Afghanistan in the 60-70s in the pictures of a French photographer

In 1969, Afghanistan was not at all like the place torn apart by war and terrorists that it is today. French photographer Francois Pommery took these images during repeated visits to Afghanistan in 1969 and 1974. These photos show the edge of fascinating landscapes, friendly and friendly people who happily talked to the photographer and posed for him.

Francois Pommery hitchhiked his way from France to Afghanistan in 1969. He also spent his entire scholarship after studying in Nevers and visited the Nuristan region, where a traveler rarely sets foot.

The photographer returned to Afghanistan in 1974 with his wife and friends. In 1974, Kabul was a friendly and lively city. Pommery recalled: "We stayed there for a month. Nothing has changed since the last time I was here in '69, except that the prime minister overthrew the king, his cousin."

Women with a covered head at a cart in Herat— the third largest city in Afghanistan.

Knowledge passes from generation to generation: a man teaches a boy how to work on a loom.

A boy on the street of Herat in 1974.

A couple on the street of the village of Vaigal, Nuristan province, 1969.

A man and a woman in Vaigal. The photographer said that all the people he met were happy to agree to be photographed.

The inhabitants of Nuristan live at an altitude of 1800 m in wooden huts.

According to legend, the inhabitants of Nuristan are descendants of Alexander the Great. It is noteworthy that among the locals there are sometimes blondes with blue eyes.

A local resident is resting in the sun.

The photographer was not intimidated by the inaccessibility of the region: "My friends were in Afghanistan in 1965 and mentioned the most beautiful place — Nuristan, where they were not allowed, because they needed a special permit. In search of adventure, I went there."

Glassblower at work, Herat.

The workshop is on the road leading to Bamiyan.

On the streets of Kabul.

The tranquility of mountains and clear lakes.

During his second visit to the country, Pommery went to Bamiyan to admire the Buddha sculptures carved into the rocks.

The statues were destroyed in 2001 by Taliban militants.

Buddha statues in Bamiyan from afar.

Bandi Amir Nature Park is the first in Afghanistan.

Pommery: "People called us French doctors and asked us to cure their illnesses and injuries. We could only give them the ointment that was in the bag."

Due to the language barrier, the photographer had to communicate with the locals using drawings in a notebook.

Bus from Kabula stopped at a gas station.

A man and a boy are resting on their way to Bamiyan.

Decorated truck, 1974.

A dried-up river that stretches through the whole of Kabul. The bridge over the river is used by locals for drying carpets.

Francois Pommery in Nuristan, 1969.