More
- Classifieds
- Cars
- Deals
- Real Estate
- Rentals
- Photos
- Blogs

In the News

In Afghanistan, accidental victims of live munition

On the periphery of Bagram Airfield, farmers, scrap-metal collectors and sheep herders have been crippled, blinded and burned by U.S. military ammunition on an unfenced and poorly marked training ground.

5 Seconds

00:00

00:00

Twelve-year-old Azizadullah, left, sifts through a pile of shrapnel, live bullets, bullet casings and rocket parts at this home in Afghanistan's Parwan province. Many in his community, which is next to Bagram Airfield about an hour's drive northeast from the capital of Kabul, collect metal from test sites and mine fields so they can sell it as scrap to local traders. U.S. and NATO forces conduct missile tests on the mountain range close to this community. Many residents are being injured by unexploded rockets and ammunition.

Javier Manzano / For The Washington Post

A girl walks past her home in Parwan province. The East River Range, which is used as a firing range by U.S. and NATO forces, is seen in the distance.

A girl walks past her home in Parwan province. The East River Range, which is used as a firing range by U.S. and NATO forces, is seen in the distance.

Javier Manzano / For The Washington Post

Some Afghan locals say some rockets do not explode on impact because of the area's sandy ground. Many residents are being injured as they graze their animals or go out collecting metal parts. Two concrete blast walls, with signs written in English, are the only warnings about unexploded ordnance in an unfenced field.

Some Afghan locals say some rockets do not explode on impact because of the area's sandy ground. Many residents are being injured as they graze their animals or go out collecting metal parts. Two concrete blast walls, with signs written in English, are the only warnings about unexploded ordnance in an unfenced field.

Javier Manzano / For The Washington Post

Zahedullah, 8, and Safiullah, 12, look for scrap metal and shrapnel from exploded anti-personnel mines outside their village in the Khak-e-Jabar district. Areas in and around Kabul were heavily mined during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s.

Zahedullah, 8, and Safiullah, 12, look for scrap metal and shrapnel from exploded anti-personnel mines outside their village in the Khak-e-Jabar district. Areas in and around Kabul were heavily mined during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s.

Javier Manzano / For The Washington Post

An armed reconnaissance helicopter shoots a Hellfire missile into the side of a mountain at the East River firing range in the Bagram district. Although the area is technically off-limits to local villagers, there are no visible warning signs written in Dari or Pashto, the two most prominent languages in Afghanistan.

An armed reconnaissance helicopter shoots a Hellfire missile into the side of a mountain at the East River firing range in the Bagram district. Although the area is technically off-limits to local villagers, there are no visible warning signs written in Dari or Pashto, the two most prominent languages in Afghanistan.

Javier Manzano / For The Washington Post

A 40mm live grenade lies on the sandy ground of the East River firing range in Bagram.

A 40mm live grenade lies on the sandy ground of the East River firing range in Bagram.

Javier Manzano / For The Washington Post

Safiullah, 12, left, Sayedullah, 10 and Zahedullah, 8, look for scrap metal and shrapnel near their village in the Khak-e-Jabar district.

Safiullah, 12, left, Sayedullah, 10 and Zahedullah, 8, look for scrap metal and shrapnel near their village in the Khak-e-Jabar district.

Javier Manzano / For The Washington Post

Sand collectors load a truck at the East River firing range in Bagram.

Sand collectors load a truck at the East River firing range in Bagram.

Javier Manzano / For The Washington Post

Assadullah, 41, walks home with two bags of shrapnel and other metal. He collects scrap metal along with his son and trades it with a local dealer. Many of the metal scraps are found in areas where anti-personnel mines can be hidden under the surface, or where Americans conduct training exercises that involve live ordnance.

Assadullah, 41, walks home with two bags of shrapnel and other metal. He collects scrap metal along with his son and trades it with a local dealer. Many of the metal scraps are found in areas where anti-personnel mines can be hidden under the surface, or where Americans conduct training exercises that involve live ordnance.

Javier Manzano / For The Washington Post

Zahedullah, 8, drinks water after a long day collecting scrap metal outside his village in the Khak-e-Jabar district.

Zahedullah, 8, drinks water after a long day collecting scrap metal outside his village in the Khak-e-Jabar district.

Javier Manzano / For The Washington Post

Boys and girls sift through a pile of shrapnel, live bullets, bullet casings and rocket parts at their home in Parwan province. U.S. bullet casings sell for 80 Afghani per kilo, 7 kilograms of shrapnel sell for up to 100 Afghani, and rocket-propelled grenade casings sell for 80 Afghani each. (Fifty Afghani is roughly $1.10 in U.S. currency.)

Boys and girls sift through a pile of shrapnel, live bullets, bullet casings and rocket parts at their home in Parwan province. U.S. bullet casings sell for 80 Afghani per kilo, 7 kilograms of shrapnel sell for up to 100 Afghani, and rocket-propelled grenade casings sell for 80 Afghani each. (Fifty Afghani is roughly $1.10 in U.S. currency.)

Javier Manzano / For The Washington Post

Twelve-year-old Azizadullah sifts through a pile of shrapnel, live bullets, bullet casings and rocket parts at this home in Parwan province.

Twelve-year-old Azizadullah sifts through a pile of shrapnel, live bullets, bullet casings and rocket parts at this home in Parwan province.

Javier Manzano / For The Washington Post

A young boy sifts through a pile of shrapnel and rocket parts at this home in Parwan province.

A young boy sifts through a pile of shrapnel and rocket parts at this home in Parwan province.

Javier Manzano / For The Washington Post

Zahedullah, 8, deposits the pieces of shrapnel he found near his village in the Khak-e-Jabar district.

Zahedullah, 8, deposits the pieces of shrapnel he found near his village in the Khak-e-Jabar district.

Javier Manzano / For The Washington Post

Talib Jan, 45, talks to reporters as he gestures to his daughter, who was recently injured while cooking. A live bullet was accidentally collected along with bushes and branches used for cooking. While she prepared food, the bullet exploded and injured her.

Talib Jan, 45, talks to reporters as he gestures to his daughter, who was recently injured while cooking. A live bullet was accidentally collected along with bushes and branches used for cooking. While she prepared food, the bullet exploded and injured her.

Javier Manzano / For The Washington Post

Abdul Rahman, 18, was grazing his sheep when he accidentally detonated a 40mm grenade on the ground, resulting in the loss of his left hand. He lost his right hand a few years ago when he encountered unexploded ordnance in his village in Parwan province.

Abdul Rahman, 18, was grazing his sheep when he accidentally detonated a 40mm grenade on the ground, resulting in the loss of his left hand. He lost his right hand a few years ago when he encountered unexploded ordnance in his village in Parwan province.

Javier Manzano / For The Washington Post

Shah Mohammed, 10, was injured by a 40mm grenade while looking for scrap metal. Many young boys enter dangerous areas surrounding Bagram airbase to look for shrapnel that can be traded for ice cream from a merchant in Parwan province.

Shah Mohammed, 10, was injured by a 40mm grenade while looking for scrap metal. Many young boys enter dangerous areas surrounding Bagram airbase to look for shrapnel that can be traded for ice cream from a merchant in Parwan province.

Javier Manzano / For The Washington Post

Back to gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Loading...

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.