Afghanistan
The Islamic State of Afghanistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia. It is bordered by Iran in the west, Pakistan in the south and east, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north, and China in the easternmost part of the country.
| |||||
| National motto: Xxxxx | |||||
| Official language | Pashtu, Dari | ||||
| Capital | Kabul | ||||
| President | Hamid Karzai | ||||
| Area - Total - % water | Ranked 40th 647,500 km² 0% | ||||
| Population
- Density | Ranked 39th
43/km² | ||||
| Independence | August 19, 1919 | ||||
| Currency | Afghani | ||||
| Time zone | UTC+4:30 | ||||
| National anthem | Sououd-e-Melli | ||||
| Internet TLD | .AF | ||||
| Calling Code | 93 | ||||
History
Main article: History of Afghanistan also see: Afghanistan timeline
Through the ages, Afghanistan has been occupied by many forces. A separate Afghan nation came into existence in 1746, but control was ceded to the United Kingdom until independence in 1919. Since then, the country has known many governments and several civil wars.
The last period of stability in Afghanistan lay between 1933 and 1973, when the country was under the rule of King Zahir Shah. Violence was limited and the country became the main overland route between Australia and London for travellers.
This came to an end in 1973, when Zahir's brother-in-law, Sardar Mohammed Daoud, seized power over the country in a coup whilst Zahir was overbroard. He ruled with the backing of leftist army officers, but the country began to collapse in bloodshed. Daoud and his entire family themselves died in violence in 1978. His leftist successor , Nur Taraki, also died a year later as the result of violent feuding between two rival leftist factions.
With Taraki's death, the leftist system seemed in danger of collapse and this prompted the Soviet Union to invade the country in December, 1979 and seize power. They shot Taraki's successor, Hafizullah Amin, and placed in Barbrak Kamal as President. However Soviet forces were forced into a war of attrition against the mujahedin.Kamal was later replaced by the Soviets by Najibullah (who only had one name). In 1989, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev gave orders for the Soviet forces to withdraw, and this was done.
However, the mujahedin forces proved incapable of ruling the country, and violent fighting broke out between rival factions. After a period of major instability and anarchy, which involved two attacks on Kabul in 1992 and 1993 in which up to 10000 persons died on each occasion, the fundamentalist Islamic Taliban gained control of the country in 1996.
The Taliban, an extremist Islamic group, succeeded in bringing stability to Afghanistan, but at a price. Life under Taliban rule meant that such things as girl's schools and public statues were destroyed. A series of extreme laws were introduced which banned possession of such things as chess sets, televisons, playing cards, neckties and wigs. Women, allowed some liberation and education under the Najibullah regime, were forced to wear burkhas ( dark, all-covering clothes). Men were required to wear full beards. Penalties for breaching these laws were harsh, and included prison and violent beatings.
The Taliban also formed a relationship with Osama bin Laden, a former freedom fighter against the Soviets, and allowed the setting up of terrorist camps along Afghanistan's southern borders.
The Taliban was ousted by a coalition lead by the United States in 2001. This followed the Taliban's refusal to a series of unconditional demands that included unconditionally extraditing all known terrorist leaders in Afghanistan's borders, which would have included bin laden, the USA's top suspect in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and closing down the terrorist camps.
An interim government, with the purpose of rebuilding the country, has been established.
Politics
Main article: Politics of Afghanistan
As of 2002, an interim government is in place, led by Hamid Karzai, with many elements from the Northern Alliance, and a mix from other regional and ethnic groups formed from the transition government by the Loya jirga. Zahir was returned as King, but has largely constitutional power.
Troops and intelligence agencies from the United States and a number of other countries are there, some to keep the peace, some still looking for Taliban and al Qaeda personnel. A United Nations peacekeeping force operates in Kabul.
Provinces
Main article: Provinces of Afghanistan
Afghanistan consists of 32 provinces, or velayat:
Geography
Main article: Geography of Afghanistan
Afghanistan is a mountainous country, although there are plains in the north and southwest. The highest point in Afghanistan, Nowshak, is 7485 m above sea level. Large parts of the country are dry, and fresh water supplies are limited. Afghanistan has a land climate, with hot summers and cold winters. The country is frequently subject to earthquakes.
Besides the capital city Kabul, Herat, Jalalabad, Mazar-e Sharif and Kandahar are the nation's major cities. See also Cities of Afghanistan.
Economy
Main article: Economy of Afghanistan
Afghanistan is an extremely poor country, highly dependent on farming and livestock raising. The economy has suffered greatly from the recent political and military unrest, severe drought added to the nation's difficulties in 1998-2001. The majority of the population continues to suffer from insufficient food, clothing, housing, and medical care, problems exacerbated by military operations and political uncertainties. Inflation remains a serious problem. Following the US-led coalition war that led to the defeat of the Taliban in November 2001 and the formulation of the Afghan Interim Authority (AIA) resulting from the December 2001 Bonn Agreement, International efforts to rebuild Afghanistan were addressed at the Tokyo Donors Conference for Afghan Reconstruction in January 2002, when $4.5 billion was collected for a trust fund to be administered by the World Bank. Priority areas for reconstruction include the construction of education, health, and sanitation facilities, enhancement of administrative capacity, the development of the agricultural sector, and the rebuilding of road, energy, and telecommunication links.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Afghanistan
The population of Afghanistan is divided in a large number of ethnic groups, which adds to the political unrest. Pashtun form the largest group, with about 75%, followed by Tajik (15%) and Hazara (8%). Minor groups include small tribes as the Aimak. The spoken language differs accordingly, with Pashtu and Dari being the main tongues.
Almost all Afghans are muslims, the large majority being Sunni.
Culture
Main article: Culture of Afghanistan
Many of the country's historic monuments have been damaged in the wars in recent years. The two famous statues of Buddha in the Bamiyan province were destroyed by the Taliban as symbols of another religion.
Being renowned horsemen, Buzkashi is a popular sport in Afghanistan. Afghan hounds, running dogs, originate from Afghanistan.
Miscellaneous topics
- Communications in Afghanistan
- Transportation in Afghanistan
- Military of Afghanistan
- Foreign relations of Afghanistan
- Article from the 1911 Encyclopedia
- The Great Game
External links
- Library of Congress country study on Afghanistan
- Brzezinski interview on American involvement before the Soviet invasion
- Frequently Asked Questions on 911/Osama bin Laden/Afghanistan