The U.S. military’s
withdrawal from
Afghanistan in August,
after a 20-year occu-
pation, ended what’s
been called America’s
longest modern war.
But the war there goes
on for Hafiza, 70, seen
here with a grandson.
She has lived near the
city of Faizabad since
the Taliban took over
her home village in- Her sons’ choices
leave Hafiza grieved
and on uncertain
ground: Two of them
fought with the Afghan
National Army, one
with a militia, and one
with the Taliban. The
fighting in Afghanistan
was among dozens
of ongoing conflicts
around the world
in 2021—recent to
ancient, international
to regional, stoked by
greed, creed, or history.
AUG. 0 4 A FAMILY DIVIDED BY WAR
MY JIGAR GOOSHA
[DEAREST OF ALL]
ARE ENEMIES OF
ONE ANOTHER. I’VE
CRIED SO OFTEN,
SO MANY TIMES
THAT I’VE LOST THE
SIGHT OF MY EYES.”
—Hafiza, speaking of
her sons
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