Afghanistan (pronounced /æfˈɡænɨstæn/[4]), officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country that is located approximately in the center of Asia. It is variously designated as geographically located within Central Asia,[5][6] South Asia,[7][8] and the Middle East.[9] It is bordered by Iran in the south and west, Pakistan in the south and east, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north, and China in the far northeast.
Afghanistan is a crossroads between the East and the West, and has been an ancient focal point of trade and migration. It has an important geostrategic location, connecting South and Central Asia and Middle East. Because of this, the land has been a target of various invaders and conquerors, as well as a source from which local powers invaded surrounding regions to form their own empires. Ahmad Shah Durrani created the Durrani Empire in 1747, which is considered the beginning of modern Afghanistan.[10] Subsequently, the capital was shifted to Kabul and most of its territories ceded to former neighboring countries. In the late 19th century, Afghanistan became a buffer state in "The Great Game" played between the British Indian Empire and Russian Empire.[11] On August 19, 1919, following the third Anglo-Afghan war, the country regained full independence from the United Kingdom over its foreign affairs.
Since the late 1970s Afghanistan has suffered continuous and brutal civil war in addition to foreign interventions in the form of the 1979 Soviet invasion and the 2001 U.S.-led invasion that toppled the Taliban government. In late 2001 the United Nations Security Council authorized the creation of an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). This force is composed of NATO troops that are involved in assisting the government of President Hamid Karzai in establishing the writ of law as well as rebuilding key infrastructures in the nation. In 2005, the United States and Afghanistan signed a strategic partnership agreement committing both nations to a long-term relationship. In the meantime, multi-billion US dollars have also been provided by the international community for the reconstruction of the country.
Afghanistan is a crossroads between the East and the West, and has been an ancient focal point of trade and migration. It has an important geostrategic location, connecting South and Central Asia and Middle East. Because of this, the land has been a target of various invaders and conquerors, as well as a source from which local powers invaded surrounding regions to form their own empires. Ahmad Shah Durrani created the Durrani Empire in 1747, which is considered the beginning of modern Afghanistan.[10] Subsequently, the capital was shifted to Kabul and most of its territories ceded to former neighboring countries. In the late 19th century, Afghanistan became a buffer state in "The Great Game" played between the British Indian Empire and Russian Empire.[11] On August 19, 1919, following the third Anglo-Afghan war, the country regained full independence from the United Kingdom over its foreign affairs.
Since the late 1970s Afghanistan has suffered continuous and brutal civil war in addition to foreign interventions in the form of the 1979 Soviet invasion and the 2001 U.S.-led invasion that toppled the Taliban government. In late 2001 the United Nations Security Council authorized the creation of an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). This force is composed of NATO troops that are involved in assisting the government of President Hamid Karzai in establishing the writ of law as well as rebuilding key infrastructures in the nation. In 2005, the United States and Afghanistan signed a strategic partnership agreement committing both nations to a long-term relationship. In the meantime, multi-billion US dollars have also been provided by the international community for the reconstruction of the country.
Capital(and largest city)
Kabul34°31′N 69°08′E / 34.517°N 69.133°E / 34.517; 69.133
Official languages
Dari (Persian), Pashto[1]
Demonym
Afghan[alternatives]
Government
Islamic republic
-
President
Hamid Karzai
-
Vice President
Ahmad Zia Massoud
-
Vice President
Karim Khalili
-
Chief Justice
Abdul Salam Azimi
Establishment
-
First Afghan state[2]
October 1747
-
Independence from the United Kingdom
August 19, 1919
Area
-
Total
647,500 km2 (41st)251,772 sq mi
-
Water (%)
0
Population
-
2008 estimate
32,738,376 (37th)
-
1979 census
13,051,358
-
Density
46/km2 (150th)119/sq mi
GDP (PPP)
2008 estimate
-
Total
$21.340 billion[3] (96th)
-
Per capita
$758[3] (172nd)
GDP (nominal)
2008 estimate
-
Total
$12.061 billion[3]
-
Per capita
$428[3]
HDI (2007)
0.345 (low) (174)
1 Etymology
1.1 Origin of the name
2 Geography
3 History
3.1 Islamic and Mongol conquests of the region
3.2 Hotaki dynasty
3.3 Durrani Empire: beginnings of the “Afghan state”
3.4 European influence and the creation of the state of Afghanistan
3.5 The Kingdom of Afghanistan
3.6 Republic of Afghanistan
4 Security and Crime
4.1 Soviet invasion and civil war
4.2 War in Afghanistan 2001–present
5 Government and politics
5.1 Law enforcement and military
5.2 Provinces
5.3 Foreign relations
6 Demographics
6.1 Population
6.2 Largest cities
6.3 Ethnic groups
6.4 Languages
7 Culture
7.1 Religions
8 Economy
9 Infrastructure
9.1 Transport
9.2 Communications and technology
10 Television
11 Media
12 Education
13 Images of Afghanistan
14 Notes
15 See also
16 References
17 Bibliography
18 External links
1.1 Origin of the name
2 Geography
3 History
3.1 Islamic and Mongol conquests of the region
3.2 Hotaki dynasty
3.3 Durrani Empire: beginnings of the “Afghan state”
3.4 European influence and the creation of the state of Afghanistan
3.5 The Kingdom of Afghanistan
3.6 Republic of Afghanistan
4 Security and Crime
4.1 Soviet invasion and civil war
4.2 War in Afghanistan 2001–present
5 Government and politics
5.1 Law enforcement and military
5.2 Provinces
5.3 Foreign relations
6 Demographics
6.1 Population
6.2 Largest cities
6.3 Ethnic groups
6.4 Languages
7 Culture
7.1 Religions
8 Economy
9 Infrastructure
9.1 Transport
9.2 Communications and technology
10 Television
11 Media
12 Education
13 Images of Afghanistan
14 Notes
15 See also
16 References
17 Bibliography
18 External links
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