Each month in the Big Picture, we post a collection of photographs from Afghanistan.Â They feature American forces and those of other countries, and they show us daily life among the Afghan people.Â In June, President Obama declared that the United States had largely achieved its goals in Afghanistan, which set in motion an aggressive timetable for the withdrawal of American troops. However, the fighting has spiked in some regions of the country. On Aug. 6, the United States suffered its deadliest day in the nearly decade-long war when insurgents shot down a Chinook transport helicopter, killing 30 Americans and eight Afghans.Â According to the United Nations, 360 Afghan civilians were killed in June alone.Â TheÂ surges of violence reflect how deeply entrenched the insurgency remains even far from its strongholds. The war continues.Â -- Paula Nelson ( 42 photos total