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.

Main article: History of Afghanistan

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.

In 1979, the Soviet Union invaded the country, then known as the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, with the intention of replacing the leadership. However they were forced into a war of attrition against the mujahedin and did not withdraw until 1989. After a period of instability the fundamentalist Islamic Taliban gained control of the country. The Taliban were ousted by an American-lead coalition in 2001, following the Taliban's refusal to unconditionally extradite Osama bin Laden, the USA's top suspect in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. An interim government, with the purpose of rebuilding the country, has been established.

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. 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.

Main article: Provinces of Afghanistan

Afghanistan consists of 32 provinces, or velayat:

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.

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.

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 45%, followed by Tajik (25%) and Hazara (10%). 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.

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.

• Communications in Afghanistan
• Transportation in Afghanistan
• Military of Afghanistan
• Foreign relations of Afghanistan
• Article from the 1911 Encyclopedia

• 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