Afghanistan

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Country statistics

area:	652,090sq km (251,773sq mi) 24,405,000
capital (population):	Kabul (2,454,000)
government:	Interim administration
ethnic groups:	Pathan (Pushtun) 52%, Tajik 20%, Uzbek 9%, Hazara 9%, Chahar 3%, Turkmen 2%, Baluchi 1%
languages:	Pashto, Dari (Persian) – both official
religions:	Islam (Sunni Muslim 85%, Shiite Muslim 15%)
currency:	Afghani = 100 puls

Landlocked republic in s central Asia.

Afghanistan is bordered by Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, China, Pakistan, and Iran. The central highlands make up nearly 75% of total land area and, in the e, reach a height of more than 7600m (25,000ft). The capital, Kabul, lies in the foothills of the main range, the Hindu Kush. The River Kabul flows e to the Khyber Pass border with Pakistan. Southern Afghanistan is mainly lowland, with vast stretches of desert in the sw.

Climate and Vegetation

Afghanistan's altitude and remote position have a great effect on its climate. In winter, northerly winds bring extremely cold weather to the highlands. Summers are hot and dry. Southern Afghanistan has lower rainfall and higher average temperatures. Grassland covers much of the n, while the vegetation in the dry s is sparse. Forests of conifers grow on the mountain slopes.

History

Afghanistan's location on the overland routes between Iran, the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia has invited numerous invasions. Its rugged terrain, however, helped to repulse many of these attacks. In ancient times, Afghanistan was invaded successively by Aryans, Persians, Greeks, Macedonians, and warrior armies from central Asia. Buddhism was introduced in the 2nd century bc, while Arab armies brought Islam in the late 7th century. Shah Nadir extended Persian rule to encompass most of Afghanistan. His successor, Ahmad Durrani, founded the Durrani dynasty and established the first unified state in 1747. In 1818 the dynasty died, and Russia and Britain competed for control. Russia wanted an outlet to the Indian Ocean, while Britain sought to protect its Indian territories. The first Afghan War (1838–42) was inconclusive. The second Afghan War (1878–80) ended with the accession of Abd ar-Rahman as Emir. The Anglo-Russian Agreement (1907) recognized the dominance of British interests.

In 1919, after the Third Afghan War, Afghanistan regained its independence under Amanullah. In 1933 Muhammad Zahir became shah. In 1964 Zahir introduced a constitutional monarchy. The status of Pathans in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan caused conflict between the two states. In 1973 an army coup overthrew Zahir and established a republic. In 1978 a Marxist coup, backed by the Soviet Union, deposed the military regime. Government-backed Soviet troops and Mujaheddin guerrillas, supplied by the USA, fought the costly Afghanistan War (1979–89). In 1988–89 Soviet forces withdrew, but the civil war raged on and 2.6 million Afghanis remained in exile, mainly in Iran and Pakistan. In 1992 Mujaheddin forces captured Kabul and Burhanuddin Rabbani became president. In 1996 the fundamentalist Taliban seized Kabul and overthrew Rabbani. By 1998, Taliban forces controlled 90% of Afghanistan. The United Nations (UN) called for an end to the Taliban's systematic violations of human rights, such as its discrimination against women. In 1998, the USA launched missile strikes against suspected bases of Osama bin Laden, head of al-Qaeda. In March 2001, the Taliban destroyed giant Buddha statues at Bamiyan. In October 2001, the USA and Britain launched air strikes against Afghanistan after the Taliban refused to hand over bin Laden, who was held responsible for the terrorist attacks on the USA on September 11, 2001. In December 2001, opposition forces captured Kandahar, the last Taliban stronghold, and Hamid Karzai formed an interim government. In 2002, more than 1000 people died in an earthquake in n Afghanistan.

Economy

Afghanistan is one of the world's poorest countries (2000 GDP per capita US$800). Agriculture employs c.60% of the workforce. Most highland farming is semi-nomadic herding. Wheat is the chief crop of the sedentary farming in the valleys. Afghanistan has many mineral deposits, but most are undeveloped. Natural gas is produced, together with coal, copper, gold, and salt. Main exports are karakul skins, cotton, fruit, and nuts.