AFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan: GeographyLocated in Central AsiaBordered by six countries:ChinaIranPakistanTajikistanTurkmenistanUzbekistan

Afghanistan: Geography

Landlocked nation (slightly smaller than Texas)Total Population: 31 millionCapital: Kabul

Afghanistan: GeographyRugged mountains

Hindu Kush: main mountain range across Afghanistan and into Pakistan

Climate: cold winters and hot, dry summers

Afghans: A Diverse PeopleMajor Ethnic Groups: Pashtuns 42%Takiks 27%Uzbeks 9%Hazaras 9%Others 13%

Afghans: A Diverse People

LanguagesMany Afghans are bilingualThe main languages spoken by Afghans are:Dari (official language) 50% Pashtu (official language) 35%Turkic languages 11%

ReligionIslam is the religion practiced by most Afghans; it is central to Afghans' identity 99% of Afghans are Muslim

Rural LifeMost Afghans live in rural areasAbout of the population consists of farmers and nomadsOnly 12% of the land, however, is arableWhat problems might this lead to?

Sport/PastimeBazkashi, the national sport of Afghanistan, is a team game played on horsebackKite-fighting is also a popular pastime among Afghan youth where participants try to cut through the strings of their opponents' kites

Afghan HistoryAfghanistan's location along the Silk/Spice Road has allowed the country to serve as an important link between east and west throughout history

Afghan HistoryThis location, however, has meant significant intervention from outsidersGreat Britain & Russia fought over Afghanistan as far back as the 18th & 19th centuriesSoviet Union invaded in 1979 and installed a Communist governmentFrom 1979-1989, Afghanistan became a battleground of the Cold War between the US-USSR (with the U.S. supporting Afghans who resisted the Soviets)

Afghan HistorySoviet Union withdrew in 1989, but civil war erupted among factions of guerilla fighters known as 'mujahedin' Civil war continued until 1996, when hard-line group known as the Taliban seized powerTaliban imposed a strict interpretation of Islam

TalibanLimited women's ability to work in public placesBanned girls from attending schoolRequired women to wear burqas in public (photos)Required men to wear beardsBanned music, sportsAllowed al-Qaeda & Osama bin Laden to operate within the country

Refugee CrisisDuring the 23 years of conflict, roughly 4 million Afghans became refugeesMost refugees fled to two main countries:IranPakistanThere are also an estimated 200,000 Afghans living in the U.S.

The link between September 11 and AfghanistanAfghans did NOT carry out the terrorist attacks on the U.S.Al-Qaeda, a terrorist network operating within Afghanistan and other places, didMany Afghans expressed their solidarity with the people of the U.S. after Sept. 11After September 11, the U.S. invaded Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban for sheltering Osama bin LadenU.S. and NATO forces remain in Afghanistan today

Afghanistan TodayAfghanistan now faces a number of challenges as it tries to rebuild after years of war. Some of these challenges include:PovertyEducationHealthGender equityGovernance

PovertyAt least 2/3 of Afghans live on less than $2 a dayOnly 23% of Afghans have access to safe waterOnly 12% of Afghans have access to sanitationOnly 6% of Afghans have access to electricity

Education67% of boys go to school, while only 37% of girls do (US Dept of State)Constraints to school attendance:Lack of teachersDistance between home and schoolCultural constraints for girlsNot enough school buildings (esp. for girls)

HealthAverage life expectancy for Afghans is 42, more than 25 years younger than the average American (World Health Organization)One in four children dies before the age of 5 (USAID)Many Afghans lack access to basic medical care

Gender EquityWomen have been a marginalized group in AfghanistanCultural restrictions lead to difficulty accessing education and health servicesOnly 10% of Afghan women can read and writeYet, Afghan women are important contributors to household income, especially in rural areas

GovernmentIn October 2004, Hamid Karzai was elected President of Afghanistan. Parliamentray elections were held in 2005.Local warlords, however, still hold power in many parts of the country. This contributes to the insecurity in Afghanistan.

Despite these challenges, Afghans remain hopeful about the future

THE ENDWhat have you learned about Afghanistan?