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Image: Afghan National Army soldier Mirza Mirzali, a Pashtun from Jalalabad, eastern Afghanistan

Asia

Soldiers of the Afghan National Army

In southern Afghanistan, the focus of the U.S. war effort, nearly all the Afghan soldiers are foreigners too. Photographer Kevin Frayer shows these soldiers in a series of portraits.

/ 10 PHOTOS
Image: Afghan National Army soldier Mirza Mirzali, a Pashtun from Jalalabad, eastern Afghanistan

Mirza Mirzali

On July 11 AP photographer Kevin Frayer photographed members of the Afghan National Army after a patrol in the volatile Arghandab Valley, near Kandahar City, southern Afghanistan

In this area, the focus of the U.S. war effort, nearly all the Afghan soldiers are foreigners too and most don't speak the local language. They have to communicate through interpreters hired for the Americans.

Despite ethnic quotas and recruiting drives, the Afghan army is still dominated by northern minorities who were oppressed by the Taliban. Nearly all Taliban are ethnic Pashtuns. Although many Pashtuns, the country's biggest ethnic community, are not connected to the Taliban, the rift between northerners and the southern Pashtuns runs deep.

Mirzali, a Pashtun from Jalalabad, eastern Afghanistan, poses with his weapon.

— Kevin Frayer / AP
Image: Afghan National Army soldier Saber, an ethnic Tajik from Samangar, northern Afghanistan

Saber

An ethnic Tajik from Samangar, northern Afghanistan.

— Kevin Frayer / AP
Image: Afghan National Army soldier Ghulam Hidar, an ethnic Turkmeni from Jozjan, northern Afghanistan

Ghulam Hidar

An ethnic Turkmeni from Jozjan, northern Afghanistan.

— Kevin Frayer / AP
Image: ghan National Army soldier Faisullah Kareemay, an ethnic Tajik from Baghlan, Afghanistan

Faisullah Kareemay

An ethnic Tajik from Baghlan.

— Kevin Frayer / AP
Image: Afghan National Army soldier Aijad, an ethnic Tajik from Badakshan northern Afghanistan

Aijad

An ethnic Tajik from Badakshan, northern Afghanistan.

— Kevin Frayer / AP
Image: Afghan National Army soldier Han Shareen, an ethnic Tajik from BadakShan, northern Afghanistan

Han Shareen

An ethnic Tajik from Badakshan, northern Afghanistan.

— Kevin Frayer / AP
Image: Afghan National Army soldier Mullah Assan an ethnic  Turkmeni from Jozjan, northern Afghanistan

Mullah Assan

An ethnic Turkmeni from Jozjan, northern Afghanistan.

— Kevin Frayer / AP
Image: Afghan National Army soldier Lt. Dilah Ga, an ethnic Tajik from Tahar, northern Afghanistan

Lt. Dilah Ga

An ethnic Tajik from Tahar, northern Afghanistan.

— Kevin Frayer / AP
Image: Afghan National Army soldier Aziz Ala, an ethnic Tajik from BadakShan, northern Afghanistan

Aziz Ala

An ethnic Tajik from Badakshan, northern Afghanistan.

— Kevin Frayer / AP
Image: Afghan National Army soldier Sgt. Din Mohammed, an ethnic Tajik from, northern Afghanistan

Sgt. Din Mohammed

An ethnic Tajik from northern Afghanistan, northern Afghanistan.

— Kevin Frayer / AP
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