I have been tthrough Afghanistan on the way from UK to India and found it a fascinating place, so much history, I even saw the massive Buddhas before they were destroyed.

While I was in Kabul there was a gathering of tribes (no idea why) many of them were armed with flintlock and similar rifles, probably worth a fortune to any museum.

As for the war, Australia stayed too long with no clear purpose in mind but thank goodness it is time to leave. No doubt the Taliban will take control of the south (no one controls the north except the local warlords) and the west will do deals with them and buy their excellent hash. Fortunately the Taliban is the enemy of Isis so that is to the west's advantage, we can probably work with them as we did when the Russians invaded.