AFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan: Geography Located in Central Asia Bordered by six countries: China Iran Pakistan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan

Afghanistan: Geography Landlocked nation (slightly smaller than Texas) Total Population: 31 million Capital: Kabul

Afghanistan: Geography Rugged mountains Hindu Kush: main mountain range across Afghanistan and into Pakistan Climate: cold winters and hot, dry summers

Afghans: A Diverse People Major Ethnic Groups: Pashtuns 42% Takiks 27% Uzbeks 9% Hazaras 9% Others 13%

Languages Many Afghans are bilingual The main languages spoken by Afghans are: Dari (official language) 50% Pashtu (official language) 35% Turkic languages 11%

Religion 99% of Afghans are Muslim Islam is the religion practiced by most Afghans; it is central to Afghans' identity 99% of Afghans are Muslim

Rural Life Most Afghans live in rural areas About ¾ of the population consists of farmers and nomads Only 12% of the land, however, is arable What problems might this lead to?

Sport/Pastime Bazkashi, the national sport of Afghanistan, is a team game played on horseback Kite-fighting is also a popular pastime among Afghan youth where participants try to cut through the strings of their opponents' kites

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

Afghan History This location, however, has meant significant intervention from outsiders Great Britain & Russia fought over Afghanistan as far back as the 18th & 19th centuries Soviet Union invaded in 1979 and installed a Communist government From 1979-1989, Afghanistan became a battleground of the Cold War between the US- USSR (with the U.S. supporting Afghans who resisted the Soviets)

Afghan History Soviet Union withdrew in 1989, but civil war erupted among factions of guerilla fighters known as 'mujahedin' Civil war continued until 1996, when hard-line group known as the Taliban seized power Taliban imposed a strict interpretation of Islam

Taliban Limited women's ability to work in public places Banned girls from attending school Required women to wear burqas in public (photos) Required men to wear beards Banned music, sports Allowed al-Qaeda & Osama bin Laden to operate within the country

Refugee Crisis During the 23 years of conflict, roughly 4 million Afghans became refugees Most refugees fled to two main countries: Iran Pakistan There are also an estimated 200,000 Afghans living in the U.S.

The link between September 11 and Afghanistan Afghans did NOT carry out the terrorist attacks on the U.S. Al-Qaeda, a terrorist network operating within Afghanistan and other places, did Many Afghans expressed their solidarity with the people of the U.S. after Sept. 11 After September 11, the U.S. invaded Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban for sheltering Osama bin Laden U.S. and NATO forces remain in Afghanistan today

Afghanistan Today Afghanistan now faces a number of challenges as it tries to rebuild after years of war. Some of these challenges include: Poverty Education Health Gender equity Governance

Poverty At least 2/3 of Afghans live on less than $2 a day Only 23% of Afghans have access to safe water Only 12% of Afghans have access to sanitation Only 6% of Afghans have access to electricity

Education 67% of boys go to school, while only 37% of girls do (US Dept of State) Constraints to school attendance: Lack of teachers Distance between home and school Cultural constraints for girls Not enough school buildings (esp. for girls)

Health Average life expectancy for Afghans is 42, more than 25 years younger than the average American (World Health Organization) One in four children dies before the age of 5 (USAID) Many Afghans lack access to basic medical care

Gender Equity Women have been a marginalized group in Afghanistan Cultural restrictions lead to difficulty accessing education and health services Only 10% of Afghan women can read and write Yet, Afghan women are important contributors to household income, especially in rural areas

Government In October 2004, Hamid Karzai was elected President of Afghanistan. Parliamentray elections were held in 2005. Local warlords, however, still hold power in many parts of the country. This contributes to the insecurity in Afghanistan.

Despite these challenges, Afghans remain hopeful about the future

What have you learned about Afghanistan? THE END What have you learned about Afghanistan?