[243] The functions of provincial councils are to take part in provincial development planning and to participate in the monitoring and appraisal of other provincial governance institutions. In October 1772, Durrani died of natural causes and was buried at a site now adjacent to the Shrine of the Cloak in Kandahar. During this turbulent period, Afghanistan had many temporary rulers until Dost Mohammad Khan declared himself emir in 1823. [233], Political parties played a marginal role in post-2001 Afghan politics, in part due to Karzai's opposition to them. [390] By the 1920s, Radio Kabul was broadcasting local radio services. They were defeated and expelled by the Indo-Scythians in the late 2nd century BCE.[4][43]. [34] Throughout millennia several cities within the modern day Afghanistan served as capitals of various empires, namely Bactra (Balkh), Alexandria on the Oxus (Ai-Khanoum), Kapisi, Sigal, Kabul, Kunduz, Zaranj, Firozkoh, Herat, Ghazna (Ghazni), Binban (Bamyan), and Kandahar. [140], In December 2001, after the Taliban government was overthrown, the Afghan Interim Administration under Hamid Karzai was formed. The nation has a complex history that has survived either in its current cultures or in the form of various languages and monuments. The modern Constitution of Afghanistan states that the word "Afghan" shall apply to every citizen of Afghanistan.[33][7]. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. [327] A key portion of the Ring Road is the Salang Tunnel, completed in 1964, which facilitates travel through the Hindu Kush mountain range and connects northern and southern Afghanistan. Muslims brought Islam to Sassanian-held Herat and Zaranj in the mid-7th century, while fuller Islamization was achieved between the 9th and 12th centuries under the Saffarid, Samanid, Ghaznavid, and Ghurid dynasties. [378] As there was no colonialism in the modern era in Afghanistan, European-style architecture is rare; most notably the Victory Arch at Paghman, and the Darul Aman Palace in Kabul, were built in this style in the 1920s by the Afghans themselves. [393] Press restrictions have been gradually relaxed and private media diversified since 2002, after more than two decades of tight controls. [334] These lines are used for freight only and there is no passenger service. The country's highest point is Noshaq, at 7,492 m (24,580 ft) above sea level. Of this, about 60% are males and 40% females. [178] The country imports over $7 billion worth of goods but exports only $784 million, mainly fruits and nuts. [342] Former Education Minister Ghulam Farooq Wardak had stated that construction of 8,000 schools is required for the remaining children who are deprived of formal learning. Many of the Afghans have been in exile for a generation or longer, many refugee children have grown up without ever having lived in … Snow leopards, Siberian tigers and brown bears live in the high elevation alpine tundra regions. In 2016, Afghanistan had 0.43 global hectares[306] of biocapacity per person within its territory, much less than the world average of 1.6 global hectares per person. The remaining Afghans are culturally Persian and Turkic. There is no coastline, as Afghanistan is landlocked. [402] The nation's culinary specialties reflect its ethnic and geographic diversity. [192] Marmots and ibex also live in the high mountains of Afghanistan, and pheasants exist in some parts of the country. [147][148], Taliban forces meanwhile began regrouping inside Pakistan, while more coalition troops entered Afghanistan to help the rebuilding process. The Marco Polo sheep exclusively live in the Wakhan Corridor region of north-east Afghanistan. [78][79] Following a 1927–28 tour of Europe and Turkey, he introduced several reforms intended to modernize his nation. [397] Perhaps the most famous artist of this genre was Ahmad Zahir, who synthesized many genres and continues to be renowned for his voice and rich lyrics long after his death in 1979. [234] In the 2005 parliamentary election, the ballots did not show candidates' party affiliation, so the results were dictated by the personal prestige of the candidates. The smaller Mārgow Desert of salt flats and desolate steppe lies west of Rīgestān. For Afghans seeking refuge or a new life in Europe, Turkey used to be a major migration transit hub. [206] English is also understood by some of the population,[207] and has been gaining popularity as of the 2000s. Most of the highest points are in the east consisting of fertile mountain valleys. [234] Among the elected officials were a large mix of former mujahideen, Islamic fundamentalists, warlords, tribal nationalists, former communists, reformists, urban professionals, royalists and several former Taliban associates. Fateh Khan, leader of the Barakzai tribe, had installed 21 of his brothers in positions of power throughout the empire. Shia-dominated Hazarajat and pagan Kafiristan remained politically independent until being conquered by Abdur Rahman Khan in 1891–1896. Humans lived in what is now Afghanistan at least 50,000 years ago. [259] The Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC) claimed in 2017 that the Afghan government accounted for 46% of the attacks on Afghans journalists, while insurgents were responsible for rest of the attacks. On a per capita basis, Afghanistan received more Soviet development aid than any other country. So, too, fared much of the country, its economy in shambles and its people scattered and despondent. Afghanistan is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south; Iran to the west; Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to the north; and China to the northeast. Afghan asylum seekers were, for a brief while, in the Dutch top three countries of origin in the first quarter 2016 (with 600 applicants), whereas they were not even among the top five throughout 2015. To date, the World Bank has committed more than $2.69 billion for development projects. [376] However, many of its historic monuments have been damaged in modern times due to the civil wars. [392] Voice of America, BBC, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) broadcast in both of Afghanistan's official languages on radio. Afghanistan has a wide variety of birds despite its relatively arid climate – an estimated 460 species of which 235 breed within. [330] Traveling by bus in Afghanistan remains dangerous due to militant activities.[331]. Foxes, wolves, otters, deer, wild sheep, lynx and other big cats populate the mountain forest region of the east. The distrust stemmed from Islamabad’s decision to side with the United States-backed Afghan armed resistance of the 1980s that forced Moscow to … This formidable range creates the major pitch of Afghanistan from northeast to southwest and, along with its subsidiary ranges, divides Afghanistan into three distinct geographic regions, which roughly can be designated as the central highlands, the northern plains, and the southwestern plateau. The modern boundaries of Afghanistan were established in the late 19th century in the context of a rivalry between imperial Britain and tsarist Russia that Rudyard Kipling termed the “Great Game.” Modern Afghanistan became a pawn in struggles over political ideology and commercial influence. According to the World Bank, 98% of the rural population have access to electricity in 2018, up from 28% in 2008. Endemic flora include Iris afghanica. [193] The Afghan hound is a native breed of dog known for its fast speed and its long hair; it is relatively known in the west. [202] Millions have since returned and the war conditions has meant a high fertility rate compared to global and regional trends. [426] The Afghan Hound (a type of running dog) originated in Afghanistan and was formerly used in wolf hunting. Elsewhere large communities exist in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Austria, Denmark and Sweden. [223] A January 2010 report published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime revealed that bribery consumed an amount equal to 23% of the GDP of the nation. It has been home to various peoples through the ages, among them the ancient Iranian peoples who established the dominant role of Indo-Iranian languages in the region. The Alokozay Kabul International Cricket Ground serves as the nation's main cricket stadium. [381] In some of the Turkic-populated areas in the north-west, bride and wedding ceremony prices are driven by the bride's weaving skills. The institution of slavery was abolished in 1923. [122][123] During their rule, the Taliban and their allies committed massacres against Afghan civilians, denied UN food supplies to starving civilians and conducted a policy of scorched earth, burning vast areas of fertile land and destroying tens of thousands of homes. The Afghan people are known to be strongly religious. [194], Endemic fauna of Afghanistan includes the Afghan flying squirrel, Afghan snowfinch, Afghanodon (or the "Paghman mountain salamander"), Stigmella kasyi, Vulcaniella kabulensis, Afghan leopard gecko, Wheeleria parviflorellus, amongst others. The country has four international airports: Hamid Karzai International Airport (formerly Kabul International Airport), Kandahar International Airport, Herat International Airport, and Mazar-e Sharif International Airport. In the late 19th century, Afghanistan became a buffer state in the "Great Game" between British India and the Russian Empire. The United Nations says 40% of the Afghan population is enduring crisis levels of food insecurity due to a combination of conflict, drought and now COVID-19. [355][356] Non-governmental charities such as Save the Children and Mahboba's Promise assist orphans in association with governmental structures. The Buddhist Turk Shahi of Kabul was replaced by a Hindu dynasty before the Saffarids conquered the area in 870, this Hindu dynasty was called Hindu Shahi. Amid a state of anarchy and factional infighting,[111][112][113] various mujahideen factions committed widespread rape, murder and extortion,[112][114][115] while Kabul was heavily bombarded and partially destroyed by the fighting. Heathcote, Tony (1980, 2003) "The Afghan Wars 1839–1919", Sellmount Staplehurst. [404] Tea is a favorite drink among Afghans, and they typically eat naan breads, yoghurts, rice and meat in a typical diet. [384][385] Much of lapis lazuli stones were earthed in modern-day Afghanistan which were used in Chinese porcelain as cobalt blue, later used in ancient Mesopotamia and Turkey.[386]. Two of the four capitals of Khorasan (Herat and Balkh) are now located in Afghanistan, while the regions of Kandahar, Zabulistan, Ghazni, Kabulistan, and Afghanistan formed the frontier between Khorasan and Hindustan. [372] Another popular dress is the chapan which acts as a coat. [326], The Ring Road is crucially important for domestic and international trade and the economy. [29] Historically, the ethnonym Afghān was used to refer to ethnic Pashtuns. By 1747, the Afghans chose Durrani as their head of state. [261] A 2009 proposal for a law against the violence of women could only be passed through a presidential decree. In 1747, Ahmad Shah Durrani established the Durrani Empire with its capital at Kandahar. Afghan Journalists Targeted. Mehmet Enes Beşer This means they use just under double as much biocapacity as Afghanistan contains. [360] About 15% of the population are nomadic, locally called kochis. [115] Several failed reconciliations and alliances occurred between different leaders. [92] Displeased with Amin's government, the Soviet Army invaded the country in December 1979, heading for Kabul and killing Amin just 3 days later. Habibullah was assassinated during a hunting trip in 1919, and Amanullah Khan eventually assumed power. [303] Government officials estimate that 30% of the country's untapped mineral deposits are worth at least $1 trillion. [154] The number of NATO troops present in Afghanistan peaked at 140,000 in 2011,[155] dropping to about 16,000 in 2018. However, Afghanistan remained neutral and was neither a participant in World War II nor aligned with either power bloc in the Cold War thereafter. Nearly 6 million Afghans—roughly two-fifths of the country’s population—fled to Iran or Pakistan from 1979 to 1989, and the number in each country has since fluctuated with each significant intensification or weakening of conflict, resulting in mass exoduses followed by limited returns until 2001. [80] Khan's wife Queen Soraya Tarzi was a figure during this period. Lying along important trade routes connecting southern and eastern Asia to Europe and the Middle East, Afghanistan has long been a prize sought by empire builders. More recent findings established that the Indus Valley Civilization stretched up towards modern-day Afghanistan, making the ancient civilization today part of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India. [268][269][270], On August 14, 2020, UN Human Rights Council experts issued a joint statement urging Afghanistan officials to prevent the killings of human rights defenders as there have been nine deaths of human rights defenders since January 2020. A further 10 other ethnic groups are recognized and each are represented in the Afghan National Anthem. The percentages given are estimates only, as accurate and current statistical data on ethnicity are not available. [255][256] The Afghan Ministry of Counter Narcotics is responsible for the monitoring and eradication of the illegal drug business. A rail line between Khaf, Iran and Herat, western Afghanistan, intended for both freight and passengers, is under construction as of 2019. [21] After Timur's death in 1793, the Durrani throne passed down to his son Zaman Shah, followed by Mahmud Shah, Shuja Shah and others. The PDPA declared the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, with its first leader named as People's Democratic Party general secretary Nur Muhammad Taraki. The country has high levels of terrorism, poverty, child malnutrition, and corruption. [20] The political history of the modern state of Afghanistan began with the Hotak dynasty, whose founder Mirwais Hotak declared southern Afghanistan independent in 1709. The team eventually made it and played in the 2015 Cricket World Cup. The average life expectancy is estimated to be around 60 years. Afghanistan remains one of the poorest countries in the world because of a lack of foreign investment, government corruption, and the Taliban insurgency. It quickly turned into a proxy war as the Pakistani government provided these rebels with covert training centers, the United States supported them through Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI),[89] and the Soviet Union sent thousands of military advisers to support the PDPA regime. The backbone of Afghanistan's road network is Highway 1, often called the "Ring Road", which extends for 2,210 kilometers (1,370 mi) and connects five major cities: Kabul, Ghazni, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif,[325] with spurs to Kunduz and Jalalabad and various border crossings, while skirting around the mountains of the Hindu Kush. [210], Afghans, particularly Pashtuns, are noted for their tribal solidarity and high regard for personal honor. Europe received some 100,000 Afghan asylum-seekers during the past five years. The citadel of Alexander in the western city of Herat has been renovated in recent years and is a popular attraction. [289], Saffron, the most expensive spice, grows in Afghanistan, particularly Herat Province. This was a standard divide and rule policy of the British and would lead to strained relations, especially with the later new state of Pakistan. Soviet troops in more substantial numbers were deployed to stabilize Afghanistan under Karmal, marking the beginning of the Soviet–Afghan War. [237] Parties became more influential after 2009, when a new law established more stringent requirements for party registration. Source: Eurostat. There are over 16,000 schools in the country and roughly 9 million students. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). It was favored by former kings of Afghanistan and became known to much of the world in the 21st century when it was constantly worn by President Hamid Karzai. Its area of about 160,000 square miles (414,000 square km) is a region of deep, narrow valleys and lofty mountains, some peaks of which rise above 21,000 feet (6,400 metres). [156], In September 2014 Ashraf Ghani became president after the 2014 presidential election where for the first time in Afghanistan's history power was democratically transferred. Since the 2015-16 ref- ugee influx into Europe, tightening migration policies and stricter border controls within the EU have led to a dramatic drop in the number of Afghans entering the continent. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts established by England between the late 16th and early 18th centuries. [395] The stereotypes of Afghans in India (Kabuliwala or Pathani) has also been represented in some Bollywood films by actors. Around 780,000 registered Afghan refugees and between 2.1 to 2.5 million undocumented Afghans live in Iran. With routes through Turkey largely shut down after a refugee pact with the European Union in 2016, the country is now permanently hosting millions of refugees and migrants – among them possibly hundreds of thousands of Afghans. However, the 2009 presidential election was characterized by lack of security, low voter turnout, and widespread electoral fraud, ending in Karzai's reelection. In addition to fertile soils, the region possesses rich mineral resources, particularly deposits of natural gas. [401], Afghan cuisine is largely based upon the nation's chief crops, such as wheat, maize, barley and rice. An inscription on the tombstone of Darius I of Persia mentions the Kabul Valley in a list of the 29 countries that he had conquered. [93] A Soviet-organized regime, led by Parcham's Babrak Karmal but inclusive of both factions (Parcham and Khalq), filled the vacuum. [203] Afghanistan's healthcare has recovered since the turn of the century, causing falls in infant mortality and increases in life expectancy. This name was later used for certain regions in the Ṣafavid and Mughal empires that were inhabited by Afghans. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted among a convenience sample of Afghan tobacco users residing in Delhi, India in the month of June 2017. [405] One of the poetic styles is called landay. Some non-Pashtuns who live in proximity with Pashtuns have adopted Pashtunwali in a process called Pashtunization, while some Pashtuns have been Persianized. [265] With implementing Sharia law offenders can be punished by death. [364] There are various Afghan tribes, and an estimated 2–3 million nomads. Their efforts to bring Afghanistan into the Central Powers failed, but it caused discontent among the population for keeping neutrality against the British. The capital of Afghanistan is its largest city, Kabul. Some of the famous artists of classical music include Ustad Sarahang and Sarban. Cricket and association football are the two most popular sports in the country. Da Afghanistan Bank serves as the central bank of the nation[275] and the Afghani (AFN) is the national currency, with an exchange rate of about 75 Afghanis to 1 US dollar. A serene city of mosques and gardens during the storied reign of the emperor Bābur (1526–30), founder of the Mughal dynasty, and for centuries an important entrepôt on the Silk Road, Kabul lay in ruins following the long and violent Afghan War. Its population was about 21 million in 1850. Soon after, the Persian and Afghan forces invaded India. Carpet weaving is an ancient practice in Afghanistan, and many of these are still handmade by tribal and nomadic people today. You have to decide whether it’s in the Northern Hemisphere or the Southern Hemisphere. Khushal Khan Khattak of the 17th century is considered the national poet. Most Afghans applied for asylum in Germany (30%), the Netherlands … Afghanistan's population is divided into several ethnolinguistic groups. They comprise the largest protracted refugee population in Asia, and the second largest refugee population in the world. The mission of the Uniformed Police is to ensure security within Afghanistan, prevent crime, and protect property. [315][316] Smaller numbers visit and trek in regions such as the Wakhan Valley, which is also one of the world's most remote communities. [339], Private vehicle ownership has increased substantially since the early 2000s. [224], On 17 May 2020, President Ashraf Ghani reached a power-sharing deal with his rival from presidential elections, Abdullah Abdullah, deciding on who would manage the respected key ministries. It was reported in 2006 that nearly 60% of the Afghan population lives within a two-hour walk of the nearest health facility. Afghanistan has a continental climate with harsh winters in the central highlands, the glaciated northeast (around Nuristan), and the Wakhan Corridor, where the average temperature in January is below −15 °C (5 °F) and can reach −26 °C (−15 °F),[178] and hot summers in the low-lying areas of the Sistan Basin of the southwest, the Jalalabad basin in the east, and the Turkestan plains along the Amu River in the north, where temperatures average over 35 °C (95 °F) in July[9][190] and can go over 43 °C (109 °F). [166] A report titled Body Count concluded that 106,000–170,000 civilians have been killed as a result of the fighting in Afghanistan at the hands of all parties to the conflict.[167]. The situation in the country deteriorated under Amin and thousands of people went missing. Parts of the region were later ruled by the Khwarazmian, Khalji, Timurid, Lodi, Sur, Mughal, and Safavid empires. The southwestern plateau, south of the central highlands, is a region of high plateaus, sandy deserts, and semideserts. Afghan diaspora refers to Afghan people who live outside of Afghanistan.These include citizens who have immigrated to other countries, or people of Afghan origin who are born outside Afghanistan. For information about our work in Pakistan: Visit our country website - Pakistan (English) For legislation, case law and UNHCR policy relating to claims for international protection, visit Refworld. There are several other stadiums throughout the country, including the Ghazi Amanullah Khan International Cricket Stadium near Jalalabad. The organisation shared a new list classifying Afghan ethnicities and tribes, sparking outrage among citizens, particularly minority groups. In 1978, after a second coup, Afghanistan first became a socialist state, evoking the Soviet–Afghan War in the 1980s against mujahideen rebels. [19] The region, then known as "Ariana", fell to Achaemenid Persians in the 6th century BCE, who conquered the areas to their east as far as the Indus River. [35] For its success in resisting foreign occupation during the 19th and 20th centuries, Afghanistan has been called the "graveyard of empires,"[36] though it is unknown who coined the phrase. [352] In spite of all this, many Afghans travel to Pakistan and India for advanced treatment. Many of those stranded are part of the wave of Afghan migration to Europe, which gained a momentum in early 2015 and has resulted in about 250,000 Afghans arriving in Europe since then. Road links in the north played a large part in a growing cotton and textile industry. [408], Afghanistan's official New Year starts with Nowruz, an ancient tradition that started as a Zoroastrian celebration in present-day Iran, and with which it shares the annual celebration along with several other countries. In this Oct. 25, 2020 file photo, Afghan men bury a victim of a suicide attack that targeted an education center, in Kabul, Afghanistan. [121] The Taliban were condemned internationally for the harsh enforcement of their interpretation of Islamic sharia law, which resulted in the brutal treatment of many Afghans, especially women. Other notable poets include Rabi'a Balkhi, Jami, Rahman Baba, Khalilullah Khalili, and Parween Pazhwak. [308] Overall the figure stands at 98.7%. (Chapter II: Background)", "Documents Detail Years of Pakistani Support for Taliban, Extremists", Afghanistan: Chronology of Events January 1995 – February 1997, Country profile: Afghanistan (published August 2008), "Laura Bush Addresses State of Afghan Women", "Women's Rights in the Taliban and Post-Taliban Eras", "Confidential UN report details mass killings of civilian villagers", "Re-Creating Afghanistan: Returning to Istalif", "Afghanistan resistance leader feared dead in blast", 'Trump calls out Pakistan, India as he pledges to 'fight to win' in Afghanistan, "WPO Poll: Afghan Public Overwhelmingly Rejects al-Qaeda, Taliban", "Afghan Futures: A National Public Opinion Survey", "A Nation challenged: The attack; U.S. and Britain strike Afghanistan, aiming at bases and terrorist camps; Bush warns 'Taliban will pay a price, "Limbs of No Body: The World's Indifference to the Afghan Tragedy", "Canada's Engagement in Afghanistan: Backgrounder", "Wikileaks: Pakistan accused of helping Taliban in Afghanistan attacks", "Afghan President Karzai Receives Philadelphia Liberty Medal", "How Many Troops Are Currently in Afghanistan? It was one of the first nations to conclude a migration partnership agreement with the EU, in 2016. [360], Afghan clothing for both men and women typically consists of various forms of shalwar kameez, especially perahan tunban and khet partug. The National Assembly is the legislature, a bicameral body having two chambers, the House of the People and the House of Elders. [210] According to Pew Research Center, as much as 90% are of the Sunni denomination, 7% Shia and 3% non-denominational. A Neglected Population: Afghan Migrants in Europe. In 1893, Mortimer Durand made Amir Abdur Rahman Khan sign a controversial agreement in which the ethnic Pashtun and Baloch territories were divided by the Durand Line. [49][50][51], By the 11th century, Mahmud of Ghazni defeated the remaining Hindu rulers and effectively Islamized the wider region,[52] with the exception of Kafiristan.

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