IN a thin strip, wedged between Tajikistan and Pakistan, there is a village where the Taliban have struggled to impose their rule.

    Known as the Wakhan Corridor, approximately 12,000 villagers live at an altitude of 4,500 meters, in the harsh, desolate terrain.

    The Wakhi people live a simple, relaxed life, with their livestock and few luxuries. A few families are unaware that the Taliban were ever in power, or that the U.S. army invaded.

    This area has recently been encouraged by the Afghan Government to attract tourists from the Western world looking for an adventure.

    To visit these villages one must travel through the tense Afghanistan atmosphere, pass border control, and drive up a primitive road built over half a century ago.

    French photographer Eric Lafforgue visited these little-known lands in August 2016 to understand their movements in tourism and meet the Afghans that time forgot.

    He said, “First I traveled to Khandud, which is famous for the colorful outfits of its women. With the help of the Aga Khan Foundation, the women have even opened a shop to sell souvenirs for tourists. Socks, vests and embroideries.”

    The main tourist attraction is the Pamiri houses, known as “Chid.” They are built out of stone and plaster, and each retains particular features symbolizing spiritual and traditional aspects.

    Lafforgue said, “At first they appear basic but they reveal symbols and beliefs when you ask the owners. In each room, five wooden pillars — symbolizing the five pillars of Islam — support a beam skylight called Chorkhona.”

    The photographer continued to travel deeper into the Wakhan Corridor, to finally meet the Wahki nomads in the mountains of Grand Pamir.

    He said, “A friendly Pamiri is responsible for the organization, he owns a small travel agency in Ishkashim and has high hopes for the future. He must make do with the limited resources, the Internet is nonexistent in the region.

    “Local guides will take turns from village to village to share equitably the revenues generated by tourists.”

    The Wakhi villages are completely isolated from the outside world, and have allegedly lived in the mountains for 2,000 years.

    The photographer said, “Distractions are rare for children. Nobody knows Messi or Ronaldo. Tourists are eagerly awaited as they provide some excitement in this harsh and monotonous existence.”

    Despite the encouragement of visitors to the area, Lafforgue was the first tourist of this year, with the season ending shortly after due to snow covering the mountains for six months.

    Lafforgue said, “The Wakhi chief’s wife said to me: ‘They say that in the plain, peace has returned and tourists are back in Afghanistan. I hope that many of them will come and visit us to discover our culture.’”

    (SD-Agencies)