Uploads from oliviermatthys

AFGHANISTAN BUZKASHI

nobody@flickr.com (oliviermatthys) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:45:55 -0800

The horsemen of the Panshir Valley play a game of Buzkashi against the Parwan Province, Friday 02 April 2004 in Kabul. These are the last games in the competition this season as temperatures go up and wounds or scratches infect easily in the heat of Afghanistan. The horses are among the strongest and quickest and trained to assist the rider a maximum, when reaching for the goat or strategically defending it against the other players. The horsemen have to pick up the goat, ride around the field and drop it in a circle on the ground. If done so, they are awarded about a Euro by the wealthy spectators. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS

AFGHANISTAN MILITIA

nobody@flickr.com (oliviermatthys) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:45:46 -0800

oliviermatthys posted a photo:

Local militia of Afghanistan's Taliban guard the entrance to the city of Lashkar Gah in southern Afghanistan Helmand province, Monday, 19 January 2003. This province is often the scene of war when coalition forces launch attacks on Taliban and Al Qaeda suspects try to strenghten their positions ahead of the summer elections. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS

AFGHANISTAN MILITIA

nobody@flickr.com (oliviermatthys) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:45:37 -0800

oliviermatthys posted a photo:

Militiamen of Afghanistan's Taliban stronghold central province of Oruzgan prepare to patrol the area on Monday, 12 April 2004 in the capital Tarin Kowt. The government of President Hamid Karzai split the densely populated province in 2, creating the 33rd Afghan province of Dehkundi in its northern part. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS

AFGHANISTAN BUZKASHI

nobody@flickr.com (oliviermatthys) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:45:26 -0800

oliviermatthys posted a photo:

AFGHANISTAN DOG FIGHTS

nobody@flickr.com (oliviermatthys) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:45:17 -0800

oliviermatthys posted a photo:

Dogs battle it out as hundreds of Afghan men attend the dog fights, on Friday, 05 March 2004 outside Kabul. The dogs fight a couple of rounds with experienced referees. Fights are not until death as the animals are valuable to their owners. Lots of Afghani Rupees are being bet during the weekly illegal entertainment attended by men only. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS FEATURE AFGHANISTAN DOG FIGHTING

PAKISTAN RED MOSQUE

nobody@flickr.com (oliviermatthys) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:45:03 -0800

oliviermatthys posted a photo:

A few hundred religious Pakistani students stage a protest in front of the Jamia Hafsa Islamic seminary for girls on Wednesday 28 March in central Islamabad. Female students had earlier abducted an alleged brothel owner in the capital and locked her up in the school. Police in return arrested four of its teachers. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS

PAKISTAN HEROIN ADDICTION

nobody@flickr.com (oliviermatthys) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:44:09 -0800

oliviermatthys posted a photo:

A Pakistani addict smokes heroin in his farm on Tuesday, 29 July2003 in Peshawar. The drug cultivation in neighbouring Afghanistan is increasing and expected to be among the largest ever in a nation that traditional has been the world∆s biggest supplier. The average Afghan family involved in poppy cultivation earned $6,500 last year, according to U.N. estimates. The average annual household income in Afghanistan: about $300. EPA PHOTO/OLIVIER MATTHYS/OLIVIER MATTHYS

PAKISTAN RED MOSQUE

nobody@flickr.com (oliviermatthys) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:41:50 -0800

oliviermatthys posted a photo:

Pakistan rangers show the radical Red Mosque and Jamia Hafsa complex to the press after Operation Sunrise on 12 July 2007 in Islamabad. Special Service Group SSG stormed the premises. Mystery shrouds exact casualty figures. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS

PAKISTAN RED MOSQUE

nobody@flickr.com (oliviermatthys) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:41:20 -0800

oliviermatthys posted a photo:

Religious students stand on the balcony of their besieged Jamia Hafsa madrassa in centre Islamabad, Pakistan, on 03 July 2007. A tear gas grenade was lobbed into the Jamia Hafsa madrassa for girls adjacent to the Red Mosque or Lal Masjid. One policeman got shot and killed. Over 1000 rangers supported by 500 police commandos are now deployed around the turbulent mosque. The Lal Masjid brigades called in more activists with advanced weapons, wireless systems and masks to defend their premises. Security forces and Islamic students have taken positions protected by sand bags. The government preferred a diplomatic solution over a military raid as thousands of girls are studying in the religious school. Lal Masjid leaders have warned the authorities that severe repercussions by suicide bombers would follow in any case of attack. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS

PAKISTAN RED MOSQUE

nobody@flickr.com (oliviermatthys) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:40:19 -0800

oliviermatthys posted a photo:

Young Taliban-style devotees from the Red Mosque protect thousands of female students standing on their Jamia Hafsa madrasa rooftop against a possible police raid in Islamabad, Pakistan, 16 April 2007. Two government helicopters flying over the premises caused the clerics to beef up their stick wielding security forces. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS

PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE

nobody@flickr.com (oliviermatthys) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:39:59 -0800

oliviermatthys posted a photo:

A Pakistani girl takes shelter from the chilled morning air on Sunday, 11 December 2005 in Ghari Habib Ullah relief camp. About 600 tents are erected by UNHCR to withstand the approaching winter in Ghari Habib Ullah, part of the North West Frontier Province. Ireland has announced to double its relief to Pakistan up to 10 million Euros. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS

PAKISTAN ETHNIC

nobody@flickr.com (oliviermatthys) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:38:34 -0800

oliviermatthys posted a photo:

Ethnic people, who live at an altitude of 3000m in Hushe valley, northern Pakistan, pictured on Friday, 13 May 2005. Women work the fields and 95 per cent of men work as porters or cooks during the tourist trekking summer. Every year mountaineers flock to the valley to follow the famous routes, penetrating the world's so-called 'third pole', bordering India. Military skirmishes along this border have resulted in the closure of the route to Ladakh over the Siachen glacier. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS

PAKISTAN ETHNIC

nobody@flickr.com (oliviermatthys) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:38:15 -0800

oliviermatthys posted a photo:

PAKISTAN ETHNIC

nobody@flickr.com (oliviermatthys) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:37:55 -0800

oliviermatthys posted a photo:

PAKISTAN CONVENTION

nobody@flickr.com (oliviermatthys) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:37:43 -0800

oliviermatthys posted a photo:

A veiled Pakistani girl attends the Women Convention on Tuesday, 05 December 2006 in Islamabad. President Musharraf signed the Women's Protection Act protecting women amidst extremists protesting against its so-called anti-Koanic nature. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS

PAKISTAN KASHMIR DAY

nobody@flickr.com (oliviermatthys) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:36:22 -0800

oliviermatthys posted a photo:

Pakistani girls demonstrate for human rights of Kashmiris living in Indian held Kashmir, in Rawalpindi, on Monday, 05 January 2007. A lot of Pakistanis would like to see Kashmir as an integral part of Pakistan and find its territory incomplete without the Indian part in the Himalayas. President of Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal MMA and Jamat-i-Islami JII amir Qazi Hussain Ahmad addressed the crowd. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS

PAKISTAN KASHMIR DAY

nobody@flickr.com (oliviermatthys) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:35:15 -0800

oliviermatthys posted a photo:

PAKISTAN KASHMIR DAY

nobody@flickr.com (oliviermatthys) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:34:21 -0800

oliviermatthys posted a photo:

PAKISTAN KASHMIR DAY

nobody@flickr.com (oliviermatthys) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:33:12 -0800

oliviermatthys posted a photo:

PAKISTAN PET MONKEY

nobody@flickr.com (oliviermatthys) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:32:03 -0800

oliviermatthys posted a photo:

A pet monkey shows its skills on Friday, 09 February 2007 in Islamabad. The trained monkeys and their owners entertain citizens hoping to earn some rupees. This monkey is trained to salute and jump upside down. EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS