, visit a doctor in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009.
  11. Internally displaced Pakistani tribal men, who fled their villages due to ongoing fighting between Pakistani security forces and Taliban militants, wait for relief food in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009.
  12. Pakistani policemen escort suspected Taliban militants upon arrival at a court in Karachi on November 17, 2009. Pakistani police arrested seven suspected Taliban militants last week accused of plotting suicide attacks in the nation's financial capital Karachi. The court remanded the accused to the police for a week.
  13. PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN - NOVEMBER 17: A view of the screen showing the film 'Zakham' at the Shabistan Cinema on November 17, 2009 in Peshawar, Pakistan. Peshawar, the bustling frontier city on the edge of the mountainous western tribal regions, has become the main target of insurgent violence as a form of retaliation for Pakistan's Army offensive in South Waziristan against the Taliban. The threat of continued attacks is keeping day labourers and other workers away from the crowded city. This is affecting the livelihood of the workers in the region, leaving them with less disposable income than in the past, and has had a knock on effect according to Shabistan Cinema owner Mr Aftab Hamada Sabrey. The cinema has seen a decline in attendance from 80 percent to 5 percent, forcing the owner to look at other options including transforming the once lively cinema into a shopping plaza.
  14. PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN - NOVEMBER 17: A cinema worker looks out to the street as he waits for customers to arrive for a screening of 'Zakham' at the Shabistan Cinema on November 17, 2009 in Peshawar, Pakistan. Peshawar, the bustling frontier city on the edge of the mountainous western tribal regions, has become the main target of insurgent violence as a form of retaliation for Pakistan's Army offensive in South Waziristan against the Taliban. The threat of continued attacks is keeping day labourers and other workers away from the crowded city. This is affecting the livelihood of the workers in the region, leaving them with less disposable income than in the past, and has had a knock on effect according to Shabistan Cinema owner Mr Aftab Hamada Sabrey. The cinema has seen a decline in attendance from 80 percent to 5 percent, forcing the owner to look at other options including transforming the once lively cinema into a shopping plaza.
  15. A Pakistan army officials shows a book of information about making explosives, recovered from a militants hideout after a gun battle in Ladha, a town in the Pakistani troubled tribal region of South Waziristan along the Afghan border, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009. Pakistan's army took a group of foreign and local journalists to view recently captured militant stronghold areas of the battle zone in South Waziristan, where security forces are waging an offensive against Taliban fighters believed to be behind suicide bombings in the country.
  16. PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN - NOVEMBER 17: Cinema workers wait for people to arrive for a screening of 'Zakham' at the Shabistan Cinema on November 17, 2009 in Peshawar, Pakistan. Peshawar, the bustling frontier city on the edge of the mountainous western tribal regions, has become the main target of insurgent violence as a form of retaliation for Pakistan's Army offensive in South Waziristan against the Taliban. The threat of continued attacks is keeping day labourers and other workers away from the crowded city. This is affecting the livelihood of the workers in the region, leaving them with less disposable income than in the past, and has had a knock on effect according to Shabistan Cinema owner Mr Aftab Hamada Sabrey. The cinema has seen a decline in attendance from 80 percent to 5 percent, forcing the owner to look at other options including transforming the once lively cinema into a shopping plaza.

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