Ghazni, ancient city of Ghazna

Ghazni, in the centre-east of Afghanistan, is a city of around 141,000 inhabitants, capital of the province with the same name. It lies on the Lora river and the Kabul-Kandahar road; an important market town, famous for embroidered sheepskin coats, but also cloth from camel hair, corn, and fruit. The population is mainly Tajik. The main city on the Kabul-Kandahar highway, it became a strategic military target during the Afghanistan War.

The starkly beautiful landscape between Kandahar and Ghazni, southern Afghanistan.

Now Shahr, the "new" section of Ghazni, between Kandahar and Kabul in eastern Afghanistan.

Children of one of the nomadic groups, camped at an oasis on the Lora river at the edge of Ghazni. The girls here have considerable freedom.

Camels are led home on the outskirts of the old town of Ghazni. Camel caravans have plied these regions for centuries: this was part of the Silk Road.

The Palace of Sultan Masoud, a vast complex including a throne room, a Royal appartment, government offices, soldiers' quarters and a mosque.

The Citadel, Ghazni's strong fortress was taken and destroyed by the British in 1839 and 1842 during the First Anglo-Afghan War. It has only been partially rebuilt.

Houses below the crumbling Citadel, Ghazni's fortress, destroyed by the British during the First Anglo-Afghan War (1839-1842).

Shops around a small square in the bazaar below the crumbling Citadel, the fort of Ghazni.

Handicraft shops in the bazaar of Ghazni. The town is famous for its embroidered sheepskin coats, among others.

The "Chai kana", or tea house, is the favourite meeting place of the men where they sit on seating platforms outside, talk and drink endless small cups of tea.

Open-fronted shops along a street in Ghazni, eastern Afghanistan.

The landscape along the road between Ghazni and Kabul, eastern Afghanistan.