By first helping the mujahiddins in their war vs. the Soviet backed regime, and then tolerating the taliban, the US created its own enemy. The communist factions who ruled Afghanistan from 1979 to 1992 were also nationalists intent in modernising their country.

Abbas who did not cover the mudjahiddins when it was fashionable to glorify their struggle, covered extensively the communist side in 1986. His photos seem surreal now, in the flow of photos coming out of Afghanistan.