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| INTRODUCING AFGHANISTAN |
Overview
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a landlocked country at the cross roads of Central Asia, South Asia and the Middle East. Generally considered a part of Central Asia, it is sometimes ascribed to a regional bloc in either South Asia or the Middle East, as it has religious, ethno-linguistic, and geographic links with most of its neighbours. It is largely bordered by Pakistan in the south and east, Iran in the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north, and the People's Republic of China in the far northeast. The name Afghanistan means the "Land of Afghans".
Afghanistan is a mosaic of ethnic groups, and a crossroads between the East and West. It has been an ancient focal-point of trade and migration. The region of modern Afghanistan has seen many invaders come and go, including the Persians, Greeks, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, British and the Soviets. Afghanistan was created as a nation in 1747 by Ahmad Shah Durrani.[3] On August 19, 1919, following the Anglo-Afghan wars, the country regained full independence from the UK over its foreign affairs.
Afghanistan's strategic position sandwiched between the Middle East, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent along the ancient "Silk Route" means that the country has long been fought over - despite its rugged and forbidding terrain.
It was at the centre of the so-called "Great Game" in the 19th century when Imperial Russia and the British Empire in India vied for influence.
And it became a key Cold War battleground after thousands of Soviet troops intervened in 1979 to prop up a pro-communist regime, leading to a major confrontation that drew in the US and Afghanistan's neighbours.
The emergence of the Taleban - originally a group of Islamic scholars - brought asome kind of stability after nearly two decades of conflict. But their extreme version of Islam attracted widespread internatinal criticism.
Afghanistan's economic outlook has improved significantly since 2001 because of the infusion of over $8 billion in international assistance, recovery of the agricultural sector and growth of the service sector, and the reestablishment of market institutions.
Despite the progress of the past few years, Afghanistan remains extremely poor, landlocked, and highly dependent on foreign aid, farming, and trade with neighboring countries.
Politics in Afghanistan has historically consisted of power struggles, bloody coups and unstable transfers of power. With the exception of a military junta, the country has been governed by nearly every system of government over the past century, including a monarchy, republic, theocracy and communist state. The constitution ratified by the 2003 Loya jirga restructured the government as an Islamic republic consisting of three branches, (executive, legislative, and judiciary).
Population: 28.7 million
Urban Population: 23%
Major Ethnic and Linguistic Groups: Pashtun - 44%
Tajik - 25%
Hazara - 10%
Uzbek - 8%
Religions: Sunni Islam - 84%
Shiite Islam - 15%
Population Growth Rate: 3.4%
Life Expectancy: 47 years
Infant Mortality: 143 per 1,000 live births
Under Five Mortality: 257 per 1,000 live births
Maternal Mortality Rate: 1,700 per 100,000 live births
GNP Per Capita: $250
Percentage of Literate Adult Males: 51%
Percentage of Literate Adult Females: 21%
Percentage Population With Access To Safe Drinking Water: 13%
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