Afghanistan

Land of Mountains, Crossroads of Civilizations, and Resilience

Afghanistan is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East. Known for its rugged mountains, ancient trade routes, and strategic location, Afghanistan has experienced millennia of empires and invasions, from Alexander the Great to the Silk Road, and modern global conflicts. Despite instability, the country remains rich in culture, resources, and history.

Formation and Historical Background

  • Part of ancient empires: Achaemenid, Maurya, Greco-Bactrian, Kushan, and Islamic Caliphates.

  • Became a unified kingdom in 1747 under Ahmad Shah Durrani.

  • Served as a buffer state between British India and Tsarist Russia during the Great Game.

  • Gained full independence in 1919 (Treaty of Rawalpindi).

  • Experienced monarchy, communist regimes, civil war, Taliban rule, US invasion (2001), and NATO-backed government.

  • In August 2021, the Taliban regained control, re-establishing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

Administrative Information

 

Attribute Details
Official Name Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
Capital Kabul
Continent Asia (Central/South Asia)
Official Languages Pashto and Dari
Currency Afghan Afghani (AFN)
Area Approx. 652,860 sq. km
Population Approx. 42 million (2024 est.)
Time Zone Afghanistan Standard Time (UTC+4:30)
ISO Code AF
Internet TLD .af
Calling Code +93

Government and Leadership (De Facto)

 

Position Current (as of 2024)
Supreme Leader (Amir al-Mu’minin) Hibatullah Akhundzada
Acting Prime Minister Mohammad Hasan Akhund
Government Type Unrecognized Islamic Emirate under the Taliban
Legislature Suspended; laws issued via decree
Judiciary Islamic courts under Hanafi jurisprudence

Note: The current Taliban-led administration is not widely recognized internationally.

Administrative Divisions

Afghanistan is divided into:

  • 34 Provinces (Wilayat)

  • Over 400 Districts (Wuluswali)

Major Provinces:

  1. Kabul

  2. Herat

  3. Kandahar

  4. Nangarhar

  5. Balkh

  6. Ghazni

  7. Helmand

  8. Khost

  9. Kunduz

  10. Paktia

  11. Bamyan

  12. Badakhshan

  13. Parwan

  14. Faryab

  15. Samangan

  16. Takhar

  17. Logar

  18. Wardak

  19. Uruzgan

  20. Zabul
    (and others)

Each province has a governor, appointed by the central authority. Districts are headed by district chiefs.

Local Government Structure

  • Currently governed through decentralized Taliban-appointed officials.

  • No formal local elections since 2021 takeover.

  • Previous municipal councils and parliamentary structure suspended.

Leadership & Governance

  • Centralized leadership under the Supreme Leader based in Kandahar.

  • Laws based on Sharia (Islamic law), primarily Hanafi jurisprudence.

  • Restrictions:

    • Media, civil society, and women’s rights curtailed

    • Ban on secondary education and work for women in many sectors

Law Enforcement & Safety

  • Enforcement by:

    • Taliban security forces (previously insurgent fighters)

    • Intelligence: General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI)

    • No formal national police under a recognized constitution

  • Issues:

    • Armed resistance in some regions

    • Terror threats from ISIS-K

    • Border tensions (Pakistan, Iran)

Economy & Industry

  • GDP (2023): Estimated USD 15–20 billion (no official statistics post-2021)

  • Key sectors:

    • Agriculture – wheat, fruits, saffron, opium

    • Mining – lithium, copper, rare earths (underdeveloped)

    • Trade & transport

  • Heavy reliance on foreign aid, much of which is now frozen or rerouted

  • Major trading partners: Pakistan, China, Iran, Uzbekistan, UAE

Education & Institutions

  • Previously improved, now severely restricted

  • Universities:

    • Kabul University, Herat University (limited function under Taliban)

  • Major issues:

    • Ban on girls’ secondary and university education

    • Religious education prioritized over secular curriculum

Healthcare

  • Supported by NGOs, Red Crescent, and WHO

  • Major hospitals:

    • Jamhuriat Hospital (Kabul)

    • Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital

  • Challenges:

    • Medicine shortage

    • Limited access in rural areas

    • Malnutrition and maternal health issues

Transport & Connectivity

  • Airports:

    • Kabul International Airport (now managed with foreign help)

    • Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif, Kandahar

  • Roads: Underdeveloped, many damaged

  • Rail links with Uzbekistan, Iran, and new developments with China

  • Internet and telecom under strict monitoring

Tourism & Attractions

Tourism is extremely limited and not officially encouraged under current regime

  • Historical sites:

    • Bamiyan Buddha niches

    • Blue Mosque (Mazar-i-Sharif)

    • Herat Citadel, Minaret of Jam (UNESCO)

  • Natural beauty:

    • Hindu Kush, Wakhan Corridor, Panjshir Valley

  • Cultural heritage: Afghan carpets, lapis lazuli, Pashto and Dari poetry

Culture & Lifestyle

  • Ethnic groups:

    • Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkmen, Baloch

  • Religion: Sunni Islam (Hanafi majority), with Shia Hazara minority

  • Clothing: Traditional, Islamic dress (Burqa common for women)

  • Cuisine: Kabuli Pulao, Mantu, Bolani, dry fruits

  • Music, art, and literature restricted under current rule

Summary

Afghanistan is a land of paradox — steeped in cultural depth and strategic potential, yet marred by decades of conflict and political uncertainty. As it seeks recognition under Taliban rule, the country faces immense challenges in governance, human rights, and economic stability. Despite this, the spirit of its people and richness of its heritage remain sources of enduring resilience.