Snapshots from a forgotten land

Photojournalist Kanika Gupta takes a more personal approach on her page. The Indian journalist, who had to be evacuated from Afghanistan when the Taliban first took over, has since returned, and has resumed her efforts of documenting the country. On her Instagram handle, lifeoutside2by2, she fearlessly interviews and photographs Taliban soldiers, bringing out both the cruelty and humanity in their stories. A snapshot of a man who has been taught to believe that “making landmines is holier than fighting" is juxtaposed with one of two friends - one of whom used to be in the National Army and the other, a hardened Taliban, who joined when an American drone strike killed seven of his family members on a single day. Today, the two friends, who have both joined the regime, reminisce about having fought on different sides.