In 2007, when the Islamic Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) chose the Afghan city of Ghazni as an Islamic Capital of Culture for the year 2013, hopes were raised that the city might be restored to its former glory. With less than a year before the cultural festivals begin, however, these hopes have given way to fear that negligence and insecurity will derail the celebrations. Here are some images of the ancient grandeur of a city that once anchored an empire.
