Afghanistan

Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, Tajikistan to the northeast, and China to the northeast and east. The country is mostly mountainous with some plains, and its capital is Kabul.

People have lived in Afghanistan since very old times. The land has seen many armies pass through, including famous leaders like Alexander the Great. Over the years, many different cultures and religions have influenced the area.

In recent history, Afghanistan has faced many wars and changes in government. After years of conflict, a group called the Taliban took control in 2021. Today, Afghanistan is working to rebuild, but it still faces challenges such as poverty and developing its economy. The country has valuable resources like lithium and is known for producing saffron and cashmere.

Etymology

Main article: Name of Afghanistan

Some people think the name Afghān comes from an old word in Sanskrit, called Aśvakan. This word means "horsemen" or "horse breeders". Long ago, the word Afghān was used to talk about a group of people called Pashtuns.

The ending "-stan" means "place of" in the Persian language. So, "Afghanistan" means "land of the Afghans" or "land of the Pashtuns". The name was first written down in a book from the year 1000. It became the official name of the country in the year 1855, when British leaders recognized Dost Mohammad Khan as the king of Afghanistan.

History

Main article: History of Afghanistan

Prehistory and antiquity

Main article: Ancient history of Afghanistan

See also: Hindu and Buddhist heritage of Afghanistan

Excavations of old sites suggest that humans were living in what is now Afghanistan at least 50,000 years ago, and that farming communities in the area were among the earliest in the world. An important place for early historical activities, many believe that Afghanistan compares to Egypt in the historical value of its archaeological sites. Artifacts from different ages have been found in Afghanistan. Urban life is believed to have begun as early as 3000 BCE, and the early city of Mundigak (near Kandahar in the south of the country) was a center of a culture. More recent findings show that a big civilization stretched up towards modern-day Afghanistan. An important place has been found on the Oxus River at Shortugai in northern Afghanistan.

After 2000 BCE, waves of people from Central Asia began moving south into Afghanistan; among them were many Indo-European-speaking groups. These groups later moved further into South Asia, Western Asia, and toward Europe via the area north of the Caspian Sea. The region at the time was called Ariana. By the middle of the 6th century BCE, a group took control and included parts of Afghanistan within its borders. An inscription on a stone mentions the Kabul Valley in a list of the countries that had been taken over. The region of Arachosia, around Kandahar in modern-day southern Afghanistan, played a key role in sharing ideas and was considered by some to be a special place for a belief system.

Alexander the Great and his forces arrived in Afghanistan in 330 BCE after defeating another leader a year earlier. Following Alexander's short time there, a group controlled the region until 305 BCE, when they gave much of it to another group as part of a treaty. They controlled the area south of the Hindu Kush until they were overthrown in about 185 BCE. Their decline began 60 years after a ruler's time ended, leading to reconquest by another group. Much of it soon became part of a kingdom. They were defeated and removed by another group in the late 2nd century BCE. The Silk Road appeared during the first century BCE, and Afghanistan thrived with trade, with routes to China, India, Persia, and north to cities in present-day Uzbekistan. Goods and ideas were shared at this center point, such as Chinese silk, Persian silver and Roman gold, while the region of present Afghanistan was trading stones mainly from the region.

During the first century BCE, a group took control of the region but lost it to their helpers. In the mid-to-late first century CE the large kingdom, centered in Afghanistan, became great supporters of a belief system, making it flourish throughout the region. They were overthrown by another group in the 3rd century CE, though a group continued to rule at least parts of the region. They were followed by a group who, in turn, was replaced by another group. They were replaced by a group in the 7th century. The belief system of a group was replaced by a different belief system before another group took over the area in 870; this belief system was called . Much of the northeastern and southern areas of the country remained filled with a belief system.

Medieval period

Main articles: Muslim conquests of Afghanistan, Mongol campaigns in Central Asia, and Ghaznavid campaigns in India

A group brought a belief to Herat and Zaranj in 642 CE and began spreading eastward; some of the native people they met accepted it while others fought back. Before the coming of this belief, the region was home to various beliefs and practices, often resulting in mixing between the main belief systems such as, belief systems, and . An example of this mixing in the region would be that people were supporters of a belief but still honored local gods such as, or and showed images of leaders as protectors of a leader. The and Kabul Shahi were first taken over in 870 CE by the Muslims of Zaranj. Later, the extended their influence south of the Hindu Kush. The rose to power in the 10th century.

By the 11th century, had defeated the remaining rulers and effectively filled the wider region with a belief, with the exception of . He made Ghazni into an important city and supported learners such as the historian and the poet . The dynasty was overthrown by the Ghurids in 1186, whose achievements included a faraway tower. The Ghurids controlled Afghanistan for less than a century before being taken over by the in 1215.

In 1219 CE, and his Mongol army took over the region. His troops are said to have destroyed the cities of Herat and as well as . The destruction caused by the Mongols forced many locals to return to a rural society. Mongol rule continued with the in the northwest while the administered the Afghan tribal areas south of the Hindu Kush until the invasion of Timur (aka Tamerlane), who established the in 1370. Under the rule of , the city of Herat served as the focal point of a time of culture, whose glory matched of the Italian Renaissance as the center of a rebirth.

In the early 16th century arrived from and captured Kabul from the . He would go on to take over the who had ruled the Delhi Sultanate in the First Battle of Panipat. Between the 16th and 18th century, the Uzbek, Iranian, and Indian ruled parts of the land. During the medieval period, the northwestern area of Afghanistan was referred to by the regional name up to the 19th century among locals to describe their country.

Hotak dynasty

Main article: Hotak dynasty

In 1709, , a local tribal leader, successfully fought against them. He defeated , the Georgian governor of Kandahar under the Safavids, and established his own kingdom. Mirwais died in 1715, and was succeeded by his brother , who was soon killed by Mirwais's son Mahmud for possibly planning to sign a peace with the Safavids. Mahmud led the Afghan army in 1722 to the Persian capital of , and captured the city after the Battle of Gulnabad and proclaimed himself King of Persia. The Afghan dynasty was removed from Persia by after the 1729 Battle of Damghan.

In 1738, Nader Shah and his captured Kandahar in the siege of Kandahar, the last Hotak stronghold, from Shah . Soon after, the Persian and Afghan forces invaded India, Nader Shah had taken valuable things from Delhi, alongside his 16-year-old commander, who had helped him on these campaigns. Nader Shah was killed in 1747.

Durrani Empire

Main article: Durrani Empire

See also: Ahmad Shah Durrani

Ahmad Shah had launched two campaigns into Khorasan, 1750–1751 and 1754–1755.

Barakzai dynasty and British wars

Further information: Dost Mohammad Khan, Herat (1793–1863), Maimana Khanate, Principality of Kandahar, European influence in Afghanistan, Anglo-Afghan Wars, Durand Line, and Afghan Civil War (1928–1929)

By the early 19th century, the Afghan empire was under threat from the in the west and the in the east. , leader of the tribe, installed many of his brothers in positions of power throughout the empire. Fateh Khan was killed in 1818 by . As a result, the brothers of Fateh Khan and the Barakzai tribe rebelled, and a civil war began. During this time, Afghanistan split into many states, including the , , , , and numerous other fighting groups. The most prominent state was the , ruled by .

and the Afghan army failed to take over the from the , but killed a leader, thus ending the wars.

In 1893, Abdur Rahman signed an agreement in which the ethnic Pashtun and territories were divided by the Durand Line, which forms the modern-day border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. and remained politically independent until being taken over by Abdur Rahman Khan in 1891–1896. He was known as the "Iron Amir" for his features and his tough methods against tribes. He died in 1901, succeeded by his son, .

How can a small power like Afghanistan, which is like a goat between these lions [Britain and Russia] or a grain of wheat between two strong millstones of the grinding mill, stand in the midway of the stones without being ground to dust?

— Abdur Rahman Khan, the "Iron Amir", in 1900

During the First World War, when Afghanistan was neutral, Habibullah Khan was met by officials of the in the Niedermayer–Hentig Expedition. They called on Afghanistan to declare full independence from the United Kingdom, join them and attack British India, as part of the Hindu–German Conspiracy. The effort to bring Afghanistan into the Central Powers failed, but it caused unhappy feelings among the people about staying neutral with the British. Habibullah was killed in February 1919, and eventually took power. A strong supporter of the 1915–1916 expeditions, Amanullah Khan invaded British India, beginning the Third Anglo-Afghan War, and entering British India via the Khyber Pass.

Following the end of the Third Anglo-Afghan War and the signing of the Treaty of Rawalpindi on 19 August 1919, Emir Amanullah Khan declared the Emirate of Afghanistan a sovereign and fully independent state. He moved to end his country's traditional separation by building relationships with the international community, particularly with the and the . He proclaimed himself King of Afghanistan on 9 June 1926, forming the Kingdom of Afghanistan. He introduced several changes intended to make his nation modern. A key force behind these changes was , an strong supporter of the education of women. He fought for Article 68 of Afghanistan's 1923 constitution, which implemented required elementary education. was ended in 1923. King Amanullah's wife, , was an important leader during this time in the fight for women's education and against their unfair treatment.

Some of the changes, such as ending a traditional piece of clothing for women and the opening of schools where boys and girls learned together, caused unhappy feelings among tribal and religious leaders, leading to the Afghan Civil War (1928–1929). King Amanullah gave up his position in January 1929, and soon after Kabul fell to forces led by . , Amanullah's cousin, defeated and killed Kalakani in October 1929, and was declared King Nadir Shah. He gave up the changes of King Amanullah in favor of a slower approach to making things better, but was killed in 1933 by .

Mohammed Zahir Shah succeeded to the throne and reigned as king from 1933 to 1973. During the tribal revolts of 1944–1947, King Zahir's rule was challenged by Zadran, , , and tribesmen led by , , and , among others – many of whom were loyal to Amanullah. Afghanistan joined the League of Nations in 1934. In the 1930s, the country saw big development of roads, building, starting a national bank, and more education. Road links in the north played a big part in growing a cotton and textile industry. The country built close relationships with the Axis powers, with having the largest share in Afghan development at the time.

Until 1946, King Zahir ruled with the help of his uncle, who held the position of prime minister and continued the policies of Nadir Shah. Another uncle, became prime minister in 1946 and tried allowing more political freedom. He was replaced in 1953 by , a Pashtun nationalist who sought the creation of a , leading to very tense relationships with Pakistan. Daoud Khan asked for modern changes and sought a closer relationship with the Soviet Union. Afterward, the 1964 constitution was created, and the first non-royal prime minister was sworn in.

Zahir Shah, like his father Nadir Shah, had a policy of keeping national independence while seeking gradual modernization, creating nationalist feeling, and improving relationships with the United Kingdom. Afghanistan was neither a part of World War II nor aligned with either side in the Cold War. However, it was a receiver of the rivalry as both the Soviet Union and the United States worked to build Afghanistan's main highways, airports, and other important buildings. On a per capita basis, Afghanistan received more Soviet development help than any other country. In 1973, while the King was in Italy, Daoud Khan launched a takeover and became the first president of Afghanistan, ending the monarchy.

Democratic Republic and Soviet War

Main articles: Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, Soviet–Afghan War, and Afghan Civil War (1989–1992)

Further information: History of Afghanistan (1978–1992)

In April 1978, the communist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) took control in a takeover against then-President , in what is called the Saur Revolution. The PDPA declared the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, with its first leader named as People's Democratic Party General Secretary . This would lead to a series of events that would change Afghanistan from a peaceful (though poor and far away) country to a place of conflict and trouble. The PDPA started various changes that caused strong opposition, while also badly treating political opponents. This caused unrest and quickly grew into a countrywide fight by 1979, waged by fighters (and smaller groups) against government forces nationwide. It quickly grew into a fight as the Pakistani government provided these fighters with secret training bases, the United States supported them through Pakistan's Intelligence, and the Soviet Union sent thousands of military advisers to support the PDPA government. Meanwhile, there was increasing unhappy feelings between the fighting groups of the PDPA – the main and the more moderate .

In October 1979, PDPA General Secretary Taraki was killed in a takeover organized by then-prime minister , who became the new general secretary of the PDPA. The situation in the country got worse under Amin, and thousands of people went missing. Unhappy with Amin's government, the Soviet Army invaded the country in December 1979, heading for Kabul and killing Amin. A Soviet-organized government, led by Parcham's but including both factions (Parcham and Khalq), took control. Soviet troops in larger numbers were sent to make things better under Karmal, marking the beginning of the Soviet–Afghan War. Lasting nine years, the war caused the deaths of between 562,000 and 2 million Afghans, and moved about 6 million people who then left Afghanistan, mainly to Pakistan and Iran. Heavy air attacks destroyed many countryside villages, millions of were placed, and some cities such as Herat and Kandahar were also damaged from attacks. After the Soviet leaving, another fight began until the communist government under PDPA leader collapsed in 1992.

The Soviet–Afghan War had big effects on Afghanistan. The fighting of society led to heavily armed police, private guards, openly armed defense groups, and the like becoming normal in Afghanistan for decades after. The traditional power structure had changed from the leaders, community elders, learners, and military in favor of powerful leaders.

Post–Cold War conflict

See also: Afghan Civil War (1992–1996), Afghan Civil War (1996–2001), Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001), and Northern Alliance

Another fight began after the creating of a mixed government between leaders of various fighters. Amid a state of disorder and fighting among groups, various fighters committed wide attacks, murder, and demanding money, while Kabul was heavily attacked and partly destroyed by the fighting. Several failed attempts to make peace and agreements between different leaders happened. The Taliban emerged in September 1994 as a movement and group of students from Islamic schools in Pakistan, who soon had military support from Pakistan.

Taking control of Kandahar city that year, they took over more lands until finally driving out the government of from Kabul in 1996, where they set up an emirate. The Taliban were criticized worldwide for the harsh way they enforced their understanding of Islamic law, which led to unfair treatment of many Afghans, especially women. During their time in power, the Taliban and their allies killed Afghan people, stopped food from the UN to people who were hungry, and did a policy of burning land and destroying many homes.

After the Taliban took Kabul, and formed the Northern Alliance, later joined by others, to fight the Taliban. Dostum's forces were defeated by the Taliban during the Battles of Mazar-i-Sharif in 1997 and 1998; Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, began sending thousands of Pakistani fighters to help the Taliban fight the Northern Alliance. By 2000, the Northern Alliance only controlled 10% of the land, trapped in the northeast. On 9 September 2001, Massoud was killed by two Arab attackers in Panjshir Valley. Around 400,000 Afghans died in fights between 1990 and 2001.

US invasion and the Islamic Republic

Further information: War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Taliban insurgency, and Fall of Kabul (2021)

In October 2001, the United States invaded Afghanistan to remove the Taliban from power after they refused to give up a man who was a "guest" of the Taliban and was operating a network in Afghanistan. The majority of Afghans supported the American invasion. During the first invasion, US and UK forces attacked training camps, and later, working with the Northern Alliance, the Taliban government ended.

In December 2001, after the Taliban government was removed, the Afghan Interim Administration under was formed. The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was set up by the United Nations Security Council to help the Karzai administration and give basic security. By this time, after two decades of war and a serious lack of food at the time, Afghanistan had one of the highest rates of deaths of babies and children in the world, the lowest life expectancy, many people suffered from hunger and not having enough food, and buildings were destroyed. Many foreign helpers began giving support and help to rebuild the country that had been damaged by war. As soldiers entered Afghanistan to help the rebuilding, the Taliban began a fight to take back control. Afghanistan stayed one of the poorest countries in the world because of a lack of help from other countries, unfair use of power, and the Taliban fighting.

The Afghan government was able to set up some democratic buildings, taking a constitution in 2004 with the name Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Attempts were made, often with the help of other countries, to improve the country's economy, healthcare, education, transport, and farming. ISAF forces also began training the Afghan National Security Forces. Following 2002, nearly five million Afghans came back to their country. The number of NATO soldiers present in Afghanistan was highest at 140,000 in 2011, going down to about 16,000 in 2018. In September 2014, became president after the 2014 Afghan presidential election, in which, for the first time in Afghanistan's history, power was moved in a democratic way. On 28 December 2014, NATO officially ended ISAF fighting actions and gave full safety responsibility to the Afghan government. The NATO-led Operation Resolute Support was created the same day as a follow to ISAF. Thousands of NATO soldiers stayed in the country to train and guide Afghan government forces and continue their fight against the Taliban. A report called Body Count said that 106,000–170,000 people had been killed because of the fighting in Afghanistan by all sides of the conflict.

On 19 February 2020, the United States–Taliban deal was made in Qatar. The deal was one of the important things that caused the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF); following the signing of the deal, the US greatly reduced the number of air attacks and took away a key help from the ANSF in fighting the Taliban fighting, leading to the Taliban taking over Kabul.

Second Taliban era

Further information: Aftermath of the Afghanistan War (2001–2021)

NATO Secretary General announced on 14 April 2021 that the alliance had agreed to begin leaving its soldiers from Afghanistan by 1 May. Soon after NATO soldiers began leaving, the Taliban started an attack against the Afghan government and quickly moved forward against falling Afghan government forces. The Taliban took the capital city of Kabul on 15 August 2021, after taking control over most of Afghanistan. Several foreign leaders and Afghan government leaders, including President , were taken out of the country, with many Afghan people trying to leave with them. On 17 August, first vice president proclaimed himself leader and announced the making of a fight group with a reported 6,000+ soldiers in the Panjshir Valley, along with . However, by 6 September, the Taliban had taken control of most of Panjshir Province, with fighting people moving to the mountains. Fights in the valley stopped in mid-September.

According to the Costs of War Project, 176,000 people were killed in the conflict, including 46,319 people, between 2001 and 2021. According to the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, at least 212,191 people were killed in the conflict. Though the state of fighting in the country ended in 2021, armed fighting continues in some places amid fighting between the Taliban and the local part of a group, as well as a fight against the Taliban.

The Taliban government is led by supreme leader and acting prime minister , who took office on 7 September 2021. Akhund is one of the four founders of the Taliban and was a deputy prime minister of the earlier government; his choosing was seen as a balance between those who want change and those who do not. A new, only-men group was formed, which included as minister of justice. On 20 September 2021, United Nations Secretary-General received a letter from acting minister of foreign affairs to officially claim Afghanistan's place as a member state for their leader in Doha, . The United Nations did not recognize the earlier Taliban government and chose to work with the government at the time instead.

Western countries stopped most of their help to Afghanistan after the Taliban's August 2021 taking over the country; the World Bank and International Monetary Fund also stopped their payments. More than half of Afghanistan's 39 million people faced a serious lack of food in October 2021. Human Rights Watch said on 11 November 2021 that Afghanistan was dealing with wide famine due to an economic and banking problem.

The Taliban first greatly fought against unfair use of power, moving up in the corruption rankings from 174th to 150th out of 180 countries from 2021 to 2022, but moving back to 162nd in 2023. The Taliban have also said to have made bribery and demanding money in public areas less common.

At the same time, the situation for people in the country has gotten worse. Following the 2001 taking over, more than 5.7 million people came back to Afghanistan; however, in 2021, 2.6 million Afghans were still people who had to leave, mainly in Iran and Pakistan, and another 4 million were moved inside the country.

In October 2023, the Pakistani government told Afghans to leave Pakistan. Iran also said it would send Afghan people back to Afghanistan. Taliban leaders said the sending back of Afghans was an "unfair act". Afghanistan dealt with a big problem in late 2023.

On 10 November 2024, Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry said Taliban leaders would go to the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, marking the first time the country took part since the Taliban's return to power in 2021. Afghanistan had been not allowed to take part in earlier meetings because of the lack of world recognition of the Taliban government. In May 2025, Iran said it would send an estimated 4 million Afghan people and those who had to leave back to Afghanistan.

The 2025–2026 lack of food in Afghanistan is one of the world's worst, with over 17 million people—one-third of the population—needing urgent help with food. Caused by long dry times, breaking down of the economy, and many people coming back, the problem has left over 4.9 million children and women needing help to not get sick from not enough food.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a country in Southern-Central Asia, often called the "Heart of Asia." It is landlocked, meaning it has no coastline. The country is slightly bigger than France and smaller than Myanmar, covering over 652,864 km² (252,072 sq mi).

Afghanistan shares borders with several countries. To the east and south, it borders Pakistan. To the west lies Iran, and to the northwest is Turkmenistan. Uzbekistan is to the north, Tajikistan to the northeast, and China to the far northeast. India also claims a small border area through Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

The land in Afghanistan is mostly mountainous, with the Hindu Kush range running through the middle. This range is part of the larger Himalayas and stretches into nearby regions. The eastern parts of the country have high, fertile valleys, while the western areas feature plains and dry grasslands. The highest point in Afghanistan is Noshaq, standing at 7,492 m (24,580 ft) above sea level.

The country has many rivers and reservoirs, but large areas are dry. Important rivers include the Amu Darya, Helmand, and Kabul. Snow in the mountains provides water in the spring, but much of it flows into neighboring countries. Afghanistan faces challenges with water management and needs investment to improve its irrigation systems.

Afghanistan experiences harsh winters and very hot summers. The central highlands and northeast can get extremely cold, while the southwest and some plains can be very hot. The country is generally dry, with most rain falling between December and April. Climate change is causing more severe droughts and increasing risks of floods and landslides.

Afghanistan is home to many types of animals. In the high mountains, you can find snow leopards and brown bears. The northeastern region has special animals like the Marco Polo sheep. Foxes, wolves, and other wildlife live in the eastern mountain forests, while the northern plains have birds, hedgehogs, and jackals. The southern and western areas have gazelles, wild pigs, and cheetahs. Afghanistan also has unique species like the Afghan flying squirrel and the Afghan hound dog.

The country's plants vary with the landscape. Forest areas have pine, spruce, and fir trees, while grasslands have broadleaf trees and shrubs. High, cold regions have tough grasses and small flowers. Afghanistan has several protected areas, including three national parks.

Government and politics

Main articles: Government of Afghanistan and Politics of Afghanistan

After the collapse of the old government in 2021, the Taliban took control and announced a new government in September of that year. As of July 2025, only Russia has recognized this new government. Afghanistan has a central government system.

A traditional way of making decisions in Afghanistan is the loya jirga, a big meeting where important choices are made, like picking a leader or making new rules. These meetings have happened since 1747, with the most recent one in 2022.

Administrative divisions

Main articles: Provinces of Afghanistan and Districts of Afghanistan

Afghanistan is divided into 34 areas called provinces. Each province has a leader and a main city. These provinces are further split into smaller parts called districts, each with its own leader too. The leaders of provinces and districts are chosen by the government in Kabul.

The 34 provinces in alphabetical order are:

1. Badakhshan
2. Badghis
3. Baghlan
4. Balkh
5. Bamyan
6. Daykundi
7. Farah
8. Faryab
9. Ghazni
10. Ghor
11. Helmand
12. Herat
13. Jowzjan
14. Kabul
15. Kandahar
16. Kapisa
17. Khost
18. Kunar
19. Kunduz
20. Laghman
21. Logar
22. Nangarhar
23. Nimruz
24. Nuristan
25. Oruzgan
26. Paktia
27. Paktika
28. Panjshir
29. Parwan
30. Samangan
31. Sar-e Pol
32. Takhar
33. Wardak
34. Zabul

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Afghanistan

See also: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Afghanistan)

Afghanistan joined the United Nations in 1946. It has had strong ties with countries like Germany, the Soviet Union, and India. Relations with Pakistan have sometimes been difficult. Today, the current government has unofficial ties with China, Pakistan, and Qatar. Previously, it had good relations with many nations, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Turkey.

Military

Main article: Afghan Armed Forces

After taking control in 2021, the new government got a lot of weapons and equipment from the old Afghan forces, worth about US$83 billion.

Human rights

Main article: Human rights in Afghanistan

Further information: Women in Afghanistan, LGBT rights in Afghanistan, Treatment of women by the Taliban, and Afghan refugees

Since 2022, women in Afghanistan have been required by law to cover themselves fully in public. Some people believe there are disagreements inside the government about these rules. In January 2025, international courts issued orders for the leaders of Afghanistan for their actions against women and their rights.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Afghanistan

Afghanistan's economy faces many challenges. In 2020, its total economic value was about $20.1 billion, and each person earned around $611. The country has lots of valuable minerals but remains among the least developed in the world. This is partly because of its difficult mountains and landlocked location, as well as ongoing conflicts.

The country imports more goods than it exports, mainly fruits and nuts. It also has debt and relies on the service sector, agriculture, and industry for its economy. The national bank is Da Afghanistan Bank, and the currency is the Afghani.

Agriculture

Agricultural production is the backbone of Afghanistan's economy and has traditionally dominated the economy, employing about 40% of the workforce as of 2018. The country is known for producing pomegranates, grapes, apricots, melons, and several other fresh and dry fruits. Afghanistan also became the world's top producer of cannabis in 2010. In March 2023, however, cannabis production was banned by a decree from Hibatullah Akhundzada.

Saffron, the most expensive spice, grows in Afghanistan, particularly Herat Province. In recent years, there has been an uptick in saffron production, which authorities and farmers are using to try to replace poppy cultivation. Between 2012 and 2019, the saffron cultivated and produced in Afghanistan was consecutively ranked the world's best by the International Taste and Quality Institute. Production hit record high in 2019 (19,469 kg of saffron), and one kilogram is sold domestically between $634 and $1147.

The availability of cheap diesel-powered water pumps imported from China and Pakistan, and in the 2010s, of cheap solar power to pump water, resulted in expansion of agriculture and population in the southwestern deserts of Afghanistan in Kandahar, Helmand and Nimruz provinces in the 2010s. Wells have gradually been deepened, but water resources are limited. Opium is the major crop, but as of 2022, was under attack by the new Taliban government which, to suppress opium production, was systematically suppressing water pumping. In a 2023 report, poppy cultivation in southern Afghanistan was reduced by over 80% as a result of Taliban campaigns to stop its use toward opium. This included a 99% reduction of opium growth in the Helmand Province. In November 2023, a U.N report showed that in the entirety of Afghanistan, poppy cultivation dropped by over 95%, removing it from its place as being the world's largest opium producer.

Mining

Main article: Mining in Afghanistan

The country's natural resources include: coal, copper, iron ore, lithium, uranium, rare earth elements, chromite, gold, zinc, talc, barite, sulfur, lead, marble, precious and semi-precious stones, natural gas, and petroleum. In 2010, US and Afghan government officials estimated that untapped mineral deposits located in 2007 by the US Geological Survey are worth at least $1 trillion.

The country has significant amounts of lithium, copper, gold, coal, iron ore, and other minerals. The Khanashin carbonatite in Helmand Province contains 1,000,000 tonnes of rare earth elements. In 2007, a 30-year lease was granted for the Aynak copper mine to the China Metallurgical Group for $3 billion, making it the biggest foreign investment and private business venture in Afghanistan's history. The state-run Steel Authority of India won the mining rights to develop the huge Hajigak iron ore deposit in central Afghanistan. Government officials estimate that 30% of the country's untapped mineral deposits are worth at least $1 trillion. One official asserted that "this will become the backbone of the Afghan economy" and a Pentagon memo stated that Afghanistan could become the "Saudi Arabia of lithium". The lithium reserves of 21 Mio. tons could amount to the ones of Bolivia, which is currently viewed as the country with the largest lithium reserves. Other larger deposits are the ones of bauxite and cobalt.

Access to biocapacity in Afghanistan is lower than world average. In 2016, Afghanistan had 0.43 global hectares of biocapacity per person within its territory, much less than the world average of 1.6 global hectares per person. In 2016 Afghanistan used 0.73 global hectares of biocapacity per person—their ecological footprint of consumption. This means they use just under double as much biocapacity as Afghanistan contains. As a result, Afghanistan is running a biocapacity deficit.

In September 2023, the Taliban signed mining contracts worth $6.5 billion, with extractions based on gold, iron, lead, and zinc in the provinces of Herat, Ghor, Logar, and Takhar.

Energy

Main article: Energy in Afghanistan

See also: Renewable energy in Afghanistan

According to the World Bank, 98% of the rural population have access to electricity in 2018, up from 28% in 2008. Overall the figure stands at 98.7%. As of 2016, Afghanistan produces 1,400 megawatts of power, but still imports the majority of electricity via transmission lines from Iran and the Central Asian states. The majority of electricity production is via hydropower, helped by the amount of rivers and streams that flow from the mountains. However electricity is not always reliable and blackouts happen, including in Kabul. In recent years an increasing number of solar, biomass and wind power plants have been constructed. Currently under development are the CASA-1000 project which will transmit electricity from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline. Power is managed by the Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS, Afghanistan Electricity Company).

Important dams include the Kajaki Dam, Dahla Dam, and the Sardeh Band Dam.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Afghanistan

Tourism is a small industry in Afghanistan due to security issues. Nevertheless, some 20,000 foreign tourists visit the country annually as of 2016. In particular an important region for domestic and international tourism is the picturesque Bamyan Valley, which includes lakes, canyons and historical sites, helped by the fact it is in a safe area away from insurgent activity. Smaller numbers visit and trek in regions such as the Wakhan Valley, which is also one of the world's most remote communities. From the late 1960s onwards, Afghanistan was a popular stop on the famous hippie trail, attracting many Europeans and Americans. Coming from Iran, the trail traveled through various Afghan provinces and cities including Herat, Kandahar and Kabul before crossing to northern Pakistan, northern India, and Nepal. Tourism peaked in 1977, the year before the start of political instability and armed conflict.

The city of Ghazni has significant history and historical sites, and together with Bamyan city have in recent years been voted Islamic Cultural Capital and South Asia Cultural Capital respectively. The cities of Herat, Kandahar, Balkh, and Zaranj are also very historic. The Minaret of Jam in the Hari River valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A cloak reputedly worn by Islam's prophet Muhammad is kept in the Shrine of the Cloak in Kandahar, a city founded by Alexander the Great and the first capital of Afghanistan. The citadel of Alexander in the western city of Herat has been renovated in recent years and is a popular attraction. In the north of the country is the Shrine of Ali, believed by many to be the location where Ali was buried. The National Museum of Afghanistan in Kabul hosts a large number of Buddhist, Bactrian Greek and early Islamic antiquities; the museum suffered greatly by civil war but has been slowly restoring since the early 2000s.

Unexpectedly, tourism has seen improvement in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover. Active efforts by the Taliban encouraged tourism to increase from 691 tourists in 2021, to 2,300 in 2022, to 5,200 in 2023.

Communication

Main article: Communications in Afghanistan

Telecommunication services in Afghanistan are provided by Afghan Telecom, Afghan Wireless, Etisalat, MTN Group, and Roshan. The country uses its own space satellite called Afghansat 1, which provides services to millions of phone, internet, and television subscribers. By 2001 following years of civil war, telecommunications was virtually a non-existent sector, but by 2016 it had grown to a $2 billion industry, with 22 million mobile phone subscribers and 5 million internet users. The sector employs at least 120,000 people nationwide.

Transportation

Main article: Transport in Afghanistan

See also: List of airports in Afghanistan and Rail transport in Afghanistan

Due to Afghanistan's geography, transport between various parts of the country has historically been difficult. The backbone of Afghanistan's road network is Highway 1, often called the "Ring Road", which extends for 2,210 kilometres and connects five major cities: Kabul, Ghazni, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif, with spurs to Kunduz and Jalalabad and various border crossings, while skirting around the mountains of the Hindu Kush.

The Ring Road is crucially important for domestic and international trade and the economy. A key portion of the Ring Road is the Salang Tunnel, completed in 1964, which facilitates travel through the Hindu Kush mountain range and connects northern and southern Afghanistan. It is the only land route that connects Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent. Several mountain passes allow travel between the Hindu Kush in other areas. Serious traffic accidents are common on Afghan roads and highways, particularly on the Kabul–Kandahar and the Kabul–Jalalabad Road. Traveling by bus in Afghanistan remains dangerous due to militant activities.

Air transport in Afghanistan is provided by the national carrier, Ariana Afghan Airlines, and by the private company Kam Air. Airlines from a number of countries also provide flights in and out of the country. These include Air India, Emirates, Gulf Air, Iran Aseman Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, and Turkish Airlines. The country has four international airports: Kabul International Airport (formerly Hamid Karzai International Airport), Kandahar International Airport, Herat International Airport, and Mazar-e Sharif International Airport. Including domestic airports, there are 43. Bagram Air Base is a major military airfield.

The country has three rail links: one, a 75-kilometre line from Mazar-i-Sharif to the Uzbekistan border; a 10-kilometre long line from Toraghundi to the Turkmenistan border (where it continues as part of Turkmen Railways); and a short link from Aqina across the Turkmen border to Kerki, which is planned to be extended further across Afghanistan. These lines are used for freight only and there is no passenger service. A rail line between Khaf, Iran and Herat, western Afghanistan, intended for both freight and passengers, was under construction as of 2019. About 125 kilometres of the line will lie on the Afghan side.

Private vehicle ownership has increased substantially since the early 2000s. Taxis are yellow and consist of both cars and auto rickshaws. In rural Afghanistan, villagers often use donkeys, mules or horses to transport or carry goods. Camels are primarily used by the Kochi nomads. Bicycles are popular throughout Afghanistan.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Afghanistan

Further information: Afghans and Afghan diaspora

The population of Afghanistan was about 35.7 million in 2024, though some estimates are higher at over 42 million. In 1979, the population was around 15.5 million. Most people live in rural areas, with only about 25% living in cities. Some Afghans live in neighboring countries like Pakistan and Iran.

Afghanistan has a high population growth rate of 2.37%, one of the highest in the world outside Africa. This growth is partly due to returning refugees and high birth rates. The country’s health has improved since the early 2000s, leading to longer life expectancies and lower child deaths.

Ethnicity and languages

Main articles: Ethnic groups in Afghanistan and Languages of Afghanistan

See also: Afghans

Afghans belong to several groups. The largest group is the Pashtuns, making up about 42% of the population. Other major groups include the Tajiks at 27%, and the Hazaras and Uzbeks each at around 9%. There are ten more smaller groups.

The main languages are Dari and Pashto, which are both official. Dari is widely used as a common language, especially in Kabul and the north. Pashto is mainly spoken by Pashtuns. Many people also speak other languages such as Uzbek or English.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Afghanistan

Most Afghans, about 99.7%, follow Islam. The majority are Sunni Muslims, with a smaller group of Shia Muslims. There are also small communities of Sikhs and Hindus, mainly in cities like Kabul. There were once a few Jewish families, but most have left the country. Some Afghans practice Christianity in secret due to social pressures.

Education

Main article: Education in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has over 16,000 schools with around 9 million students. However, many schools are closed to girls due to current policies. There are also many universities, with the American University of Afghanistan and Kabul University being the most well-known. Many students travel to other countries for further education.

Health

Main article: Health in Afghanistan

Afghanistan faces health challenges, with an average life expectancy of about 60 years. Many people travel to Pakistan or India for advanced medical care. There are hospitals in Kabul and other cities, but many Afghans still struggle to access healthcare. Charities help support children and families in need.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Afghanistan

Afghans have both common cultural features and those that differ between the regions of Afghanistan, each with distinctive cultures partly as a result of geographic obstacles that divide the country. Family is the mainstay of Afghan society and families are often headed by a leader. In the southern and eastern region, the people live according to the Pashtun culture by following the Pashtun way. Key parts of this way include hospitality, the provision of sanctuary to those seeking refuge, and the importance of honor. The Pashtuns are largely connected to the culture of Central Asia and the Iranian Plateau. The remaining Afghans are culturally Persian and Turkic. Some non-Pashtuns who live near Pashtuns have adopted parts of Pashtun culture, while some Pashtuns have been influenced by Persian culture. Those who have lived in Pakistan and Iran over the last 30 years have been further influenced by the cultures of those neighboring nations. The Afghan people are known to be strongly religious.

Afghans, particularly Pashtuns, are noted for their tribal solidarity and high regard for personal honor. There are various Afghan tribes, and an estimated 2–3 million nomads. Afghan culture is deeply Islamic, but some older traditions continue. The most preferred marriage in Afghan society is to one's parallel cousin, and there are traditional customs in marriage.

In the villages, families typically occupy houses made of mudbrick, or compounds with mudbrick or stone walled houses. Villages typically have a headman, a master for water distribution and a religious teacher. Men would typically work on the fields, joined by women during harvest. About 15% of the population are nomads, locally called kochis. When nomads pass villages they often buy supplies such as tea, wheat and kerosene from the villagers; villagers buy wool and milk from the nomads.

Afghan clothing for both men and women typically consists of various forms of shalwar kameez, especially perahan tunban and khet partug. Women would normally wear a chador for head covering; some women, typically from highly conservative communities, wear the burqa, a full body covering. Another popular dress is the chapan which acts as a coat. The karakul is a hat made from the fur of a specific regional breed of sheep. It was favored by former kings of Afghanistan and became known to much of the world in the 21st century when it was constantly worn by President Hamid Karzai. The pakol is another traditional hat originating from the far east of the country; it was popularly worn by the guerrilla leader Ahmad Shah Massoud. The Mazari hat originates from northern Afghanistan.

Architecture

Main article: Architecture of Afghanistan

The nation has a complex history that has survived either in its current cultures or in the form of various languages and monuments. Afghanistan contains many remnants from all ages, including Greek and Buddhist stupas, monasteries, monuments, temples, and Islamic minarets. Among the most well known are the Great Mosque of Herat, the Blue Mosque, the Minaret of Jam, the Chil Zena, the Qala-i Bost in Lashkargah, the ancient Greek city of Ai-Khanoum. However, many of its historic monuments have been damaged in modern times due to the civil wars. The two famous Buddhas of Bamiyan were destroyed by the Taliban, who regarded them as idolatrous. As there was no colonialism in the modern era in Afghanistan, European-style architecture is rare but does exist: the Victory Arch at Paghman and the Darul Aman Palace in Kabul were built in this style in the 1920s. Afghan architecture also ranges deep into India such as the city of Agra, and the tomb of Sher Shah Suri, an Afghan Emperor of India.

Art and ceramics

Main article: Afghan art

Carpet weaving is an ancient practice in Afghanistan, and many of these are still handmade by tribal and nomadic people today. Carpets have been produced in the region for thousands of years and traditionally done by women. Some crafters express their feelings through the designs of rugs; for example after the outbreak of the Soviet–Afghan War, "war rugs", a variant of Afghan rugs, were created with designs representing pain and misery caused by the conflict. Every province has its own specific characteristics in making rugs. In some of the Turkic-populated areas in the north-west, bride and wedding ceremony prices are driven by the bride's weaving skills.

Pottery has been crafted in Afghanistan for millennia. The village of Istalif, north of Kabul, is in particular a major center, known for its unique turquoise and green pottery, and their methods of crafting have remained the same for centuries. Much of lapis lazuli stones were earthed in modern-day Afghanistan which were used in Chinese porcelain as cobalt blue, later used in ancient Mesopotamia and Turkey.

The lands of Afghanistan have a long history of art, with the world's earliest known usage of oil painting found in cave murals in the country. A notable art style that developed in Afghanistan and eastern Pakistan is Gandhara Art, produced by a fusion of Greco-Roman art and Buddhist art between the 1st and 7th centuries CE. Later eras saw increased use of the Persian miniature style, with Kamaleddin Behzad of Herat being one of the most notable miniature artists of the Timurid and early Safavid periods. Since the 1900s, the nation began to use Western techniques in art. Abdul Ghafoor Breshna was a prominent Afghan painter and sketch artist from Kabul during the 20th century.

Literature

Main article: Afghan literature

Classic Persian and Pashto poetry are a cherished part of Afghan culture. Poetry has always been one of the major educational pillars in the region, to the level that it has integrated itself into culture. One of the poetic styles is called landay. A popular theme in Afghan folklore and mythology are Divs, monstrous creatures. Thursdays are traditionally "poetry night" in the city of Herat when men, women and children gather and recite both ancient and modern poems.

Three mystical authors are considered true national glories (although claimed with equal ardor by Iran), namely: Khwaja Abdullah Ansari of Herat, a great mystic and Sufi saint in the 11th century, Sanai of Ghazni, author of mystical poems in the 12th century, and, finally, Rumi of Balkh, in the 13th century, considered the greatest mystical poet of the Muslim world. The Afghan Pashto literature, although quantitatively remarkable and in great growth in the last century, has always had an essentially local meaning and importance, feeling the influence of both Persian literature and the contiguous literatures of India. Both main literatures, from the second half of the nineteenth century, have shown themselves to be sensitive to genres, movements and stylistic features imported from Europe.

Khushal Khan Khattak of the 17th century is considered the national poet. Other notable poets include Rabi'a Balkhi, Jami, Rahman Baba, Khalilullah Khalili, and Parween Pazhwak.

Music

Main article: Music of Afghanistan

Afghan classical music has close historical links with Indian classical music and use the same Hindustani terminology and theories like raga. Genres of this style of music include ghazal (poetic music) and instruments such as the Indian tabla, sitar and harmonium, and local instruments like zerbaghali, as well as dayereh and tanbur which are also known in Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Middle East. The rubab is the country's national instrument and precurses the Indian sarod instrument. Some of the famous artists of classical music include Ustad Sarahang and Sarban.

Pop music developed in the 1950s through Radio Kabul and was influential in social change. During this time female artists also started appearing, at first Mermon Parwin. Perhaps the most famous artist of this genre was Ahmad Zahir, who synthesized many genres and continues to be renowned for his voice and rich lyrics long after his death in 1979. Other notable masters of traditional or popular Afghan music include Nashenas, Ubaidullah Jan, Mahwash, Ahmad Wali, Farhad Darya, and Naghma.

Attan is the national dance of Afghanistan, a group dance popularly performed by Afghans of all backgrounds. The dance is considered part of Afghan identity.

Media and entertainment

Main article: Mass media in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has around 350 radio stations and over 200 television stations. Radio Television Afghanistan, originating from 1925, is the state public broadcaster. Television programs began airing in the 1970s and today there are many private television channels such as TOLO and Shamshad TV. The first Afghan newspaper was published in 1873, and there are hundreds of print outlets today. By the 1920s, Radio Kabul was broadcasting local radio services. Voice of America, BBC, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) broadcast in both of Afghanistan's official languages on radio. Press restrictions have been gradually relaxed and private media diversified since 2002, after more than two decades of tight controls.

Afghans have long been accustomed to watching Indian Bollywood films and listening to its filmi songs. It has been claimed that Afghanistan is among the biggest markets for the Hindi film industry. The stereotypes of Afghans in India (Kabuliwala or Pathani) have also been represented in some Bollywood films by actors. Many Bollywood film stars have roots in Afghanistan, including Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Aamir Khan, Feroz Khan, Kader Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, Zarine Khan, Celina Jaitly, and a number of others. Several Bollywood films have been shot inside Afghanistan, including Dharmatma, Khuda Gawah, Escape from Taliban, and Kabul Express.

Cuisine

Main article: Afghan cuisine

Afghan cuisine is largely based upon the nation's chief crops, such as wheat, maize, barley and rice. Accompanying these staples are native fruits and vegetables as well as dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and whey. Kabuli palaw is the national dish of Afghanistan. The nation's culinary specialties reflect its ethnic and geographic diversity. Afghanistan is known for its high-quality pomegranates, grapes, and sweet melons. Tea is a favorite drink among Afghans. A typical Afghan diet consists of naan, yogurt, rice, and meat.

Holidays and festivals

Afghanistan's official New Year starts with Nowruz (natively known as "Nawroz"), an ancient tradition that started as a Zoroastrian celebration in present-day Iran, and with which it shares the annual celebration along with several other countries. It occurs every year at the vernal equinox. In Afghanistan, Nowruz is typically celebrated with music and dance, as well as holding buzkashi tournaments.

Yaldā, another nationally celebrated ancient tradition, commemorates the ancient goddess Mithra and marks the longest night of the year on the eve of the winter solstice (Čilli-yi Zimistān; usually falling on 20 or 21 December), during which families gather together to recite poetry and eat fruit.

As a predominantly Muslim country, Islamic events and festivals such as Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and Ashura are widely celebrated annually in Afghanistan. The Sikh festival of Vaisakhi is celebrated by the Sikh community and the Hindu festival Diwali by the Hindu community.

National Independence Day is celebrated on 19 August to mark the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919 and the country's full independence. Several international celebrations are also officially held in Afghanistan, such as International Workers' Day, and International Women's Day. Some regional festivals include the Red Flower Festival (during Nowruz) in Mazar-i-Sharif, and the Damboora Festival in Bamyan Province.

Sports

Main article: Sport in Afghanistan

See also: Traditional games of Afghanistan

Sport in Afghanistan is managed by the Afghan Sports Federation. Cricket and association football are the two most popular sports in the country. The Afghan Sports Federation promotes cricket, association football, basketball, volleyball, golf, handball, boxing, taekwondo, weightlifting, bodybuilding, track and field, skating, bowling, snooker, chess, and other sports.

The Afghanistan national basketball team won the first team sports title at the 2010 South Asian Games. In 2012, the country's 3x3 basketball team won the gold medal at the 2012 Asian Beach Games. In 2013, Afghanistan's football team followed as it won the SAFF Championship.

The Afghanistan national cricket team, which was formed in 2001, won the 2009–10 ICC Intercontinental Cup. It won the ACC Twenty20 Cup in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013. The team played in the 2015 Cricket World Cup, 2019 Cricket World Cup, and 2023 Cricket World Cups. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is the official governing body of the sport and is based in Kabul. The Alokozay Kabul International Cricket Ground serves as the nation's main cricket stadium. There are several other stadiums throughout the country, including the Ghazi Amanullah Khan International Cricket Stadium near Jalalabad. Domestically, cricket is played between teams from different provinces.

The Afghanistan national football team has been competing in international football since 1941. The national team plays its home games at the Ghazi Stadium in Kabul, while football in Afghanistan is governed by the Afghanistan Football Federation. The national team has never competed or qualified for the FIFA World Cup but won an international football trophy in 2013. The country also has a national team in the sport of futsal, a 5-a-side variation of football.

The traditional and the national sport of Afghanistan is buzkashi, particularly popular in the north. It is similar to polo, played by horsemen in two teams, each trying to grab and hold a goat carcass. The Afghan Hound (a type of running dog) originated in Afghanistan and was used in wolf hunting.