Afghan soldiers, Combat Outpost Ware, southern Afghanistan

Mirza Mirzali, one of just two Pashtuns in the group, originally from Jalalabad in the east Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Saber, an ethnic Tajik from Samangan province in the north Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Ghulam Hidar, an ethnic Turkmen from Jowzjan, near the Turkmenistan border Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Faisullah Kareemay, an ethnic Tajik from Baghlan province, in the north Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Aijad, an ethnic Tajik from Badakshan, Afghanistan’s northernmost province Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Han Shareen, an ethnic Tajik from Badakshan province Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Mullah Assan, an ethnic Turkmen from Jowzjan province Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Lt Dilah Ga, an ethnic Tajik from Takhar province Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Aziz Ala, an ethnic Tajik from Badakshan province Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP

Sgt Din Mohammed, an ethnic Tajik from northern Afghanistan Photograph: Kevin Frayer/AP