Afghanistan
Afghanistan is a landlocked country located between Central Asia and South Asia. The country is known worldwide for its unique geographical position, rich history, and natural resources. Afghanistan has a total area of 652,864 square kilometers, making it slightly smaller than Pakistan. The country has a population of approximately 40 million and is home to diverse ethnic groups.
Afghanistan is called the “Heart of Asia” because it serves as an important bridge connecting different regions. Historically, the region has been a meeting place for different civilizations and important trade routes such as the Silk Road passed through here.
Climate and geography
The mountain
About 75 percent of Afghanistan is made up of mountains, which are a fundamental part of the country’s geographical identity. These mountain ranges not only beautify the country’s landscape but also have a profound impact on its climate, agriculture, and economy.
The Hindu Kush mountain range is the most important mountain range in Afghanistan. It extends from the center of the country to the northeast and is about 800 kilometers long. The highest peak in the range is Noshak, which is 7,492 meters high. The range is connected to the mountains of Tibet and is the source of several important rivers. Snow falls here in winter, which melts in summer and provides water for the rivers.
The Pamir Mountains are located in the northeastern corner and are known as the “Roof of the World.” This region is close to the borders of China, Tajikistan, and Pakistan. The altitude here is over 4,000 meters and the weather conditions are extremely harsh.
Koh Baba is located in central Afghanistan and is part of the Hindu Kush. It is the source of the Helmand River, the country’s main river. It has many mineral resources and is home to the Hazara people.
The White Mountain is located in the eastern part, near the border with Pakistan. The Kabul River flows from here and this area is the center of the Pashtun population.
The rivers
Afghanistan’s river system depends primarily on snowmelt and rainfall from the mountains. These rivers are crucial to the country’s agriculture, water supply, and electricity generation.
The Amu Darya is the largest river in Afghanistan, flowing along the northern border and separating it from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. This river has been historically very important because in ancient times it was known as “Jihun”. Along the banks of this river are fertile lands where cotton, rice, and wheat are cultivated.
The Kabul River flows through the capital Kabul and then enters Pakistan. The river supplies water to Kabul city and several important cities are located on its banks. However, in recent years, the river has been plagued by pollution and water scarcity.
The Helmand River flows in the southwest and is the longest river in Afghanistan. It originates in the Baba Mountains and flows to the Iranian border. The banks of this river are heavily cultivated with opium and have been a stronghold of the Taliban.
The Hari Rud flows through the western regions and passes through the city of Herat. The river plays an important role in Afghanistan’s trade and connections with Iran.
Climate
Afghanistan’s climate is arid to semi-arid, due to its geographical position and mountainous terrain. There are four distinct seasons, each with its own characteristics.
Spring season ( March to May) is the most pleasant season in Afghanistan. At this time, the temperature ranges between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius. This is the best time for farming and farmers sow their crops. During this season, there is also rain, which is beneficial for agriculture.
Summer season ( June to August) is extremely harsh. In the plains, temperatures reach 40 to 50 degrees Celsius. In desert areas, it can be even higher. During this season, there is a severe shortage of water and many areas become drought-prone.
Autumn season ( September to November) becomes mild again. This is the season for harvesting and farmers see the fruits of their labor. Temperatures range between 10 and 25 degrees Celsius.
Cold season ( December to February) is very harsh. In mountainous areas, temperatures drop to minus 30 degrees Celsius. Due to heavy snowfall, many areas are cut off for months. The cold is also extremely severe in Kabul.
Culture and History
The cultural wealth of ancient times
The history of Afghanistan dates back to the earliest periods of human civilization. The region has been home to diverse peoples, civilizations, and religions for thousands of years.
Pre-Islamic periods
Achaemenid Empire During the 5th century (550-330 BC), Afghanistan was part of the great Persian Empire. Great kings like Cyrus the Great and Darius organized the region. Zoroastrianism was dominant during this period and fire temples were built. This period was a time of development of science and art and many cities were built.
The era of Alexander the Great (330 BC) was a turning point when the Greek conquerors occupied the region. Alexander faced fierce resistance here and had to fight several wars. This was followed by the beginning of Greek culture, called Hellenistic culture. During this period, Greek influences were prominent in art, sculpture, and philosophy.
Kushan Empire The period (30-375 CE) is a very important one in the history of Afghanistan. This empire stretched from northern India to Central Asia. During this period, Buddhism flourished and many Buddhist monasteries and stupas were built. The famous Bamiyan idols date back to this period, which were unfortunately destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. The Kushan kings promoted trade and secured the Silk Road.
Persian influences were revived during the Sasanian period . This period was a period of revival of Zoroastrianism and the development of the Persian language and culture.
The beginning of the Islamic era
The arrival of the Arab conquerors in the 7th century AD ushered in a new era in the region. This change occurred gradually, and local tribes gradually embraced Islam.
642 CE, the Arab conquerors captured Herat. The city was then an important trading center and a stronghold of Persian civilization. The Arabs faced fierce resistance here but were ultimately successful.
664 AD, Kabul was conquered, which was then a Buddhist city. There were many Buddhist monasteries and temples here, which were gradually converted into mosques. The local tribes were slow to convert to Islam because they had their own religious and cultural traditions.
Great empires of the Middle Ages
The great era of the Ghaznavid Empire (963-1187)
This period is the most glorious chapter in the history of Afghanistan. Mahmud of Ghazni made this region an important center of the Islamic world. The city of Ghazni was called the “Baghdad of the East” during this period because it was a center of knowledge, art, and culture.
Mahmud Ghazni invaded India 17 times, which brought him immense wealth. He invested this wealth in the construction and beautification of Ghazni. Famous gardens, palaces, and mosques were built here. Great poets like Ferdowsi graced this court and produced great works like “Shahnama”.
Due to its patronage of science and art, scholars, poets, and artists from all over the world came to Ghazni. There was a great library here containing millions of books. Important works were done here in the fields of medicine, astronomy, mathematics, and poetry.
The role of the Ghori Empire (879-1215)
After the Ghaznavid Empire, the Ghori dynasty took power. Shahabuddin Ghori laid a strong foundation for Islamic rule in India. He defeated Prithviraj Chauhan in the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192 and captured Delhi.
The Ghori Empire laid the foundation of the Delhi Sultanate, which later proved to be a pivotal period of Islamic rule in the subcontinent. Slave dynasty kings like Qutb-ud-din Aibak and Iltutmish were followers of this empire.
Effects of the Mughal era
the 16th to the 18th centuries. Babur captured Kabul in 1504 and made it his capital. From here he prepared for the conquest of India.
Kabul became an important province of the Mughal Empire. Here you can see examples of Mughal architecture. The Garden of Babur still exists in Kabul, where his tomb is located. The Persian language and culture flourished here during the Mughal period.
The beginning of modern history
Ahmad Shah Abdali
1747 , Ahmad Shah Abdali founded modern Afghanistan after Nader Shah’s empire was divided into pieces after his death. The Pashtun chieftains in Kandahar elected Ahmad Shah as king.
Ahmad Shah united the Pashtun tribes, who were previously divided into different groups. He established the Durrani Empire, which stretched from Kashmir to Delhi. In 1761, he defeated the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat and played an important role in Indian politics.
Periods of British intervention
In the 19th century, the “Great Game” between Britain and Russia began in Afghanistan. Britain feared that Russia would try to reach India, so it tried to bring Afghanistan under its control.
First Anglo-Afghan War (1839-1842) was a disaster for Britain. The British army captured Kabul but could not withstand the resistance of the Afghan tribes. In 1842, the entire British army was massacred while returning from Kabul. Only one doctor survived and managed to reach Jalalabad.
Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-1880) Britain achieved limited success. The war resulted in the establishment of the Durand Line in 1893, which still serves as the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan today. This line divides the Pashtun tribes into two parts and remains a source of conflict to this day.
Third Anglo-Afghan War In (1919), Amanullah Khan won Afghanistan’s full independence from Britain. The war lasted only a month and resulted in Afghanistan gaining full independence.
Important periods of the twentieth century
Amanullah Khan (1919-1929) attempted modernization. He promoted women’s education, created a modern constitution, and introduced European-style reforms. However, he was forced to leave the country due to opposition from conservative tribes.
Zahir Shah The period of constitutional monarchy (1933-1973) was the most peaceful in Afghanistan’s history. During this period, democratic institutions were established in the country, education was promoted, and women were given equal rights.
Dawood Khan (1973-1978) led a coup that overthrew the monarchy and ushered in a democratic system. However, his reign was marred by political instability.
The era of Soviet union and jihad
Soviet union (1979-1989 )
1978 , the Communist Party seized power and assassinated Daoud Khan. The governments of Noor Muhammad Tarah and later Hafizullah Amin were established. When these governments could not cope with the popular resistance, the Soviet Union sent its troops in 1979.
This decision proved disastrous for the Soviet Union. Afghan tribes began an organized resistance called the Mujahideen. Pakistan, the United States, and Saudi Arabia supported the Mujahideen. This war became a major part of the Cold War.
During this war, millions of Afghans fled their homes and became refugees in Pakistan and Iran. An entire generation grew up in an environment of war. The country’s infrastructure was destroyed and the education system was destroyed.
1989 , the Soviet army withdrew, but the communist government remained in power until 1992. This was followed by a civil war between various mujahideen groups that lasted for several years.
Important events of the contemporary era
The first Taliban era (1996-2001 )
During the civil war, the Taliban movement emerged, originating in Kandahar. Taliban means “students” and was started by students of religious schools. Their goal was to establish peace in the country and implement Sharia law.
1996 , the Taliban took over Kabul and declared the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.” They imposed very strict laws, including banning women from education and employment, mandating beards, and banning music.
The Taliban government was recognized only by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The rest of the world did not recognize them and imposed economic sanctions. In 2001, the Taliban destroyed the historic idols of Bamiyan, which sparked widespread protests around the world.
The era of American intervention (2001-2021 )
11 , 2001, US President George Bush demanded that the Taliban hand over Osama bin Laden to the United States. When the Taliban refused, the United States invaded Afghanistan on October 7, 2001.
Within just two months, the Taliban regime was overthrown and they were hiding in the mountains near the Pakistani border. The United States installed a new government under Hamid Karzai and deployed NATO forces to Afghanistan.
For the next twenty years, the United States and NATO tried to establish a democratic government in Afghanistan. During this time, women gained equal rights to education and employment, the media gained freedom, and civil society flourished. However, Taliban resistance continued and complete peace could not be established in the country.
The Return of the Taliban (2021 to Present )
President Donald Trump signed a peace deal with the Taliban in 2020 that set a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops. In August 2021, President Joe Biden implemented the deal and withdrew US troops.
Immediately after the US withdrawal, the Taliban quickly seized all major cities. On August 15, 2021, they captured Kabul and President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. The Taliban again declared the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.”
political system in Afghanistan
Current government structure
The Taliban government has been in power in Afghanistan since August 2021, running a system based on Islamic Sharia law. The structure of this government is completely different from a traditional democratic system.
Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada holds all authority and makes final decisions in both religious and political matters. He lives in Kandahar and generally does not participate in public activities. All government institutions are bound by his decrees.
Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund handles day-to-day administrative affairs. He is a veteran Taliban leader and has previously held important positions in the Taliban government.
Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani is responsible for security. He heads the Haqqani network, a powerful faction of the Taliban. The United States has a $10 million bounty on his head.
The current government has no elected parliament and no constitution. All decisions are made according to Sharia and the Taliban’s interpretation.
Administrative divisions
Afghanistan is divided into 34 provinces, and each province has a governor who is appointed by the central government.
Kabul is the capital and most important city of the country. It is home to about five million people. It is the political, economic, and educational center. It is home to Kabul University, a major hospital, and an international airport.
Herat is the most important city in western Afghanistan and a center of trade with Iran. It has historically been a center of art and culture. It is home to many historic mosques and buildings.
Kandahar is the main city in the south and is considered the spiritual home of the Taliban. It is the birthplace of Ahmad Shah Abdali and a center of Pashtun culture.
Balkh ( Mazar-e-Sharif) is the main city in the north and is home to the shrine of Hazrat Ali, which is very sacred to Shia Muslims. It is a center of Tajik and Uzbek populations.
Nangarhar is located on the eastern border and is an important trade hub with Pakistan. It is the route to the Khyber Pass.
Economic situation of Afghanistan
The current economic crisis
Afghanistan’s economy is in deep crisis after the arrival of the Taliban. There are several interconnected reasons for this crisis.
International sanctions are the biggest problem. The US and the European Union did not recognize the Taliban government and imposed economic sanctions. Afghanistan’s assets worth $9.5 billion, which were held in the country’s central bank, were frozen.
The shutdown of the banking system has paralyzed trade. People cannot withdraw their money and business has come to a standstill. International remittances are blocked, which has stopped the income of Afghans working abroad.
The halt in foreign aid has been extremely damaging, as Afghanistan’s budget is 75 percent dependent on foreign aid. There is no money for hospitals, schools, and other basic facilities.
High unemployment rate More than 90 percent. The situation has been made even worse by the fact that women in particular are prohibited from working.
Major economic sectors
Agriculture – the backbone of the economy
Agriculture accounts for 25 percent of Afghanistan’s GDP and employs 80 percent of the population. The sector is crucial for meeting the country’s food needs and exports.
Wheat is the most important crop grown in every part of the country. In a good year, Afghanistan produces 80 percent of its wheat needs. However, production is affected by weather changes and the effects of war.
Rice is grown in the northern regions, especially Herat and Balkh. Afghan rice is of good quality and is exported to Iran and Pakistan.
Corn is grown mainly in the eastern regions. It is used for human food and livestock feed.
Afghanistan is a world leader in the production of nuts . Almonds, pistachios, and walnuts are produced in large quantities and are important export commodities. These nuts are known worldwide for their excellent quality.
Afghanistan ranks second in the world in saffron production. Saffron from Herat and Kandahar is of better quality than Kashmiri saffron and sells for high prices.
Animal husbandry department
Sheep and goats are part of Afghan culture. They provide meat, milk, and wool. Afghan wool is of very good quality and is used to make carpets.
Cows and buffaloes are raised for milk and meat. They are also useful in agriculture because, due to the lack of modern machinery, farmers still use oxen to plow their fields.
The leather industry produces various products from leather obtained from livestock, which are important for local consumption and export.
Untapped mining resources
Afghanistan has trillions of dollars worth of mineral resources buried in it, but they are not being exploited due to war, instability, and lack of technology.
copper deposits are located in Logar province. Chinese company MCC was contracted to mine it, but work has been slow due to security concerns.
Iron and gold deposits are also found in various areas. There are gold mines in Herat and Takhar, which are mined by locals on a small scale.
Among the precious stones , lapis lazuli is the national stone of Afghanistan and is mined in the Badakhshan province. It is a very beautiful stone of deep blue color. Emerald is found in Panjshir and there are deposits of rubies in different areas.
Rare earth elements such as lithium, cobalt, and neodymium are also present in large quantities, which are crucial for modern technology.
The traditional art of carpet weaving
Hand-woven carpets are a traditional Afghan art that has been practiced for centuries. Afghan carpets are famous worldwide for their unique designs and excellent quality.
This art is especially popular in the northern regions, where women make carpets sitting at home. Each carpet takes months of labor and is a skill passed down from generation to generation.
Trading partners
The largest partner in imports is Pakistan , which imports petroleum products, tea, sugar, and textiles. Oil and gas also come from Iran . Electronics and machinery are imported from China .
Pakistan is the largest buyer of Afghan exports , sending dried fruits, carpets, and leather goods. India also exports Afghan products. Relations with Turkey are also growing.
Demographic details
Total population overview
It is difficult to accurately estimate the total population of Afghanistan because no complete census has been conducted in recent decades. According to estimates for 2023, it is about 40 million. This population is growing rapidly, increasing by 2.3 percent each year.
70 percent of the population lives in rural areas and only 30 percent in urban areas. This proportion is more rural than in other countries. This is due to the destruction of cities due to war and the dependence of most people on agriculture.
The ethnic divide
Afghanistan is a multi-ethnic country where different nations have lived together for centuries.
Pashtun (42 percent) are the largest ethnic group. They live mainly in the south and east. The majority of the Taliban are Pashtuns and they consider themselves the true owners of the country. The Pashtuns are divided into several tribes such as Durrani, Ghilzai, Khattak, etc.
Tajik (27 percent) is the second largest group. They speak Persian and live mainly in the north and west. They are very skilled in business and trade. Ahmad Shah Massoud, who resisted the Taliban, was a Tajik.
Hazara (9 percent) are a significant minority living primarily in central Afghanistan. They are followers of the Shia religion and are of Mongolian origin. They face discrimination from the Taliban and other groups.
Uzbek (9 percent) live in the northern regions and are of Turkic origin. They speak their own Uzbek language and are primarily farmers.
Other (13 percent) includes Aimaq, Nuristani, Baloch, Pishai, and other smaller ethnic groups.
Religious division
Sunni Muslim They are in the majority (80 percent) and are primarily followers of the Hanafi school of thought. The Taliban and most Afghans belong to this school.
Shia Muslims (19 percent) are primarily from the Hazara ethnic group. They live in Bamiyan, Daikundi, and parts of Kabul. They face religious discrimination.
Other (1 percent) included Sikhs, Hindus, and Jews, but most have migrated due to the war.
Diversity of languages
Dari ( a branch of Persian) and Pashto are both official languages. Dari is more widely spoken and is a means of communication between different ethnic groups.
Regional languages include Uzbek, Turkmen, Balochi, Nuristani, and Pashaei. Each language has its own cultural identity.
Education system
Historical background
Modern education in Afghanistan began in the 1920s during the reign of King Amanullah Khan. He decided to build schools and colleges in the European style and also promoted women’s education.
the 1960s and 70s. At that time, both men and women studied at Kabul University. This period was a golden chapter in Afghanistan’s educational history, when progressive thinking prevailed in the country.
However, the wars that began in 1979 severely damaged the education system. Thousands of schools were destroyed, teachers fled the country, and an entire generation was deprived of education.
Current situation
The state of the education system under the Taliban regime is extremely worrying.
Boys’ education continues, but there are many restrictions. Science, philosophy, and modern subjects have been removed from the curriculum. Music, sports, and fine arts education are completely closed.
secondary education for girls . Girls cannot go to school after the sixth grade. This ban is unique in the world and is not seen in any other country.
Women’s university education has been completely shut down. This decision was made in December 2022 and was met with strong protests around the world.
Female teachers have also been barred from working, further affecting the education system.
Important educational institutions
Kabul University (Established in 1932 ) is the oldest and most important educational institution in Afghanistan. It used to have more than 25,000 students, 60 percent of whom were women. Now only male students can study.