Throughout the course of the long war in Afghanistan, Coalition troops have relied on thousands of military working dogs to help keep them safe, and make their jobs easier. The dogs are trained to detect explosives, to find illegal drugs, to search for missing comrades, or target enemy combatants. Not only are they active on the front lines, but behind the lines they serve as therapy dogs, service dogs, and loyal companions. They also share the same risks as the ground troops, suffering injuries and sometimes death on the battlefields. Gathered here are images of these dogs and their handlers in Afghanistan and back home, from over the past several years, part of the ongoing series here on Afghanistan.

Figurines representing French Brigade of Lancers are seen on a 40-square-metre miniature model of the June 18, 1815 Waterloo battlefield, in Diest, Belgium, in this picture taken on April 29, 2015. Waterloo enthusiast Willy Smout said he spent 40,000 hours and around 150,000 euros over the past 40 years, to recreate the battlefield as closely as possible in a purpose-built room in his house. (Photo by Francois Lenoir/Reuters)

A foreign passenger wearing a protective suit poses as they prepare for their flight at Manila's International Airport, Philippines, Monday, January 18, 2021. Coronavirus infections in the Philippines have surged past 500,000 in a new bleak milestone with the government facing criticisms for failing to immediately launch a vaccination program amid a global scramble for COVID-19 vaccines. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

Jan Agha, 49, an Afghan hunter, tries to catch his crane at a field in Bagram, Parwan province, Afghanistan on April 10, 2019. As the early morning light breaks over the plain north of Kabul, bird hunter Jan Agha checks his snares as he has done for the past 30 years, hoping to catch a crane, using a tethered bird to lure others down to the nets. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

A muslim pilgrim walks through the site where dead bodies are gathered in Mina, Saudi Arabia during the annual hajj pilgrimage on Thursday, September 24, 2015. Hundreds were killed and injured, Saudi authorities said. The crush happened in Mina, a large valley about five kilometers (three miles) from the holy city of Mecca that has been the site of hajj stampedes in years past. (Photo by AP Photo)

A camel foams at the mouth as he is whipped by a robot jockey during a race at Nad al-Sheba on December 6, 2006 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This is the first season that robotic jockeys have been used to race camels in Dubai. Controversially children from India were used to ride the camels in past seasons. These robot jockeys costing 15000GBP and up, were designed in Geneva and include shock absorbers and GPS tracking systems. The camel's owners control them from their speeding four wheel drives at the side of the track. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Members of China Disabled Peoples Performing Art Troupe perform “Thousand-arm Goddess of Mercy” during a show on March 12, 2005 in Guangzhou of Guangdong Province, China. China Disabled Peoples Performing Art Troupe was established in 1987. It is an amateur mass art troupe composed of visually impaired, audibly impaired and physically and mentally challenged people. In the past nearly two decades, the troupe has visited more than 30 countries and regions, winning the hearts of audiences all over the world by their solid background of Chinese Culture and their colourful national charm. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)

Never before was there a car designed exclusively for handicapped people that can only move around in a wheelchair. In the past, such people had to rely on others to drive them. Thus, it was impossible to be spontaneous and drive somewhere on a whim. Now, however, a completely revolutionary vehicle has been invented. Kenguru electric car allows for the person to roll into the back of it right on their wheelchair, strap in, and start driving. Though this vehicle might not be very fast with the maximum speed of 25 mph, it is will certainly make the lives of countless people much easier. (Photo by Kenguru.com)