Selfies With The Taliban And Afghan Tea Breaks: Rene Rossignaud Becomes First Maltese Photographer To Visit ‘World’s Most Dangerous Country’
What’s on your travel bucket list? Well, if you’re anything like Rene Rossignaud, it’s going to include a number of countries off the beaten path… and he’s just managed to cross off the one many see as the most dangerous in the world.
Earlier this month, Rene travelled some 5,000 kilometres east to Afghanistan, taking his trusty camera with him and capturing some truly unique shots of the mostly-untouched country in all its genuine glory.
In exclusive photos sent to Lovin Malta, Rene immersed himself in all things Afghanistan, as the country attempts to open up more to tourists… and work on its Taliban-led image.
“I crossed into Afghanistan from the Pakistani border, where I witnessed things I’ll never forget,” Rene told Lovin Malta. “Families crossing while carrying bed frames and washing machines, kids carrying chickens and sheep across… it was total madness, and the crossing could take a full day for them. As a foreigner, you are made to skip all the queue and for your safety taken across faster.”
Once Rene was in Afghanistan, some things started to become clearer… especially when it came to what he expected to find.
“I was impressed by how much cleaner it was compared to the surrounding countries,” he admitted. “From the border, it was a six-hour drive to Kabul, with checkpoints every hour or so. At one point, as I stopped for a toilet break, I met some Taliban military for the first time. I was anxious to be honest, but they greeted me well and offered me food and tea.”
“For the next few days, I walked around Kabul and got to meet many locals who were very happy to have their photo taken,” Rene continued.
“I met many Taliban members who were more than happy to pose for me and take photos together.”
Rene’s photos range from candid shots in bustling markets to gritty and personal photos of everyday life. And yes, a machine gun or two made it into the shots… but doesn’t mean the Maltese photographer felt threatened throughout his stay.
“Overall I must admit I felt very safe, and I walked the streets with a camera in hand all the time,” he explained.
“Afghanistan is trying very hard to open up to tourism, so security for tourists is very high, because even if there is one accident, or God forbid a kidnapping of a tourist, that would be the end of tourism.”
“Every person I met asked me to join them at home for tea,” Rene recalled, saying he got the same sort of invite from “common people, shop owners and even members of the Taliban army”
“I crossed the border anxious as hell, but it turned out to be a calming experience.”
Even it came to many of the stereotypes people might know Afghanistan by, Rene still found himself being rather surprised by what he actually found.
“I was asked not to photograph women close up, but from a distance was fine,” he said. “I also expected to see no women on the streets, but I saw many and not all of them had their face fully covered. I saw women with just a headscarf, make-up and all.”
“Before I crossed I was told music was banned in Afghanistan, but all the taxis had music playing,” he added.
“Would I ever go back? Hell yes, in a heartbeat.”
“The people were so amazing and Afghanistan is still very raw, which means it’s a photographer’s paradise,” Rene said. “In fact, I met several other lone tourists walking around, maybe a sign of better things to come for this country.”
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