Introduction to Afghanistan
Afghanistan, , or Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, a country in south-central Asia. It is bounded on the north by Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan; on the northeast by a tip of China and Kashmir; on the east and south by Pakistan; and on the west by Iran. Afghanistan's area is not known exactly; it is estimated at about 250,000 square miles (647,500 km2)—slightly less than that of Texas. Maximum dimensions are roughly 550 miles (890 km) north-south and 600 miles (970 km) east-west.
Facts in brief about Afghanistan Capital: Kabul. Official languages: Pashto (also called Pakhto) and Dari. Official name: Da Afghanistan Enteqali Islami Daulat (in Pashto) or Daulat e Entaqali Islami Afghanistan (in Dari), both meaning Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Area: 251,773 mi2 (652,090 km2). Greatest distances east-west, 820 mi (1,320 km); north-south, 630 mi (1,012 km). Elevation: Highest Nowshak, 24,557 ft (7,485 m) above sea level. Lowest In Sistan Basin, 1,640 ft (500 m) above sea level. Population: Current estimate 32,253,000; population density, 128 per mi2 (49 per km2); distribution, 77 percent rural, 23 percent urban. 1979 census 13,051,358. 2002 official government estimate 20,291,000. Chief products: Agriculture barley, corn, cotton, fruits, Karakul skins, mutton, nuts, rice, vegetables, wheat, wool. Manufacturing jewelry, leather goods, rugs. Mining coal, lapis lazuli, natural gas. National anthem: “Soroud-e-Melli" ("Hymn of the People"). Flag and coat of arms: Afghanistan's flag and coat of arms were adopted in 2004. The flag has black, red, and green vertical stripes, and the coat of arms in the center. The coat of arms features a mosque (Islamic house of worship) with flags on each side, surrounded by a wreath of wheat bound by a ribbon. The coat of arms bears four Arabic inscriptions: at the top, There Is No God but Allah and Muhammad Is the Prophet of Allah; near the top, God Is Almighty; near the bottom, the Islamic year 1298 (1919 in the Gregorian calendar, the year Afghanistan became independent); and at the bottom, Afghanistan. Money: Basic unit–afghani.Physical Geography
LandAfghanistan is a dry, landlocked country, consisting mainly of rugged mountains, barren plateaus, and wind-swept steppes and deserts. Its most prominent feature is the Hindu Kush, a towering mountain range trending northeast-southwest from Kashmir to central Afghanistan. Within the country, the range's loftiest peaks attain heights of more than 20,000 feet (6,100 m); just beyond the Pakistan border, more than 25,000 feet (7,600 m). Plateaus and fingerlike mountain spurs, such as the Koh-i-Baba and Paropamisus ranges, make up most of central Afghanistan.
Afghanistan is a country in southwestern Asia.WaterNearly all of Afghanistan's rivers rise in the mountains, yet most carry limited amounts of water. Only those fed by the Hindu Kush, especially its glaciers, have relatively steady flows. Many streams are intermittent. Among the principal rivers are the Amu Darya in the north, the Kabul in the east, the Helmand in the south, and the Harirud in the west. Except for the Kabul, its tributaries, and a few headstreams in the east, Afghanistan's rivers never reach the sea. They drain inland and end in steppes, deserts, salt lakes, and alkali flats.
ClimateDryness and great ranges in temperature characterize the climate. Both are due mainly to the mountainous terrain of south-central Asia and to the country's distance from the sea.
In the north, winters are cold, for the region lies in the path of frigid winds from Siberia. During the coldest periods, temperatures drop well below 0 F. (-18 C.). Summers on the northern steppes are hot, with daytime temperatures often rising above 100 F. (38 C.). Southern Afghanistan has less severe winters and hotter summers. Climate on the high plateaus and in the mountains becomes more temperate with increasing elevation, especially during the summer.
Precipitation varies from less than 2 inches (50 mm) to about 10 inches (250 mm) a year, depending on location. Everywhere but in the south, part of it falls as snow. The period from late fall to early spring brings most of the precipitation. Dust storms bring prolonged and sometimes violent winds, accompanied by dense clouds of dust, and are among the country's worst storms.
The Economy
Afghanistan's economy is based primarily on agriculture and there has been little industrial development. Economic growth has been plagued by virtually constant civil strife since 1979, when the Soviet Union began a military occupation that lasted 10 years.
Agricultureaccounts for more than 80 per cent of the labor force yet only about 6 per cent of the land is planted in crops. Most of this consists of irrigated steppes and river valleys north of the Hindu Kush. Dry-farming methods enable some farming to be done in the more humid river valleys and on the steppes.
Opium is one of Afghanistan's largest crops. despite its illegal status. Other crops include wheat, rice, fruits, nuts, cotton, sugar beets, sugarcane, and some vegetables. Farming methods nearly everywhere are primitive. There is little use of fertilizer or modern machinery.
Many people, some of whom are nomads, are engaged in livestock raising. Sheep, cattle, and goats are the most important animals. Their meat, wool, hides, and skins make up one of the main sources of the national income. Karakul skins (Persian lamb) are an important export.
ManufacturingMost of the personal and household goods required by the people are still made at home and in small village shops. Textile weaving and, particularly, rug making are among the oldest and most important handicrafts.
Modern industry is hampered by lack of technical knowledge and capital, and disruptions from war. Much of what has been accomplished has been due to foreign aid. Among the chief contributions of foreign assistance have been hydroelectric plants and factories for small-scale production of textiles, cement, porcelain, and carpets.
MiningNatural gas is the only natural resource produced in large amounts. There are deposits of various other minerals but little production, mainly because many of the deposits are in remote locations and adequate transportation is lacking.
TransportationNot only is Afghanistan located in one of the least accessible parts of the world, but transportation is poorly developed within the country. There are no railways and no navigable waterways except the Amu Darya. Roads are largely unpaved. The chief roads, however—those linking Kabul, the capital, with major provincial cities—are hard-surfaced. There are few motor vehicles; camels and donkeys continue to provide much of the transportation. Ariana Afghan Airlines, the national airline, offers service from the international airport at Kabul.
CurrencyAfghanistan's basic currency unit is the afghani.
The People
All citizens of the country are called Afghans, but there are numerous ethnic groups. Pashtuns (the name is also spelled Pushtun, Pakhtun, Pukhtun, and Pathan) make up roughly 60 per cent of the people. Pashtuns are a Caucasian people and have lived in Afghanistan for at least 1,300 years. Usually they are considered the true Afghans. They are divided into many tribes and sub-tribes and follow an ancient code of conduct called Pashtunwali. Tajiks, also a Caucasian people, are the second most numerous group. People of Mongolian descent include Turkomans, Uzbeks, Kirghiz, and Hazaras.
PopulationAccording to the last official estimate before the overthrow of the government in 1992, Afghanistan had a population of 16,433,000, excluding nomads. The density was about 65 persons per square mile (25 per km2). Only about 20 per cent of the people live in cities; the rest are villagers, farmers, and nomadic herders.
Language and EducationThe primary languages of Afghanistan are Pashto (also known as Pashtu) and a Persian dialect called Dari. Both belong to the Indo-European language family. Pashto is spoken in the east and south and is sometimes called Afghan. Dari is spoken in northeastern, western, and central Afghanistan and is the language of government, business, and literature. Some 30 other languages are spoken by various groups in Afghanistan.
Two systems of education coexist in Afghanistan. Traditional madrasas (religious schools) teach children through the study of the Koran. The secular system was created in 1935. Institutions of higher learning include Kabul University (founded 1932) at Kabul and Nangarhar Islamic University (formerly the Bayazid Roshan University of Nangarhar, founded 1962) at Jalalabad. Years of warfare, however, have destroyed most of the educational infrastructure. The outlawing of the education and employment of women in 1996 further undermined the educational system. Before the ban, women accounted for about 70 per cent of the country's teachers. The literacy rate for men is about 35 per cent; for women, it is about 20 per cent. With the fall of the Taliban, women began to return to some schools as students and as teachers.
ReligionAfghanistan has been an Islamic republic since 1992. About 85 per cent of the people belong to the Sunnite branch of Islam; the remainder are Shiites.
CultureAfghanistan bears the traces of many civilizations, including Greek, Buddhist, and Mogul. Afghan art, architecture, literature, and music reveal the interaction of these various cultures over the centuries. However, Islam, from its introduction in the seventh century A.D. to the present, has been the predominant influence. The gracefully sculptured minarets (towers of the mosques) are considered the best surviving examples of Muslim architectural and artistic effort.
Much of the country's cultural heritage has been destroyed in recent years. Archeo-logical sites have been overrun since the Soviets invaded the area in 1979. The Kabul Museum was bombed in the early 1990's and its treasures looted. By 2001, much of the country's non-Islamic art, including two enormous Buddhas, had been destroyed under the rule of the Taliban.
Government
The constitution of 1987 was suspended in 1992, when a rebel movement took control of the country. In 1996, a Council of Ministers was established by the ruling Taliban to run the country according to Islamic law. After the Taliban lost power in 2001, an interim administration was established. In 2004 a loya jirga, or grand council, drafted and adopted a democratic constitution for the country. The first presidential elections under the new constitution were held later that year.