Since the American-led invasion in Afghanistan began in 2001, more American and coalition troops have died in July compared to any preceding month. The Taliban insurgency has also reclaimed control over some southern and eastern parts of the country.

Photojournalist and former Afghan refugee Zalmaï joined British troops in southern Afghanistan recently. He emailed Aperture Book Publisher Lesley A. Martin in May, writing of a difficult life. They were surrounded by the Taliban, who were less than one mile away. Zalmaï was scheduled to leave for Kabul by helicopter but the trip was postponed after two helicopters were shot down in two days. They were also attacked by small arms and RPGs (rocket propelled grenades).

The images below show Zalmaï and some of the British troops in Afghanistan while Zalmaï was on assignment for Time magazine. Zalmaï is in the blue helmet.

Read the article “Afghanistan: A War That’s Still Not Won” in Time magazine here. View more images in the web-exclusive The Challenge of Helmand, where Zalmaï documents a British unit playing cat and mouse with the Taliban in a strategically vital province of Afghanistan. All photographs by Zalmaï.

In his upcoming book Silent Exodus (Aperture, November 2008), Zalmaï chronicles the plight of Iraqi refugees who have fled to Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon.

Tags: Afghanistan, Silent Exodus, Zalmaï

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