Students of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM) returned to Kabul Sunday after a much-lauded music tour in the United States.
The orchestra presented another face of Afghanistan with their appearances given massive support by American officials and citizens, including performances in the historic King Hall of New York and Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC.
ANIM director Nasser Sarmast said that the students, who were described by US Secretary of State John Kerry as "ambassadors of peace", were able to convey this message to Americans of a fresh view of Afghanistan that was far from war and violence.
"The aim of our trip was to introduce a new face of Afghanistan that was far from war and violence to the world. Because in the minds of the public there is always the covered face of a man with a gun," Sarmast said.
All 62 students returned to Kabul, a feat in itself, Sarmast added.
"Fortunately of all the 62 students [who went to the US], all of them returned to their country. This is our great achievement because as in the past, many athletes escaped or they didn't came back. But we didn't lose any of our students and they returned to their homes," he said.
During the 15-day trip, the students had special performances in US government institutions including the White House, the State Department, Congress and the World Bank.
President Barak Obama expressed his appreciation with a letter to the students.