Burqa-clad Afghan women pass by U.S. soldiers, as the world observes International Women's Day, in Herat, Afghanistan on March 8, 2010. Afghanistan's independent human rights watchdogs and civil society organizations are reporting that gender violence has reached an alarming level in the country and efforts must be redoubled to tackle it. UPI/Hossein Fatemi
U.S. Marines participate in a security patrol in Gorgak district of Helmand province of Afghanistan on August 25, 2010. As of August 22nd, according to the Department of Defense some 1,223 American service members have lost their lives in a conflict that started close to nine years ago after 9/11. UPI/Hossein Fatemi
Afghan President Hamid Karzai and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton take part in a group photo at the conclusion of the International Conference on Afghanistan at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Kabul, Afghanistan on July 20, 2010. The major international conference in Kabul called for at least 50 percent of development aid for the country to be channeled through the Afghan government's budget within two years. UPI/Hossein Fatemi
Afghan police officers train in Herat, Afghanistan, on April 21, 2010. NATO defense ministers have approved a mission to train the Afghan police in paramilitary skills in a bid to cut the force's soaring death rate. UPI/Hossein Fatemi
An Afghan man carries voting material to a polling location unreachable by vehicle, in preparation of the upcoming elections, in Panjshir province, north of Kabul on September 17, 2010. Afghanistan will hold parliamentary elections on September 18. UPI/Hossein Fatemi..
Newly trained army officers of the Afghan National Army and instructors applaud during a graduation ceremony at the National Army's training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 23, 2010. UPI/Hossein Fatemi
Shopkeepers speak with U.S. Marines about reopening the Safaar Bazar in the Gharmsir District of Helmand province, after IEDs where reported in the area in Afghanistan on August 19, 2010. UPI/Hossein Fatemi.
Female officers among graduates in Afghan National Army in Kabul
Newly trained female officers of the Afghan National Army attend their graduation ceremony at the National Army's training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 23, 2010. UPI/Hossein Fatemi
Female officers among graduates in Afghan National Army in Kabul
Newly trained female officers of the Afghan National Army attend their graduation ceremony at the National Army's training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 23, 2010. UPI/Hossein Fatemi
Female officers among graduates in Afghan National Army in Kabul
Newly trained female officers of Afghan National Army take front seats as a new batch of officers attend their graduation ceremony at National Army's training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010. UPI/Hossein Fatemi
Female officers among graduates in Afghan National Army in Kabul
Newly trained female officers of the Afghan National Army attend their graduation ceremony at the National Army's training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 23, 2010. UPI/Hossein Fatemi
Female officers among graduates in Afghan National Army in Kabul
Newly trained female officers of the Afghan National Army attend their graduation ceremony at the National Army's training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 23, 2010. UPI/Hossein Fatemi
Female officers among graduates in Afghan National Army in Kabul
Newly trained female officers of the Afghan National Army attend their graduation ceremony at the National Army's training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 23, 2010. UPI/Hossein Fatemi
Female officers among graduates in Afghan National Army in Kabul
Newly trained female officers of the Afghan National Army attend their graduation ceremony at the National Army's training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 23, 2010. UPI/Hossein Fatemi
Female officers among graduates in Afghan National Army in Kabul
A newly trained officer of the Afghan National Army attends her graduation ceremony at the National Army's training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 23, 2010. UPI/Hossein Fatemi
Female officers among graduates in Afghan National Army in Kabul
Newly trained female officers of Afghan National Army attend their graduation ceremony at National Army's training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 23, 2010. UPI/Hossein Fatemi
Female officers among graduates in Afghan National Army in Kabul
A newly graduated female army officer of Afghan National Army, Mariam Ghulam Rasool, left, poses for a photograph with one of her instructors from the American Army after their graduation ceremony at National Army's training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 23, 2010. UPI/Hossein Fatemi
Female officers among graduates in Afghan National Army in Kabul
A newly graduated female army officer of Afghan National Army, Mariam Ghulam Rasool, right, poses for a photograph with one of her instructors from the American Army after their graduation ceremony at National Army's training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 23, 2010. UPI/Hossein Fatemi
Female officers among graduates in Afghan National Army in Kabul
Newly trained female officers of the Afghan National Army show their certificates during their graduation ceremony at National Army's training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 23, 2010. UPI/Hossein Fatemi
Female officers among graduates in Afghan National Army in Kabul
A Newly trained female army officer of Afghan National Army salutes as she receives her graduation certificate while fellow officers look on during their graduation ceremony at National Army's training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 23, 2010. UPI/Hossein Fatemi
Female officers among graduates in Afghan National Army in Kabul
Newly trained female officers of the Afghan National Army take front seats as a new batch of officers attend their graduation ceremony at National Army's training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 23, 2010. UPI/Hossein Fatemi
Female officers among graduates in Afghan National Army in Kabul
A newly trained officer of the Afghan National Army takes a front seat as a new batch of officers attend their graduation ceremony at the National Army's training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 23, 2010. UPI/Hossein Fatemi
Female officers among graduates in Afghan National Army in Kabul
A Newly trained female army officer of the Afghan National Army displays her graduation certificate as fellow officers applaud during their graduation ceremony at National Army's training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 23, 2010. UPI/Hossein Fatemi
Female officers among graduates in Afghan National Army in Kabul
Newly trained female officers of the Afghan National Army take front seats as a new batch of officers attend their graduation ceremony at National Army's training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 23, 2010. UPI/Hossein Fatemi
Female officers among graduates in Afghan National Army in Kabul
Newly trained army officers of the Afghan National Army and instructors applaud during a graduation ceremony at the National Army's training center in Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 23, 2010. UPI/Hossein Fatemi