In pictures: Afghanistan calling

When the war in Afghanistan ended in 2001 communication with the outside world was via a handful of phone kiosks - today the picture is radically different.

The first mobile phone company began trading in 2002 and now that number has increased to five.

Two of those companies now service more than two million customers each.

The mobile phone industry has created badly needed jobs in a country where poverty is rife and often one person works to feed a whole family.

Such is the demand for customer care that mobile operator Roshan is soon moving to a bigger, purpose-built call centre which will house 200 staff per shift.

About 20% of the call centre staff are women, and their shifts end at 17:00 due to the security situation. Most have to be fluent in three languages - Dari, Pashto and English.

On the streets of Kabul mobile phone cards are available.

These can be purchased using a range of foreign currencies. Photos and text by Bhasker Solanki

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