AFGHANISTAN. Herat. December 9, 2021. The remnant of a tank on the grounds of the Bala Hissar Fort overlooking Kabul.
Bala Hissar was Kabul’s main fortress, and the site of important events in the turbulent history of Afghanistan, going back to the British occupation in the 1800s.
Bala Hissar once again became the focal point of conflict between factions during the Afghan civil war in 1994, between Massoud's and Hekmatyar's forces. Much of the fortress was damaged as a result. Before the Taliban takeover in August 2021, it was manned by the 55th Division of the Afghan National Army and one can see the remnants of tanks and heavy weapons positioned on the fortress remains overlooking Kabul.