Photographer Daniel Malikyar, the son of Afghan refugees, has published a book of photographs showing a different side of Afghanistan—one of beauty, tradition, and humanity, rather than war and unrest. The images, taken between 2018 and 2026, document remote regions and communities rarely photographed, offering a unique visual record as photography in the country is now heavily restricted.
A Personal Mission
Malikyar said growing up in America after the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 shaped his childhood. 'I was called a terrorist before I even understood what that meant,' he recalled. 'But when I went home, it was something else entirely.' He was surrounded by Afghan culture through history, food, music and family stories, which felt disconnected from headlines.
Inspired by his grandfather Omar, who documented everyday moments, and his father Daoud reading The Kite Runner, Malikyar made a promise to return and show the Afghanistan he knew. 'If Afghan stories were told through an authentic lens, people would listen.'
Youth Culture in Remote Villages
In a rural village in eastern Afghanistan, Malikyar photographed Pashai boys who created their own style without internet access. 'Around the world there are always youth cultures that go against the grain, creating something new, that’s their own,' he said.
He also photographed women in Wakhan, capturing their resilience. 'What stayed with me most was the eye contact. There’s an honesty to it.' In some villages, people had never seen a camera.
Buzkashi and Winter Landscapes
Malikyar photographed the traditional sport buzkashi from within the game. 'I positioned myself as close as I could, fully exposed to the speed and unpredictability.' He also documented winter scenes, saying, 'Afghanistan has four seasons, and winter transforms the country in ways many would never expect. A quiet, expansive beauty that feels almost unreal.'
A Lasting Record
Malikyar described his work as 'my way of giving our people a voice, not through the lens of war, but through their dignity, their beauty and their humanity.' The book Afghanistan by Daniel Malikyar is published by teNeues.
