Daniel Malikyar, the son of Afghan refugees, has published a photography book titled 'Afghanistan' that offers a rare glimpse into the country's beauty and humanity, countering decades of war-focused headlines. The book features images captured during self-funded journeys from 2018 to 2026, documenting remote regions and communities rarely photographed.
Personal Mission to Reframe Afghanistan
Malikyar, who grew up in the United States after his parents fled Afghanistan, said the project was driven by a promise he made as a child. 'When the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 I was six years old. Growing up in America, the war shaped my childhood and the way people saw me. I was called a terrorist before I even understood what that meant,' he explained. 'But when I went home, it was something else entirely.' His grandfather's documentation of family moments and his father reading 'The Kite Runner' inspired him to show the world the Afghanistan he knew through family stories.
Unique Visual Record Under Restricted Conditions
Malikyar's work is particularly significant as photography in Afghanistan is now heavily restricted. The images include landscapes like the snow-covered Pamir mountains and Band-e-Amir National Park, as well as cultural scenes such as a buzkashi match and the Hazrat Ali Shrine in Mazar-i-Sharif. 'I travelled across the country on multiple self-funded journeys with the intention of experiencing it for what it is and documenting what I found along the way,' Malikyar said. 'In some places, entire communities had never seen a camera before.'
Challenging Stereotypes Through Dignity and Hope
The book aims to challenge stereotypes by celebrating unknown traditions and the dignity of Afghan people. Malikyar highlighted the resilience of women: 'My own family have shaped my understanding of Afghan women as resilient, confident, and quietly powerful.' He also noted the youth culture among Pashai boys in Nangarhar, 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.
A Changing Afghanistan
Malikyar emphasized that the work captures a moment in time that 'will never exist in the same way again' due to ongoing changes. 'Not because Afghanistan is disappearing, but because it is changing. And with that change, traditions, identities and ways of life begin to fade,' he said. The book includes images of winter landscapes, which he noted are often overlooked: 'Winter in Afghanistan is unforgiving. The cold is relentless. But at the same time, it reveals something else entirely. A quiet, expansive beauty that feels almost unreal.'
Published by teNeues, 'Afghanistan' by Daniel Malikyar is a visual record that challenges the dominant narrative, offering a perspective rooted in the photographer's personal connection to the country. 'This project is my way of giving our people a voice, not through the lens of war, but through their dignity, their beauty and their humanity,' Malikyar said.
