Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a landlocked and mountainous country in central Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan in the south and east, Iran in the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north, and the People's Republic of China in the far northeast.

forming Afghanistan has been an ancient focal point of the Silk Road and human migration. Archaeologists have found evidence of human habitation from as far back as 50,000 BC. Urban civilization may have begun in the area as early as 3000 to 2000 BC.

The political history of modern Afghanistan began in the 18th century with the rise of the Pashtuns, when the Hotaki dynasty rose to power at Kandahar in 1709 followed by Ahmad Shah Durrani's conquest in 1747.

* Afghanistan Hezb-i Wahdat Insurgent groups: * Afghanistan Taliban * al-Qaeda * IMU

* Afghanistan Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan * al-Qaeda Commanders and leaders United States Barack Obama United States George W.

Afghanistan Jalaluddin Haqqani Osama bin Laden (KIA) Saif al-Adel Ayman al-Zawahiri Mustafa Abu al-Yazid (KIA) Muhammad Atef (KIA) Abu Laith al-Libi (KIA) Juma Namangani (KIA) Tahir Yuldashev (KIA)

of Afghanistan and the National Assembly was inaugurated the following December. KARZAI was re-elected in August 2009 for a second term.

of Afghanistan ; Elites People of Afghanistan Party ; Freedom and Democracy Movement of Afghanistan ; Freedom Party of Afghanistan ; Freedom Party of Afghanistan ; Hizullah-e-Afghanistan ; Human Rights Protection and Development Party of Afghanistan ; Islamic Justice Party of Afghanistan ; Islamic

Islamic Party of Afghanistan ; Islamic Party of the Afghan Land ; Islamic People's Movement of Afghanistan ; Islamic Society of Afghanistan ; Islamic Unity of the Nation of Afghanistan Party ; Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan ; Islamic Unity Party of the People of Afghanistan ;

Afghanistan's new currency in January 2003. At present, $1 U.S. equals approximately 50 afghanis.

Afghanistan is an Islamic country. An estimated 80% of the population is Sunni, following the Hanafi school of jurisprudence; the remainder of the population-and primarily the Hazara ethnic group-is predominantly Shi'a.

Afghanistan, often called the crossroads of Central Asia, has had a turbulent history. In 328 BC, Alexander the Great entered the territory of present-day Afghanistan, then part of the Persian Empire, and established a Hellenistic state in Bactria (present-day Balkh).

its goals in Afghanistan in June 2011, setting in motion an aggressive timetable for the withdrawal of American troops in an acknowledgement of the shifting threat in the region and fast-changing political and economic landscape in a war-weary America.

In southern Afghanistan the mood was far more sober: local officials and tribal elders questioned the ability of Afghan troops to defend them and said the Taliban are far from defeated.

President Obama made Afghanistan the central military focus of his administration, drawing troops out of Iraq and increasing the number in Afghanistan by almost 50,000. He put Gen. David H.

Afghanistan has three distinctive regions: the northern plains are the major agricultural area; the southwestern plateau consists primarily of desert and semiarid landscape; and the central highlands, including the Hindu Kush, separate these regions.

Afghanistan is an Islamic republic with two legislative bodies; the president is head of both state and government.

Afghanistan was divided between the Mughal Empire of India and the Safavid empire of Persia until the 18th century, when other Persians under Nadir Shah took control. Britain fought several wars in the area in the 19th century.

WARNING: Traveling in Afghanistan is extremely dangerous. The current Afghan government has little control over large parts of the country; in particular, most of the South and East is effectively a war zone. Threats are unpredictable and the situation can change very quickly.

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in the heart of Asia, bordered by Pakistan to the south and east, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to the north.

Afghanistan has been the center of many powerful empires for the past 2,000 years.

journalists freed in Afghanistan after 547 days' in channel 'Afghanistan'! * * 4 hours ago - The_Dogs_Bollox added item 'The Best Trained, British Military Power... Will Call You Back....

Garrison formed - & - British Troops in Afghanistan' in channel 'Afghanistan'! * * 6 hours ago - HinduKushHiker added item 'FOB Daytime attack' in channel

held hostage in Afghanistan for 18 months were expected back in France Thursday morning.

troops from Afghanistan will intensify risks in the thick of next year's fighting season, but Obama was right to factor in waning support at home for the war, outgoing Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Reuters.

Westerners in Afghanistan's capital late on Tuesday, with four blasts and bursts of gunfire heard after an attack claimed by the Taliban, police and Reuters witnesses said. World, 28 Jun 2011 Pakistan says stop "blame game" at U.S.

stop as the United States, Afghanistan and Pakistan met to discuss security in the region amid a Taliban insurgency and heightened tensions over cross border shelling.

Map of AfghanistanMap of Afghanistan President: Hamid Karzai (2002) Total area: 250,000 sq mi (647,500 sq km) Population (2010est.): 29,121,286 (growth rate: 2.4%); birth rate: 38.11/1000; infant mortality rate: 151.5/1000; life expectancy: 44.

Afghanistan Main Page 2. Soviet Invasion 3. The Rise of the Taliban 4. The U.S. Responds to the September 11, 2001, Terrorist Attacks 5.

Afghanistan, approximately the size of Texas, is bordered on the north by Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, on the extreme northeast by China, on the east and south by Pakistan, and by Iran on the west.

Report: Iraq, Afghanistan Wars Cost US Nearly $4 Trillion Afghanistan News.

Islamist group that ruled Afghanistan until a US-led invasion in 2001. (AP) Two French television journalists were flying home Thursday ... * U.S.

Afghanistan for a year and a half have been freed, President Nicolas Sarkozy's office said on Wednesday. Herve Ghesquiere and Stephane ...

Afghanistan Insurance - Obtain insurance for Afghanistan. Get quotes for company and individuals operating in Afghanistan with war risk coverage. Low cost InsureandGo travel insurance for peace of mind.

May 27, 2011: Afghanistan loses another game to Pakistan in cricket. May 25, 2011: Afghanistan loses first cricket game of a three-match limited-overs series against Pakistan.

April 30, 2011: Pakistan rejects Afghanistan's request for a match between national cricket teams, instead offers Pakistan A team.

Afghanistan Maps on Other Web Sites: Country Maps City Maps Detailed Maps Thematic Maps Historical Maps The following

* Afghanistan (Political) 2003 (330K) and pdf format (352K) * Afghanistan (Political) 2002 (261K) and pdf format (232K) * Afghanistan (Political) 2001 (264K) and pdf format (273K) * Afghanistan (Political) 1993 (261K) and pdf format (270K)

* Afghanistan (Shaded Relief) 2003 (382K) and pdf format (392K) * Afghanistan (Shaded Relief) 2002 (287K) and pdf format (256K) * Afghanistan (Shaded Relief) 2001 (289K) and pdf format (298K) * Afghanistan (Shaded Relief) 1993 (219K) and pdf format (223K)

Afghanistan is a multi-ethnic state at a nexus where numerous Eurasian civilizations have interacted, traded, migrated through, and often fought.

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 was heroically resisted by Afghan guerrilla forces, with covert material assistance from the United States; the invasion also marked the beginning of the downfall of the Soviet Union, which experienced the limits of expansionism.

left Afghanistan in 1989, however, neglect by the United States and its allies in rebuilding the war-devastated country led to internal factional strife, with the Taliban eventually gaining control. In October 2001, U.S.

solution to the divisiveness in Afghanistan was in federalism, where every ethnic group would have specific constitutional rights. http://wn.

Afghanistan and is considered by many to be the leader of Afghanistan's Uzbek community and the party Junbish-e Milli-yi Islami-yi Afghanistan.

Afghanistan and, as such, the head of the Afghan Supreme Court since May 2006. http://wn.

Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Persian: جمهوری اسلامی افغانستان, Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامى جمهوريت ), is a landlocked country that is located approximately in the centre of Asia.

The name Afghanistan means the "Land of Afghans." During the Cold War Afghanistan bordered the Soviet Union. Ariana was the original name of Afghanistan back in the 1700s.

In the 19th century, Afghanistan became a buffer state in " The Great Game" played between the British Indian Empire and Russian Empire.

the Governments of Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran to address issues related to migration management in the subregion.

Afghanistan also hosts a small number of refugees and asylum-seekers, mostly from the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq and Pakistan. In the absence of a national capacity, UNHCR carries out refugee status determination (RSD) and has succeeded in resettling a small number of these refugees.

The security situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated steadily since 2006, impeding state-building and reconstruction, and restricting UN access to half the country.

of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country in South Asia which borders Pakistan to the south and east and Iran to the west.

commander in Afghanistan, said the Afghan government was riddled with corruption and NATO was being undermined by tactics that alienate civilians.

Since 1978, Afghanistan has experienced an unprecedented demographic catastrophe, with millions killed, wounded, or displaced. The Soviet invasion and occupation slaughtered 1,750,000 Afghans (from a range of 1.5-2 million killed).

Afghanistan competition is the second since the fall of the Taliban regime.

After routing the Taliban in Afghanistan, the Bush administration launched a $73 million program to construct schools and clinics. But problems plagued the effort. Interactive Map » Return to Afghanistan washingtonpost.

Full coverage of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the war on terror and more.

AfghanistanCountry Specific Information * Print * Email * Recent Embassy Notices for American Citizens * Travel Warning for Afghanistan On this page »

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Afghanistan has made significant progress since the Taliban were deposed in 2001, but still faces daunting challenges, including defeating terrorists and insurgents, recovering from over three decades of civil strife, and rebuilding a shattered physical, economic, and political infrastructure.

Republic of Afghanistan on November 2, 2009, following elections marred by allegations of fraud. Karzai’s increasingly difficult relationship with Parliament and other internal problems following years of war compromise efforts to establish policies and procedures to improve governance and stability.

The current NATO-led campaign in Afghanistan has reached its ceiling of mission effectiveness. We need to welcome our troops home and provide the best support we can to Afghan citizens as they decide their future.

Afghanistan: For Real Savings, Make a Real Withdrawal William Hartung, 06.28.

Afghanistan has become Obama's war. But there's something going on here besides political expediency.