Major signs of progress

If there's one sector of Afghanistan that has grown substantially in the two years since I was last here, it's the business sector. The government and the international community cannot seem to find a way to provide power or drinkable water to the city, but the business community is making huge progress.

This is one of several large, modern office buildings in Kabul. It is the local headquarters of Kam Air, a Pakistani airline. It sits on a corner lined with trees that are lit up with purple light in the evenings. It is quite dramatic.
To the right is a photo of Kabul City Center, which is home to Kabul's first indoor shopping area and the Landmark Hotel. The hotel boasts high speed internet access in each room, spa and other nice amenities. The lobby is beautiful and the hotel's restaurant is nice.


Lest you be misled by the photos, a panoramic lens would catch the dusty hovels on the streets around both of these buildings, which is representative of much of the city. The contrast between modern and prosperous vs old and poor is so distinct that it sometimes seems ridiculous.