AFGHANISTANAFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan: GeographyAfghanistan: GeographyLocated in Central

AsiaBordered by six countries:● China● Iran● Pakistan● Tajikistan● Turkmenistan● Uzbekistan

Afghanistan: GeographyAfghanistan: Geography

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

Afghanistan: GeographyAfghanistan: Geography➢ Rugged mountains

➢ Hindu Kush: main mountain range across Afghanistan and into Pakistan

➢ Climate: cold winters and hot, dry summers

Afghans: A Diverse Afghans: A Diverse PeoplePeople

Major Ethnic Major Ethnic Groups: Groups:

Pashtuns 42%Pashtuns 42% Takiks 27%Takiks 27% Uzbeks 9%Uzbeks 9% Hazaras 9%Hazaras 9% Others 13%Others 13%

Afghans: A Diverse Afghans: A Diverse PeoplePeople

LanguagesLanguages

Many Afghans are bilingualMany Afghans are bilingual The main languages spoken The main languages spoken

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

ReligionReligion

IIslamslam is the is the religion practiced religion practiced by most Afghans; by most Afghans; it is central to it is central to Afghans' identity Afghans' identity

99% of Afghans 99% of Afghans are are MuslimMuslim

Rural LifeRural Life Most Afghans live in Most Afghans live in

rural areasrural areas About ¾ of the About ¾ of the

population consists population consists of farmers and of farmers and nomadsnomads

Only 12% of the land, Only 12% of the land, however, is arablehowever, is arable

What problems might What problems might this lead to?this lead to?

Sport/PastimeSport/Pastime Bazkashi, Bazkashi, the the

national sport of national sport of Afghanistan, is a Afghanistan, is a team game played team game played on horsebackon horseback

Kite-fightingKite-fighting is is also a popular also a popular pastime among pastime among Afghan youth Afghan youth where participants where participants try to cut through try to cut through the strings of their the strings of their opponents' kitesopponents' kites

Afghan HistoryAfghan History

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

Afghan HistoryAfghan HistoryThis location, however, has meant This location, however, has meant

significant intervention from outsiderssignificant intervention from outsiders

Great Britain & Russia fought over Great Britain & Russia fought over Afghanistan as far back as the 18Afghanistan as far back as the 18thth & 19 & 19thth centuriescenturies

Soviet Union invaded in 1979 and Soviet Union invaded in 1979 and installed a Communist governmentinstalled a Communist government

From 1979-1989, Afghanistan became a From 1979-1989, Afghanistan became a battleground of the Cold War between battleground of the Cold War between the US-USSR (with the U.S. supporting the US-USSR (with the U.S. supporting Afghans who resisted the Soviets)Afghans who resisted the Soviets)

Afghan HistoryAfghan History Soviet Union withdrew in Soviet Union withdrew in

1989, but civil war erupted 1989, but civil war erupted among factions of guerilla among factions of guerilla fighters known as fighters known as 'mujahedin' 'mujahedin'

Civil war continued until Civil war continued until 1996, when hard-line group 1996, when hard-line group known as the Taliban seized known as the Taliban seized powerpower

Taliban imposed a strict Taliban imposed a strict interpretation of Islaminterpretation of Islam

TalibanTaliban➢ Limited women's ability Limited women's ability

to work in public placesto work in public places➢ Banned girls from Banned girls from

attending schoolattending school➢ Required women to Required women to

wear burqas in public wear burqas in public (photos)(photos)

➢ Required men to wear Required men to wear beardsbeards

➢ Banned music, sportsBanned music, sports➢ Allowed al-Qaeda & Allowed al-Qaeda &

Osama bin Laden to Osama bin Laden to operate within the operate within the country country

Refugee CrisisRefugee Crisis During the 23 years of During the 23 years of

conflict, roughly 4 conflict, roughly 4 million Afghans million Afghans became refugeesbecame refugees

Most refugees fled to Most refugees fled to two main countries:two main countries:➢ IranIran➢ PakistanPakistan

There are also an There are also an estimated 200,000 estimated 200,000 Afghans living Afghans living overseasoverseas

Afghanistan TodayAfghanistan Today

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

PovertyPovertyEducationEducationHealthHealthGender equityGender equityGovernance Governance

PovertyPoverty

At least 2/3 of At least 2/3 of Afghans live on less Afghans live on less than $2 a daythan $2 a day

Only 23% of Afghans Only 23% of Afghans have access to safe have access to safe waterwater

Only 12% of Afghans Only 12% of Afghans have access to have access to sanitationsanitation

Only 6% of Afghans Only 6% of Afghans have access to have access to electricityelectricity

EducationEducation 67% of boys go to 67% of boys go to

school, while only school, while only 37% of girls do 37% of girls do (US Dept (US Dept of State)of State)

Constraints to school Constraints to school attendance:attendance: Lack of teachersLack of teachers Distance between Distance between

home and schoolhome and school Cultural Cultural

constraints for girlsconstraints for girls Not enough school Not enough school

buildings (esp. for buildings (esp. for girls)girls)

HealthHealth

Average life Average life expectancy for Afghans expectancy for Afghans is 42, more than 25 is 42, more than 25 years younger than the years younger than the average American average American (World (World Health Organization)Health Organization)

One in four children One in four children dies before the age of 5 dies before the age of 5 (USAID)(USAID)

Many Afghans lack Many Afghans lack access to basic medical access to basic medical carecare

Gender EquityGender Equity

Women have been a marginalized group in Women have been a marginalized group in AfghanistanAfghanistan

Cultural restrictions lead to difficulty accessing Cultural restrictions lead to difficulty accessing education and health serviceseducation and health services

Only 10% of Afghan women can read and writeOnly 10% of Afghan women can read and write Yet, Afghan women are important contributors to Yet, Afghan women are important contributors to

household income, especially in rural areashousehold income, especially in rural areas

GovernmentGovernment

In October 2004, In October 2004, Hamid Hamid KarzaiKarzai was elected was elected President of Afghanistan. President of Afghanistan.

Parliamentray elections Parliamentray elections were held in 2005.were held in 2005.

Local warlords, however, Local warlords, however, still hold power in many still hold power in many parts of the country. This parts of the country. This contributes to the contributes to the insecurity in Afghanistan.insecurity in Afghanistan.

Despite these Despite these challenges, Afghans challenges, Afghans

remain hopeful remain hopeful about the futureabout the future

THE ENDTHE END

What have you What have you learned about learned about Afghanistan?Afghanistan?