Mes Aynak, also called Mis Ainak or Mis-e-Ainak, was a major Buddhist settlement 40 km (25 mi) southeast of Kabul, Afghanistan, located in a barren region of Logar Province. The site is also the location of Afghanistan's largest copper deposit.
Remains of a Buddhist monastery at Mes Aynak
Statue of the Buddha, Mes Aynak, 3rd-6th century CE.
Statue of a donator. Polychrome stucco on a clay core. Mes Aynak, 3rd - 6th century CE
Newly excavated Buddhist stupa.
Logar is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan located in the eastern section of the country. It is divided into 7 districts and contains hundreds of villages. Puli Alam is the capital of the province. As of 2021, Logar has a population of approximately 442,037 people, most of whom are ethnic Pashtuns and Tajiks.
Aerial view of Mohammad Agha District in Logar province
Puli Alam, the capital of Logar province.
The main river valley in the Khoshi District of Logar province. Extensive irrigation and canal works, known as karez, provide water for the majority of the agriculture in southeastern Afghanistan.