RFE/RL's coverage of Afghanistan.
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Afghanistan's Kite-runner Kids
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Flying kites for peace on Nader Khan hill - Children’s laughs and screams echo across a dusty Kabul hilltop as they celebrate International Day of Peace by flying blue paper kites decorated with white doves.
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Preparation is key - The September 20 event is part of the silver-jubilee commemoration of the International Day of Peace, a UN-sponsored day to promote nonviolence and push for cease-fires in violent conflicts. It comes amid the most violent year in Afghanistan since 2001, when U.S.-led forces overthrew the hard-line Taliban regime.
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Hundreds of children took part - “We want peace. We want our people to be united. We want the war and fighting to end,” Attaullah, one of the kids flying his kite, tells RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan.
“We want our peace kites to fly as high as possible, so everyone can see how much we want peace,” says 11-year-old Sweeta.
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A plea from Afghanistan's war orphans - Most of the children taking part are among Afghanistan's thousands of war orphans and street-working children. This orphanage is decorated with paintings and graffiti symbolizing peace.
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The UN mission is sponsoring events nationwide - "The children of Afghanistan are sending a message to all Afghans that even one day of peace can help us all in many ways," says Aleem Siddique, a spokesman for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.
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These girls were among thousands marching for peace in Herat (epa) - Text by Abubakar Siddique of RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan, photos 1-5 by Pajhwok News Agency.