Despite the odds, Afghanistan's leather industry thrives

Published September 10, 2014
Afghan labourer Nayim,42, works at a leather factory in the Tashqurghan district on the outskirts of Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourer Nayim,42, works at a leather factory in the Tashqurghan district on the outskirts of Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan leather seller Shah Wali, 41, holds up skins for sale at a leather factory in the Tashqurghan district on the outskirts of Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan leather seller Shah Wali, 41, holds up skins for sale at a leather factory in the Tashqurghan district on the outskirts of Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourer Yasin, 23, pulls animal hides from a pool of chalked water to be loaded on to a cart at a leather factory in the Tashqurghan district on the outskirts of Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourer Yasin, 23, pulls animal hides from a pool of chalked water to be loaded on to a cart at a leather factory in the Tashqurghan district on the outskirts of Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourers work at a leather factory in the Tashqurghan district on the outskirts of Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourers work at a leather factory in the Tashqurghan district on the outskirts of Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourer Zabi ,23, pulls an animal hide from a pool of chalked water at a leather factory in the Tashqurghan district on the outskirts of Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourer Zabi ,23, pulls an animal hide from a pool of chalked water at a leather factory in the Tashqurghan district on the outskirts of Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourers work at a leather factory in the Tashqurghan district on the outskirts of Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourers work at a leather factory in the Tashqurghan district on the outskirts of Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourer Najem, 31, washes leather at a leather factory in the Tashqurghan district on the outskirts of Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourer Najem, 31, washes leather at a leather factory in the Tashqurghan district on the outskirts of Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourer Najem, 31, washes leather at a leather factory in the Tashqurghan district on the outskirts of Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourer Najem, 31, washes leather at a leather factory in the Tashqurghan district on the outskirts of Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourer Sebghat, 29, shaves animal hides to be used to make leather products at a processing plant in Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourer Sebghat, 29, shaves animal hides to be used to make leather products at a processing plant in Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourers arrange animal hides to be used to make leather products at a processing plant in Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourers arrange animal hides to be used to make leather products at a processing plant in Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourer works at a leather factory in the Tashqurghan district on the outskirts of Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourer works at a leather factory in the Tashqurghan district on the outskirts of Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourer Bashir Ahmad (L) and Nayim rest as they work at a leather factory in the Tashqurghan district on the outskirts of Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourer Bashir Ahmad (L) and Nayim rest as they work at a leather factory in the Tashqurghan district on the outskirts of Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourer loads animal hides to be used to make leather products onto a truck at a processing plant in Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP
Afghan labourer loads animal hides to be used to make leather products onto a truck at a processing plant in Mazar-i-sharif. Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide. — Photo by AFP

Afghan leather sellers collect animal hides to produce leather at a factory in the Tashqurghan district on the outskirts of Mazar-i-Sharif, fourth largest city of Afghanistan.

Animal hide is one of the top exports in Afghanistan, often sent through Pakistan to international leather markets worldwide.

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