1. AFGHANISTAN

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

3. Afghanistan: Geography
Landlocked nation (slightly smaller than Texas)
Total Population: 35 million (2019)
Capital: Kabul

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

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

6. Languages (updated 2019) Many Afghans are bilingual
The main languages spoken by Afghans are:
Dari (official language) - 80%
Pashtu (official language) - 47%
Uzbek - 11%

7. Religion 99.7% of Afghans are Muslim (2019)
Islam is the religion practiced by most Afghans; it is central to Afghans' identity
99.7% of Afghans are Muslim (2019)

8. 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?

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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 , Afghanistan became a battleground of the Cold War between the US- USSR (with the U.S. supporting Afghans who resisted the Soviets)

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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

17. Poverty (2019) Most Afghans live in poverty
Only 55% of Afghans have access to safe water (up from 23% ten years ago)
Only 32% of Afghans have access to sanitation (up from 12%)
Few Afghans have consistent electricity

18. Education (slightly old data)
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)

19. Health (updated 2019)
Average life expectancy for Afghans is 52, which is up 10 years in the last decade.
11% infant mortality rate
Many Afghans lack access to basic medical care

20. 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 (old data)
Yet, Afghan women are important contributors to household income, especially in rural areas

21. Government
In October 2004, Hamid Karzai was elected President of Afghanistan. Now Ashraf Ghani is president (2019).
Parliamentray elections were held in 2005.
Local warlords, however, still hold power in parts of the country. This contributes to the insecurity in Afghanistan.

22. Despite these challenges, Afghans remain hopeful about the future