Afghanistan’s history, internal political development, foreign relations, and very existence as an independent state have largely been determined by its geographic location at the crossroads of Central, West, and South Asia. Over the centuries, waves of migrating peoples passed through the region described by historian Arnold Toynbee as a “roundabout of the ancient world”–leaving behind a … Read more
The Durand Line was demarcated by the British and signed into a treaty in 1893 with the Afghan ruler Amir Abdur Rehman Khan. The treaty was to stay in force for a 100-year period. According to Afrasiab Khattak, a political analyst, the areas from the Khayber Agency Northwards to Chitral, however, remained un-demarcated. This disputed … Read more
Although the Afghan population is composed of many distinct ethnic groups, certain elements of their way of life are much the same. Characteristically, the family is the mainstay of Afghan society. Extremely close bonds exist within the family, which consists of the members of several generations. The family is headed by the oldest man, or … Read more
It is estimated that forty million years ago the tectonic plates of India-Europe, Asia and Africa collided in a massive upheaval. This upheaval created the region of towering mountains that now includes Afghanistan. This diverse geological foundation has resulted in a significant mineral heritage with over 1,400 mineral occurrences recorded to date. Afghanistan’s resources could … Read more
Plant life in Afghanistan is sparse but diverse. Common trees in the mountains are evergreens, oaks, poplars, wild hazelnuts, almonds, and pistachios. The plains of the north are largely dry, treeless steppes and those of the southwestern corner are nearly uninhabitable deserts. Common plants in the arid regions include camel thorn, locoweed, spiny restharrow, mimosa, … Read more
The strongest tie among these various groups is their Islamic religion. The overwhelming majority of Afghans (about 99 percent) are Muslims. About 84 percent of Afghan Muslims are Sunnites and about 15 percent are Shiites (mostly the Hazaras and Tajiks). Small groups of Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, and Jews are scattered in the towns. Since the … Read more
Afghanistan is a landlocked country in southwestern Asia, bounded on the north by Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan; on the east by China and the part of the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir controlled by Pakistan; on the south by Pakistan; and on the west by Iran. Afghanistan was a monarchy from 1747 to 1973 … Read more
Several top leaders of the Taliban group were killed during the ongoing clearance operations in Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province, the commander of the 209th Shaheen Corps of the Afghan National Army Gen. Amanullah Mubin said. Speaking during a press conference, Gen. Mubin said the operations for the elimination of the militants from Imam Sahib … Read more
July 14, 1999. It is with deep sorrow and regret that we report the loss of Abdul Ahad Karzai who dedicated his life to his beloved country and whose life was cut short by an assassin’s bullet on Wednesday, July 14, 1999 in Pakistan. His body will be transported to Kandahar, Afghanistan, where he will be buried … Read more
It is with deep sorrow and regret that we report the loss of Abdul Ahad Karzai who dedicated his life to his beloved country and whose life was cut short by an assassin’s bullet on Wednesday, July 14, 1999 in Pakistan. His body will be transported to Kandahar, Afghanistan, where he will be buried at his family’s … Read more