lynsey addario, photographer

Afghanistan: Talibanistan

Pakistani Taliban fighters in Bar Kambar Khel, in the Pakistani tribal area near the border of Afghanistan, July 4, 2008. The area is largely under the control of the group named the "Prevention of Vice and Preservation of Virtue" group" which commands nearly 20% of the Tribal area. Since the start of the American-led war in Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban has gradually infiltrated the areas surrounding Peshowar, making the tribal areas inaccessible, and Peshowar more tense.
  
Pakistani Taliban fighters jump out of a truck in Bar Kambar Khel, in the Pakistani tribal area near the border of Afghanistan, July 4, 2008. The area is largely under the control of the group named the "Prevention of Vice and Preservation of Virtue" which commands nearly 20% of the Tribal area. Since the start of the American-led war in Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban has gradually infiltrated the areas surrounding Peshowar, making the tribal areas inaccessible, and Peshowar more tense.
  
Munsaf Khan, 38, second in command of the Pakistani Taliban group named the "Prevention of Vice and Preservation of Virtue" which commands nearly 20% of the Tribal area greets fellow Taliban at his compound in Bar Kambar Khel, in the Pakistani tribal area near the border of Afghanistan, July 4, 2008. Khan, 38, who is on crutches, was injured in a car bomb attack about one year ago presumably by rival Taliban fighters. Since the start of the American-led war in Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban has gradually infiltrated the areas surrounding Peshowar, making the tribal areas inaccessible, and Peshowar more tense.
     
  
Pakistani Taliban commander, Namdar Afridi, 40, gives an interview while surrounded by his security detail at his compound in Bar Kambar Khel, in the Pakistani tribal area near the border of Afghanistan, July 4, 2008. Until he was assassinated presumably by rival Taliban factions Afridi was the head of the group named the "Prevention of Vice and Preservation of Virtue" which commands nearly 20% of the Tribal area. Since the start of the American-led war in Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban has gradually infiltrated the areas surrounding Peshowar, making the tribal areas inaccessible, and Peshowar more tense.
  
Ayub Khan, a member of the Taliban security detail for Munsaf Khan, 38, second in command of the Pakistani Taliban group named the "Prevention of Vice and Preservation of Virtue" which commands nearly 20% of the Tribal area, stands by the mountains where fighters often cross into Afghanistan from Pakistan outside of Bar Kambar Khel, near the border of Afghanistan, July 4, 2008. The tribal area is controlled primarily by different Taliban factions, which often end up fighting each other. Khan, 38, who is on crutches, was injured in a car bomb attack about one year ago. Since the start of the American-led war in Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban has gradually infiltrated the areas surrounding Peshowar, making the tribal areas inaccessible, and Peshowar more tense.
  
Ayub Khan, right, Taliban guard for second in command of the Pakistani Taliban group named the ""Prevention of Vice and Preservation of Virtue" which commands nearly 20% of the Tribal area, drives through the Tribal area outside of Bar Kambar Khel, near the border of Afghanistan, July 4, 2008. Since the start of the American-led war in Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban has gradually infiltrated the areas surrounding Peshowar, making the tribal areas inaccessible, and Peshowar more tense.
     
  
Pakistani and Afghan young men read the Koran at the Jammiah Ashrafiah Madrassa in Peshowar, in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan, July 5, 2008. While Madrassas have traditionally been a place for young men to study the Koran in step with Islamic studies, it has also been a breeding ground for young men's hatred towards the West, and a place from which many initiate their Jihadist beliefs. Since the start of the American-led war in Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban has gradually infiltrated the areas surrounding Peshowar, making the tribal areas inaccessible, and Peshowar more tense.
  
Pakistani Taliban fighters line the road in Bar Kambar Khel, in the Pakistani tribal area near the border of Afghanistan, July 4, 2008. The area is largely under the control of the group named the ""Prevention of Vice and Preservation of Virtue" which commands nearly 20% of the Tribal area. Since the start of the American-led war in Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban has gradually infiltrated the areas surrounding Peshowar, making the tribal areas inaccessible, and Peshowar more tense.
   
Pakistani women walk through the Shaheen Market in Peshowar, Pakistan, a conservative Pakistani city close to the Afghan border, July 4, 2008. Since the start of the American-led war in Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban has gradually infiltrated the areas surrounding Peshowar, making the tribal areas and the Pakistani government administered areas more conservative; women who once walked around Peshowar uncovered, or at least with their faces showing, are now fully clad in burquas and heavy chador.
     
  
Pakistanis walk in front of a yellow sign that reads 'God is watching', put up by religious leaders, in the Shaheen Market in Peshowar, Pakistan, a conservative Pakistani city close to the Afghan border, July 4, 2008. Since the start of the American-led war in Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban has gradually infiltrated the areas surrounding Peshowar, making the tribal areas inaccessible, and Peshowar more tense.
  
Young Afghan boys from Kabul study the koran at the Jammiah Ashrafiah Madrassa in Peshowar, in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan, July 5, 2008. Their parents are in Afghanistan, and they are living in the Madrassa. While Madrassas have traditionally been a place for young men to study the Koran in step with Islamic studies, it has also been a breeding ground for young men's hatred towards the West, and a place from which many initiate their Jihadist beliefs. Since the start of the American-led war in Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban has gradually infiltrated the areas surrounding Peshowar, making the tribal areas inaccessible, and Peshowar more tense.
  
A Pakistani man walks through the destruction left at a police station bombed by the Taliban in June 2008, in one of 10 taliban attacks and suicide bombers in the last six months in the city of Mardan on CD shops, police stations and cinemas, in Pakistan, July 5, 2008. Since the start of the American-led war in Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban has gradually infiltrated the areas surrounding Peshowar, trying to force Pakistanis to live by Sharia Law, Islamic Law--to give up music, cinema--especially with images of women without hijab, or the traditional head cover and dress, and entertainment. In the past years, women in the NWFP have taken on ever more concealing chadors, or full covering of face and body, and more are wearing the Afghan-style burqua. In recent years, the Taliban has been bombing police stations in an attempt to undermine the Pakistani government.
     
  
Pakistani men walk by advertisements for Pakistani films in front of a cinema bombed by the Taliban on June 28, 2008, in one of 10 taliban attacks and suicide bombers in the last six months in the city of Mardan on CD shops, police stations and cinemas, in Pakistan, July 5, 2008. Since the start of the American-led war in Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban has gradually infiltrated the areas surrounding Peshowar, trying to force Pakistanis to live by Sharia Law, Islamic Law--to give up music, cinema--especially with images of women without hijab, or the traditional head cover and dress, and entertainment. In the past years, women in the NWFP have taken on ever more concealing chadors, or full covering of face and body, and more are wearing the Afghan-style burqua.
  
Young girls study the Koran in a private home in Saidu Sharif City, next to Mingora in Swat, in the heart of the tribal area in Pakistan, July 2008. Since 1995, the Taliban and other religious groups have been trying to bring Mingora under Sharia law, or Islamic Law, rather than the traditional tribal law carried out in the Pakistani tribal areas, and locals are under increased pressure to abide by very conservative branch of islam. While the tribal area was once a safe, beautiful area of Pakistan, there are now bombings carried out by the Taliban against various locations, including police stations and hotels, and local families fear to even let their children out of the house.
  
Young girls study the Koran in a private home in Saidu Sharif City, next to Mingora in Swat, in the heart of the tribal area in Pakistan, July 2008. Since 1995, the Taliban and other religious groups have been trying to bring Mingora under Sharia law, or Islamic Law, rather than the traditional tribal law carried out in the Pakistani tribal areas, and locals are under increased pressure to abide by very conservative branch of islam. While the tribal area was once a safe, beautiful area of Pakistan, there are now bombings carried out by the Taliban against various locations, including police stations and hotels, and local families fear to even let their children out of the house.
     
  
Pakistani and Afghani Men pray during Magreb, or sunset prayer at the Mahbad Khan Mosque in Peshowar, Pakistan, July 2008. Since the start of the American-led war in Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban has gradually infiltrated the tribal areas of Pakistan, and some parts of Peshowar, itself, and many come into Peshowar from the tribal area, increasing tensions in Peshowar, and making it a much more conservative city than before the war. The Taliban puts pressure on Pakistanis to be better, more devout Muslims, forcing many women under the all-concealing burqua, and influencing many men to attend prayer in one of the many the mosques throughout the city.
  
Pakistani and Afghan students study at the Al Jamiat ul Islamia Jamat Ishat Tauheed wal Sunnah madrassa in Peshowar, Pakistan, July 8, 2008. Madrassas in Pakistan have traditionally been the incubator for Jihadist thoughts, though each Madrassa has varying degrees of conservatism, and amount it promotes Jihad. The Salafi branch of Islam is the most conservative, and emphatically promotes it members to fight Jihad, while the Towheed and Deobandi (Taliban in Afghanistan study in Deobandi madrassas) both preach jihad, but let its followers decide to what degree they would like to carry it out. 'Go for Jihad in the way of Allah' is a verse from the Koran, and all Muslims in all Madrassas are taught this--though some emphasize it more than others. Since the start of the American-led war in Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban has gradually infiltrated the areas surrounding Peshowar, and many come into Peshowar from the tribal area, increasing tensions in Peshowar
  
Gun shops sells guns freely in the tribal area surrounding Peshowar, Pakistan, July 8, 2008. Since the start of the American-led war in Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban has gradually infiltrated the areas surrounding Peshowar, and many come into Peshowar from the tribal area, increasing tensions in Peshowar .
     
  
Pakistani frontier police and regular police stand guard along a wall which separates government territory from the tribal area at a Pakistani Frontier Police station around Hayatabad in Peshowar, Pakistan, July 7, 2008. Since the start of the American-led war in Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban has gradually infiltrated the areas surrounding Peshowar, and many come into Peshowar from the tribal area to carry out suicide bombings or to place explosives in police stations, movie theaters, and barber shops, etc., increasing tensions between tribal areas and government adminstered territory.
  
Scenes along the road to Mingora, one of the central cities of the district of Swat, in the heart of the tribal area in Pakistan, July 6, 2008. The area has suffered many attacks by the Taliban in recent weeks, and amount to less than one dozen attacks in Mingora in the last year, alone. Tensions in the city are incredibly high as the Pakistani government attempts to negotiate peace with two different Taliban groups in the area; the attacks continue.