Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Tanzania

2022-10-06T14:03:30Z

222.127.93.217:

{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = United Republic of Tanzania
| native_name = {{native name|sw|Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania}}
| image_flag = Flag of Tanzania.svg
| image_coat = Coat of arms of Tanzania.svg
| national_motto = {{native phrase|sw|"Uhuru na Umoja"|italics=off|nolink=on}} "[[Freedom and Unity]]"
| national_anthem = ''[[Mungu ibariki Afrika]]'' {{small|'God Bless Africa'}} <center>[[File:National Anthem of Tanzania by US Navy Band.ogg]]</center>
| image_map = Location Tanzania AU Africa.svg
| map_caption = {{map caption|countryprefix=|location_color=dark blue|region=the [[African Union]]|region_color=light blue}}
| image_map2 = Tanzania - Location Map (2013) - TZA - UNOCHA.svg
| capital = [[Dodoma]] ([[de jure]])
[[Dar es Salaam]] ([[de facto]])
| largest_city = [[Dar es Salaam]]
| official_languages = {{hlist|[[Swahili language|Swahili]]|[[English language|English]]}}
|regional_languages =[[Arabic language|Arabic]] {{small|(Zanzibar)}}
| languages_type = [[National language]]
| languages = [[Swahili language|Swahili]]
| languages2_type = Other languages
| languages2 = {{hlist|Sukuma|Nyamwezi|Chaga|Ha|Bena|Gogo|Haya|Dholuo|Makonde|Nyaturu|Maasai|Jita|Pare}}
| demonym = Tanzanian
| government_type = [[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[Presidential system|presidential]] [[republic]]<ref name="Lawrence2009">{{cite book | author=David Lawrence | title=Tanzania: The Land, Its People and Contemporary Life|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qVDYbCfaPuQC&pg=PA146 | date=2009|publisher=Intercontinental Books|isbn=978-9987-9308-3-8 | page=146}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://tanzania-un.org/index.asp?pgid=56 | title=About the United Republic of Tanzania | publisher=[[Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the United Nations]] | accessdate=31 January 2015 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219043350/http://tanzania-un.org/index.asp?pgid=56 | archivedate=19 February 2011}}</ref>
| leader_title1 = [[President of Tanzania|President]]
| leader_name1 = [[Samia Hassan Suluhu]]
| leader_title2 = [[Vice-President of Tanzania|Vice President]]
| leader_name2 = [[Philip Mpango]]
| leader_title3 = [[Prime Minister of Tanzania|Prime Minister]]
| leader_name3 = [[Kassim Majaliwa]]
| leader_title4 = [[Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania|Speaker]]
| leader_name4 = [[Job Ndugai]]
| leader_title5 = [[Chief Justice of Tanzania|Chief Justice]]
| leader_name5 = [[Ibrahim Hamis Juma]]
| legislature = [[National Assembly (Tanzania)|National Assembly]]
| sovereignty_type = Independence {{nobold|from the [[United Kingdom]]}}
| established_event1 = [[Tanganyika]]
| established_date1 = 9 December 1961
| established_event2 = {{nowrap|[[People's Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba|Zanzibar and Pemba]]}}
| established_date2 = 10 December 1963
| established_event3 = Merger
| established_date3 = 26 April 1964
| established_event4 = Current constitution
| established_date4 = 25 April 1977
| area_km2 = 947,303
| area_rank = 31st
| area_sq_mi = 365,756
| percent_water = 6.4
| population_estimate = {{UN_Population|United Republic of Tanzania}}{{UN_Population|ref}}
| population_census = 44,928,923
| population_estimate_year = {{UN_Population|Year}}
| population_estimate_rank = 28th
| population_census_year = 2012
| population_density_km2 = 47.5
| population_density_sq_mi = 123.1 
| population_density_rank =
| GDP_PPP = $163.522 billion<ref name="IMF">[http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2017/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=56&pr.y=3&sy=2017&ey=2021&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=738&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC&grp=0&a= Tanzania]. IMF.org</ref>
| GDP_PPP_year = 2017
| GDP_PPP_rank =
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = $3,296<ref name="IMF"/>
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank =
| GDP_nominal = $51.194 billion<ref name="IMF"/>
| GDP_nominal_year = 2017
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = $1,032<ref name="IMF"/>
| Gini = 37.8
| Gini_year = 2012
| Gini_change = 
| Gini_ref = <ref>{{cite web | url=http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI | title=GINI Index | publisher=The World Bank | accessdate=14 October 2014}}</ref>
| Gini_rank =
| HDI = 0.531
| HDI_year = 2015
| HDI_change = increase 
|HDI_ref = <ref name="HDI">{{cite web|url=http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/2016_human_development_report.pdf|title=2016 Human Development Report|year=2016|accessdate=21 March 2017|publisher=United Nations Development Programme}}</ref>
| HDI_rank = 151st
| currency = [[Tanzanian shilling]]
| currency_code = TZS
| time_zone = [[East Africa Time|EAT]]
| utc_offset = +3
| utc_offset_DST =
| time_zone_DST =
| drives_on = [[Right- and left-hand traffic|left]]
| iso3166code = TZ
| calling_code = [[+255]]<ref name=c group=note>+007 from [[Kenya]] and [[Uganda]].</ref>
| cctld = [[.tz]]
| footnote_a = Revised to $41.33 billion<ref>{{cite web |url=https://af.reuters.com/article/tanzaniaNews/idAFL6N0U312N20141219?sp=true |title=UPDATE 2-Tanzania's GDP expands by 32 pct after rebasing – officials |date=19 December 2014 |work=Reuters |accessdate=19 December 2014 |archive-date=8 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208123403/https://af.reuters.com/article/tanzaniaNews/idAFL6N0U312N20141219?sp=true |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| religion = (2010 estimate)<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tz.html CIA World Factbook] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511141909/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tz.html |date=2019-05-11 }} 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2017.</ref> [[Christianity in Tanzania|Christianity]] 61.4% [[Islam in Tanzania|Islam]] 35.2% Folk Religion 1.8% [[Irreligion in Africa|Irreligious]] 1.4% Other 0.2%
}}
[[File:locationTanzania.png|right|]]
'''Tanzania''' is a country in [[East Africa]]. The official languages are [[Kiswahili]] and [[English language|English]]. It is next to Africa's biggest lake, [[Lake Victoria]].

In 2017, there were about 54,000,000 people living in Tanzania.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tz.html|title=The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency|website=www.cia.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-02-06|archive-date=2019-05-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511141909/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tz.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> They are divided into 120 [[tribe]]s; none have more than 10% of the population. Tanzania is a multicultural society. There are many languages & religions in Tanzania; the main ones being [[Christianity]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]].

The president of the United Republic of Tanzania is Samia Suluhu Hassan. Tanzania is a member of the [[United Nations]], UNIDO, the [[World Bank]], the [[International Monetary Fund]], the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], the [[Non-Aligned Movement]], SADC, PTA, and the ADB. It is also signatory to the Lome Convention.

Mainland Tanzania (formerly [[Tanganyika]]) received [[independence]] in December 1961, while [[Zanzibar]] gained her independence in January 1964, through a [[revolution]]. The two countries joined together to form the United Republic of Tanzania in April 1964. Until July 1992, Tanzania was a one-party state. Following a Presidential Commission, the country has started a multi-party political system. It has held successful general elections in 1995 and 2000.
"

Tanzania is home to the [[Serengeti]]. Many animals such as [[lion]]s and [[cheetah]]s live there.

== Regions ==
[[File:Tanzania regions.svg|right|thumb|250px|Regions of Tanzania]]
Tanzania is divided into 26 Regions. 21 are on the mainland and five in [[Zanzibar]].

Tanzania's regions are: [[Arusha Region|Arusha]]{{·}} [[Dar es Salaam Region|Dar es Salaam]]{{·}} [[Dodoma Region|Dodoma]]{{·}} [[Iringa Region|Iringa]]{{·}} [[Kagera Region|Kagera]]{{·}} [[Kigoma Region|Kigoma]]{{·}} [[Kilimanjaro Region|Kilimanjaro]]{{·}} [[Lindi Region|Lindi]]{{·}} [[Manyara Region|Manyara]]{{·}} [[Mara Region|Mara]]{{·}} [[Mbeya Region|Mbeya]]{{·}} [[Morogoro Region|Morogoro]]{{·}} [[Mtwara Region|Mtwara]]{{·}} [[Mwanza Region|Mwanza]]{{·}} [[Pemba North|Pemba North]]{{·}} [[Pemba South|Pemba South]]{{·}} [[Pwani Region|Pwani]]{{·}} [[Rukwa Region|Rukwa]]{{·}} [[Ruvuma Region|Ruvuma]]{{·}} [[Shinyanga Region|Shinyanga]]{{·}} [[Singida Region|Singida]]{{·}} [[Tabora Region|Tabora]]{{·}} [[Tanga Region|Tanga]]{{·}} [[Zanzibar Central/South Region|Zanzibar Central/South]]{{·}} [[Zanzibar North Region|Zanzibar North]]{{·}} [[Zanzibar Urban/West Region|Zanzibar Urban/West]]

==Related pages==
*[[List of rivers of Tanzania]]
*[[Tanzania at the Olympics]]
*[[Tanzania national football team]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://annamap.com/tanzania/ New map of Tanzania]

{{commonscat}}
{{Africa}}

{{Commonwealth nations}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1964 establishments in Africa]]
[[Category:Least developed countries]]
[[Category:States and territories established in the 1960s]]
[[Category:Tanzania| ]]

Tanzania

2022-10-06T14:03:30Z

222.127.93.217:

Tanzania

2022-10-06T14:03:30Z

222.127.93.217:

Afghanistan

2022-09-27T23:59:37Z

222.127.93.217:

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{complex|date=February 2012}}
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
| common_name = Afghanistan
| native_name = {{native name|ps|د افغانستان اسلامي امارت|italic=no}} {{small|{{lang|ps|Də Afġānistān Islāmī Imārat|italic=yes}}}} {{native name|prs|امارت اسلامی افغانستان}} {{small|{{lang|prs|Emārat-e Eslāmi-ye Afghānestān}}}}
| image_flag = Flag of Taliban.svg
| flag_caption = Flag
| image_coat =
| national_motto = ''[[Shahada|lā ʾilāha ʾillà l-Lāh, Muhammadur rasūlu l-Lāh]]'' {{lang|ar|لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله}} ([[Classical Arabic|Arabic]]) "There is no god but [[God in Islam|God]]. [[Muhammad]] is the messenger of God." (''[[Shahada]]'')
| national_anthem = {{lang|ps|دا د باتورانو کور}} {{transl|ps|Dā də bātorāno kor}} {{center|"[[This is the Home of the Brave]]"<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|title=BBCNazer.com {{!}} زندگى و آموزش {{!}} حرف های مردم: سرود ملی|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/nazer/lifeandlearning_dari/story/2007/08/070830_ws-aep-pt-national-anthem.shtml|access-date=2021-08-18|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref name="Amirzai">{{Cite web|last= Amirzai |first= Shafiq l|title=د ملي سرود تاریخ {{!}} روهي|url=https://rohi.af/news/35829|access-date=2021-08-18|website=Rohi.Af|language=ps}}</ref><ref name="nunn.asia">{{Cite web|date=2018-01-16|title=ملا فقیر محمد درویش د جهادي ترنم منل شوی سرخیل|url=https://www.nunn.asia/113730/%d9%85%d9%84%d8%a7-%d9%81%d9%82%db%8c%d8%b1-%d9%85%d8%ad%d9%85%d8%af-%d8%af%d8%b1%d9%88%db%8c%d8%b4-%d8%af-%d8%ac%d9%87%d8%a7%d8%af%d9%8a-%d8%aa%d8%b1%d9%86%d9%85-%d9%85%d9%86%d9%84-%d8%b4%d9%88%db%8c/|access-date=2021-08-18|website=نن ټکی اسیا|language=ps}}</ref><ref name="Tharoor">{{Cite magazine|last=Tharoor|first=Ishaan|date=2013-06-19|title=The Taliban's Qatar Office: Are Prospects for Peace Already Doomed?|language=en-US|magazine=Time|url=https://world.time.com/2013/06/19/the-talibans-qatar-office-are-prospects-for-peace-already-doomed/|access-date=2021-08-19|issn=0040-781X}}</ref>}} {{Center|}}
| image_map = Afghanistan (orthographic projection).svg
| map_caption =
| capital = [[Kabul]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|33|N|66|E|region:AF_source:geonames|display=inline,title}}<ref>[{{geonameslink|gnid=1149361|name=islamic-republic-of-afghanistan}} Islamic Republic of Afghanistan] in [{{geonamesabout}} Geonames.org (cc-by)]</ref>
| largest_city = Kabul
| official_languages = {{hlist|[[Pashto]]|[[Dari]]}}
| regional_languages = {{hlist|Uzbek|Turkmen|Balochi|Pashayi|Hazaragi|Nuristani}}
| languages_type = {{nobold|Recognised minority languages}}
| languages = {{hlist|Arabic|Urdu|English|Kyrgyz|Tajik|Sindhi}}
| languages2_type = Major sign language
| languages2 = Afghan Sign Language
| ethnic_groups = {{unbulleted list
| 39%[[Pashtun]]
| 37% [[Tajiks|Tajik]]
| 11% [[Hazaras|Hazara]]
| {{figure space}}8% [[Uzbeks|Uzbek]]
| {{figure space}}2% [[Turkmen people|Turkmen]]
| <0.5% [[Aimaq people|Aimaq]]
| <0.5% [[Baloch people|Baloch]]
| {{figure space}}3% [[Ethnic groups in Afghanistan|others]]
}}
| ethnic_groups_ref =
| ethnic_groups_year = 2019
| religion = {{unbulleted list
| 99.7% [[Islam in Afghanistan|Islam]] ([[State religion|official]])
| {{figure space}}0.3% [[Demographics of Afghanistan#Religion|others]]
}}
| demonym = [[Afghan]]{{Efn|Other names that have been used as demonyms are '''Afghani'''<ref>Dictionary.com. [[The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language]], Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/afghani Reference.com] (Retrieved 13 November 2007).</ref> and '''Afghanistani'''.<ref>Dictionary.com. [[WordNet]] 3.0. [[Princeton University]]. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/afghanistani Reference.com] (Retrieved 13 November 2007). {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328102257/http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/afghanistani |date=28 March 2014}}</ref>|name="Demonym"|group="Note"}}<ref name="Constitution of Afghanistan">{{cite web|title=Constitution of Afghanistan|url=https://www.afghanembassy.us/about-afghanistan/constitution/|year=2004|access-date=16 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920112856/http://www.afghanembassy.us/about-afghanistan/constitution/|archive-date=20 September 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Afghan {{!}} meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary |publisher=the Cambridge English Dictionary |isbn=978-1-107-66015-1 |url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/afghan }}</ref>
| government_type = [[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[Deobandi]] [[Islamic state|Islamic]] [[caretaker government]] under an [[autocracy]]{{efn|name="Akhundzada"|Taliban Supreme Commander [[Hibatullah Akhundzada]] has no official position in the country's caretaker government, but is widely believed to wield ultimate authority and is expected to be given an official role soon.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Zucchino|first=David|date=2021-09-01|title=Shifting to Governing, Taliban Will Name Supreme Afghan Leader|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/01/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-government-leader.html|access-date=2021-09-14|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>}}
| leader_title1 = [[Head of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan|Head]]{{efn|name="Akhundzada"}}
| leader_name1 = [[Hibatullah Akhundzada]]
| leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Afghanistan|Prime Minister]]
| leader_name2 = [[Mohammad Hassan Akhund]] ([[Acting (law)|acting]])
| leader_title3 = [[Deputy prime minister|First Deputy Prime Minister]]
| leader_name3 = [[Abdul Ghani Baradar]] ([[Acting (law)|acting]])
| leader_title5 = [[Deputy prime minister|Second Deputy Prime Minister]]
| leader_name5 = [[Abdul Salam Hanafi]] ([[Acting (law)|acting]])
| legislature = [[TBA]] (as of 2021)
| sovereignty_type = [[History of Afghanistan|Formation]]
| established_event1 = {{nowrap|[[Hotak dynasty|Hotak Empire]]}}
| established_date1 = 1709–1738
| established_event2 = {{nowrap|[[Durrani Empire]]}}
| established_date2 = 1747–1842
| established_event3 = {{nowrap|[[Emirate of Afghanistan|Emirate]]}}
| established_date3 = 1823–1926
| established_event4 = [[Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919|Recognised]]
| established_date4 = [[Afghan Independence Day|19 August 1919]]
| established_event8 = {{nowrap|[[Kingdom of Afghanistan|Kingdom]]}}
| established_date8 = 9 June 1926
| established_event9 = {{nowrap|[[Republic of Afghanistan|Declaration of Republic]]}}
| established_date9 = 17 July 1973
| established_event10 = [[Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001)|Islamic Emirate]]
| established_date10 = 7 September 1996
| established_event11 = {{nowrap|[[Islamic Republic of Afghanistan|Islamic Republic]]}}
| established_date11 = 26 January 2004
| established_event12 = [[Fall of Kabul (2021)|Taliban takeover of Kabul]]
| established_date12 = 15 August 2021
| area_km2 = 652,864<ref>Central Statistics Office Afghanistan</ref>
| area_rank = 40th
| area_sq_mi = 252,072
| percent_water = negligible
| population_estimate = 32,890,171<ref>Central Statistics Office Afghanistan, 2020.</ref>
| population_estimate_year = 2020
| population_estimate_rank = 43rd
| population_density_km2 = 48.08
| population_density_sq_mi = 119
| population_density_rank = 174th
| GDP_PPP = $72.911 billion<ref name="imf2">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2018/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=63&pr.y=8&sy=2018&ey=2023&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512&s=NGDPD%2CPPPGDP%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPPC&grp=0&a=|title=Afghanistan |publisher=International Monetary Fund |access-date=14 November 2018}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_year = 2018
| GDP_PPP_rank = 96th
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = $2,024<ref name="imf2"/>
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 169th
| GDP_nominal = $21.657 billion<ref name=imf2/>
| GDP_nominal_year = 2018
| GDP_nominal_rank = 111st
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = $493<ref name=imf2/>
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 177th
| Gini = 27.8
| Gini_year = 2008
| Gini_change = decrease
| Gini_ref = <ref name="wb-gini">{{cite web |url=http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI/ |title=Gini Index |publisher=World Bank |access-date=2 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140511044958/http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI|archive-date=11 May 2014}}</ref>
| Gini_rank = 1st
| HDI = 0.511
| HDI_year = 2019
| HDI_change = increase
| HDI_ref = <ref name="UNHDR">{{cite book|title=Human Development Report 2020 The Next Frontier: Human Development and the Anthropocene|date=15 December 2020|publisher=United Nations Development Programme|isbn=978-92-1-126442-5|pages=343–346|url=http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr2020.pdf|access-date=16 December 2020}}</ref>
| HDI_rank = 169th
| currency = [[Afghan afghani|Afghani]] (افغانی)
| currency_code = AFN
| time_zone = D†
| utc_offset = +4:30 [[Solar Hijri calendar|Solar Calendar]]
| drives_on = [[Right- and left-hand traffic#Afghanistan|right]]
| calling_code = [[Telephone numbers in Afghanistan|+93]]
| cctld = [[.af]] [[افغانستان.]]
| official_website = {{URL|https://www.alemarahenglish.af/}}
| p1 = Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
| flag_p1 = Flag_of_Afghanistan_(2013–2021).svg
| flag_p2 = Flag_of_the_Taliban.svg
| p2 = Taliban insurgency
| today =
| alt_coat = Coat of Arms
}}
'''Afghanistan''', officially the '''Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan''' ([[Pashto]]/[[Dari language|Dari]]: {{lang|ps|افغانستان}}), is a [[country]] in [[South Asia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://millenniumindicators.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm#asia |title=Composition of macro geographical (continental) regions, geographical sub-regions, and selected economic and other groupings |publisher=[[United Nations]] |date=26 April 2011 |accessdate=13 July 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713041240/http://millenniumindicators.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm#asia |archivedate=13 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=cia/> It borders [[Pakistan]] in the south and east, [[Iran]] in the west, [[Turkmenistan]], [[Uzbekistan]] and [[Tajikistan]] in the north, and [[China]] in the far northeast.<ref name="cia">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/af.html |title=Afghanistan |work=CIA - The World Factbook |accessdate=30 August 2011 |archive-date=9 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709035637/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/af.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Kabul]] serves as the country's capital city.

Afghanistan is currently governed by the [[Taliban]], after the [[Fall of Kabul (2021)|collapse]] of the internationally recognized [[Islamic Republic of Afghanistan]] on 15 August 2021. In early times people passed through it with animals and other goods as it connected China and India with [[Central Asia]] and the Middle East. More recently, Afghanistan has been damaged by many years of war. This has resulted in there not being enough jobs.

The country is around {{convert|abbr=off|251,826|mi2}} in size. There are 30 million people in Afghanistan. There are about 3 million Afghan [[refugees]] (people who had to leave the country) who are in Pakistan and Iran for some time. In 2011, its capital, [[Kabul]], had about 3,691,400 people living in it.<ref name="cso.gov.af">{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/2-2.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429231515/http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/2-2.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[United Nations Human Rights Council]] [[Decision|decided]] in October to [[Appointment|appoint]] (an independent expert, or) [[United Nations special rapporteur]] on "Afghanistan to [find out about, or] probe [[violation]]s carried out by the Taliban and" others who are now part of a [big] conflict, media said.<ref>https://www.news18.com/news/world/un-rights-body-agrees-to-establish-investigator-on-afghanistan-4297415.html. Retrieved 7 October 2021</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:Black Hawk flying over a valley in Bamyan.jpg|left|thumb|Snow-capped Koh-i-Baba mountains in [[Bamyan Province]] of Afghanistan.]]
Afghanistan has many [[mountains]]. The mountains are called the [[Hindu Kush]] and [[Himalayas]]. The tallest mountain in Afghanistan is [[Noshaq|Mount Nowshak]]. There are [[plains]] (which have soil that is good for growing plants) and [[foothills]]. Parts of the country are also dry, especially the [[Registan Desert]].

Afghanistan has snow and [[glaciers]] in the mountains. [[Amu Darya]] is the big water stream, or river.

The country has an abundance of a [[valuable]] [[stone]] called [[lapis lazuli]], which was also used to decorate the [[tomb]] of the [[Egypt]]ian pharaoh [[Tutankhamun]].<ref name="ngk">{{cite web |url=http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/places/find/afghanistan/ |title=Afghanistan Facts and Pictures |work=National Geographic Kids |accessdate=30 August 2011 |archive-date=11 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811050151/http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/places/find/afghanistan/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Climate ===
Afghanistan has a [[continental climate]] with hot summers and cold winters. Having no water sometimes causes problems for [[farmers]]. [[Sandstorms]] happen a lot in the [[desert]].<ref>"Afghanistan." Britannica Student Library. Encyclopaedia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2010.</ref>

== Plants and animals ==
[[File:Uncia uncia 2.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Endangered [[snow leopard]]s live in the cold [[Hindu Kush]]]]
[[South]]ern Afghanistan has not many plants because it is dry. There are more plants where there is more water. Mountains have [[forests]] of [[pine]] and [[fir]], [[cedar]], [[oak]], [[walnut]], [[alder]], and [[ash tree]]s.

Afghanistan's wild animals live in the mountains. There are [[wolves]], [[foxes]], [[jackals]], [[bears]], and wild [[wild goat|goat]]s, [[gazelle]]s, wild dogs, [[camel]]s, and [[wild cat]]s such as the [[snow leopard]] in the country. The birds are [[falcon]]s, [[eagles]] and [[vulture]]s. The [[Rhesus Macaque]] and the red flying [[squirrel]] are also in Afghanistan.

Many years of [[war]], [[hunting]], and years of no water have killed animals in Afghanistan. There used to be [[tigers]] in Afghanistan, but now there aren't any. Bears and wolves are almost gone.<ref name=ngk/>

== People and culture ==
[[File:Ethno-linguistic map of Afghanistan 1997.jpg|thumb|left|Ethno-linguistic map of Afghanistan 1997]]

Many people have moved through or invaded the land of Afghanistan. Today's people of Afghanistan are known as ''Afghans''. They have many traits passed down from these previous peoples.

The largest [[ethnic group|group]] of people are the [[Pashtun people|Pashtuns]]. These make up about half the population.<ref>See:
* {{cite web|url=http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact90/world12.txt|title=The World Factbok – Afghanistan|quote=''_#_Ethnic divisions: Pashtun 50%...''|work=The World Factbook/Central Intelligence Agency|publisher=[[University of Missouri]]|date=15 October 1991|accessdate=20 March 2011|archive-date=27 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427053700/http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact90/world12.txt|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/world/2001/war_on_terror/key_maps/ethnic_pashtun.stm|title=Ethnic groups|work=BBC News|accessdate=7 June 2013|quote=Pashtun: Estimated to be in excess of 45% of the population, the Pashtuns have been the most dominant ethnic group in Afghanistan.}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2119.html?countryName=Afghanistan&countryCode=af&regionCode=sas&#af|title=Afghan Population: 30,419,928 [Pashtun 42%]|year=2012|work=[[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA)|accessdate=30 June 2012|archive-date=7 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607234625/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2119.html?countryName=Afghanistan&countryCode=af&regionCode=sas&#af|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite book |title=The Challenge of Democracy: Government in America |last1=Janda |first1=Kenneth |author2=Jeffrey M. Berry and Jerry Goldman |volume= |edition=9 |year=2008 |publisher=Cengage Learning |isbn=978-0-618-81017-8 |page=46 of 647 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_WlzlY9dv74C&pg=PA46 |accessdate=22 August 2010 }}
* {{cite web|title=Afghanistan's complex ethnic patchwork|url=http://old.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=237210|work=The Asian Wall Street Journal|date=10 March 2011|accessdate=20 April 2012|archive-date=20 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120225356/http://old.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=237210|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.faqs.org/minorities/South-Asia/Pathans.html|title=Pathans|publisher=Faqs.org|year=2003|accessdate=20 September 2010}}
* {{cite web |url= http://www.afghanistans.com/Information/defaulf.htm |title= About Afghanistan - Ethnic Divisions |accessdate= 24 September 2010 |archive-date= 17 September 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100917064432/http://afghanistans.com/Information/defaulf.htm |url-status= dead }}
* {{cite book |title=Aiding Afghanistan: the background and prospects for reconstruction in a fragmented society |last1=Christensen |first1=Asger |year=1995 |publisher=NIAS Press |isbn=978-87-87062-44-2 |page=46 of 170 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7LKS93lbSM0C&pg=PA46 |accessdate=24 September 2010 }}
* {{cite book|title=Congressional Record|year=1949|publisher=Government Printing Office|page=10088|isbn=9780160118449|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qImZpu07_UEC&pg=PA10088|accessdate=24 September 2010}}
* {{cite book |title=Asian Security to the Year 2000 |last1=Taylor |first1=William J. Jr. |author2=Abraham Kim |year=2000 |publisher=DIANE Publishing |isbn=978-1-4289-1368-4 |page=58 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=peTWtThUljQC&pg=PA58 |accessdate=24 September 2010 }}
* {{cite book|title=Concise encyclopedia of languages of the world|last1=Brown|first1=Keith|author2=Sarah Ogilvie|year=2009|publisher=Elsevie|quote=''Pashto, which is mainly spoken south of the mountain range of the Hindu Kush, is reportedly the mother tongue of 60% of the Afghan population.''|location=|isbn=978-0-08-087774-7|page=845|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F2SRqDzB50wC&pg=PA845|accessdate=24 September 2010}}
* {{cite book |title=11 September 2001: feminist perspectives |last1=Hawthorne |first1=Susan |author2=Bronwyn Winter |year=2002 |publisher=Spinifex Press |quote=''Over 60 percent of the population in Afghanistan is Pashtun, known locally as Pathan, who by and large support the Taliban.'' |location= |isbn=978-1-876756-27-7 |page=225 of 500 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DwbfD_irV_AC&pg=PA225 |accessdate=24 September 2010 }}
* {{cite web |url= http://www.hewad.com/ethnic.htm |title= The ethnic composition of afghanistan in different sources |accessdate= 22 April 2012 }}</ref> [[Tajik people|Tajiks]] are the second-largest ethnic group, making up about one-fifth of the population.<ref name="Brit-Tajik">{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/581024/Tajik |title=Tajik |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |quote=There were about 5,000,000 in Afghanistan, where they constituted about one-fifth of the population. |accessdate=6 November 2011}}</ref> Before the 20th century, Tajiks were called Sarts<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://persian.packhum.org/persian//pf?file=03501051&ct=92 |title=Events Of The Year 910 (1525) |page=5 |editor=John Leyden, Esq., M.D. and William Erskine, Esq. |work=Memoirs of Babur |publisher=Packard Humanities Institute |year=1921 |accessdate=30 June 2012 |archive-date=14 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114042010/http://persian.packhum.org/persian//pf?file=03501051&ct=92 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and some come from the Iranian peoples.<ref>"Tajik." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2010.</ref> Most Pashtuns are also related to the Iranian peoples. Some Pashtuns and Tajiks marry each other but at the same time they are rivals. The third-largest group are the [[Hazara people|Hazaras]]. They are native to the [[Hazaristan]] area in central Afghanistan. The country's other groups include the [[Uzbek people|Uzbek]], [[Aimaq people|Aimaq]], [[Turkmen people|Turkmen]], [[Nuristani people|Nuristani]], [[Baloch people|Baloch]], [[Pashayi people|Pashayi]] and a few others.<ref name=ngk/>

Dari-Persian and Pashto are the official languages of Afghanistan. Many people speak both languages.<ref name="AO">{{cite web|title=Article Sixteen of the Constitution of Afghanistan|url=http://www.afghan-web.com/politics/current_constitution.html#preamble|quote=From among the languages of Pashto, Dari, Uzbeki, Turkmani, Baluchi, Pashai, Nuristani, Pamiri (alsana), Arab and other languages spoken in the country, '''Pashto and Dari are the official languages of the state.'''|year=2004|accessdate=13 June 2012|archive-date=28 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028065437/http://www.afghan-web.com/politics/current_constitution.html#preamble|url-status=dead}}</ref> Both are [[Indo-European language]]s from the [[Iranian languages]] sub-family. They are usually written with the [[Arabic alphabet]]. [[Uzbek language|Uzbek]] and [[Turkmen language|Turkmen]] are widely spoken in the north and [[Nuristani language|Nuristani]] and [[Pashai language|Pashai]] are spoken in the east.<ref name=AO/> Around 99% of all Afghans follow the religion of [[Islam]].

Afghanistan is a largely [[rural]] country. This means there are only a few major cities. About one fifth of the population live in cities. [[Kabul]], the capital, is the largest city. It is south of the [[Hindu Kush]] range and alongside the [[Kabul River]]. Other cities in Afghanistan include [[Kandahar]], [[Herat]], [[Mazar-e Sharif]], and [[Jalalabad]]. The rural population is made up of [[farmer]]s and [[nomad]]s. The farmers live mainly in small villages along the rivers. The nomads live in tents while moving from place to place with their animals and belongings. Some people live in the high central mountains. Some live in the deserts in the south and southwest. Millions of people left Afghanistan to get away from the wars that happened in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Most of them lived in neighboring [[Pakistan]] and [[Iran]].

== History ==
Afghanistan is in the [[Trail|path]] of important trade routes that connect southern and eastern [[Asia]] to [[Europe]] and the [[Middle East]]. Because of this, many empire builders have decided to rule over the area. Signs that these emperors were near Afghanistan still exist in many parts of the country.<ref>[Encyclopedia Britannica, Afghanistan History. Retrieved 26 January 2009 http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/7798/Afghanistan/129450/History#ref=ref261360]</ref> Afghanistan is near what used to be the [[Silk Road]], so it has many cultures. From up to 8,000 years ago, the peoples of Afghanistan helped develop (create) major world religions, traded and exchanged many [[product (business)|products]], and sometimes controlled politics and culture in Asia.<ref>Hiebert, F., Cambon, P., 2008, AFGHANISTAN Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul, page 56, Washington, National Geographic, {{ISBN|978-1-4262-0295-7}}</ref>

=== Prehistory ===
[[File:Raffael 071.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Zoroaster]], the founder of [[Zoroastrianism]], lived in [[Bactria]], an ancient land in the north of today's Afghanistan.]]
[[Archaeology|Archaeologists]] digging a cave in what is now northeastern Afghanistan (in [[Badakhshan Province|Badakhshan]]), discovered that people lived in the country as early as 100,000 years ago. They found the skull of a [[Neanderthal]], or early human, as well as tools from about 30,000 years ago. In other parts of Afghanistan, archaeologists uncovered [[pottery]] and tools that are 4,000 to 11,000 years old—evidence that Afghans were among the first people in the world to grow crops and raise animals.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
[[File:Kaunakes Bactria Louvre AO31917.jpg|left|thumb|150px|A Stone Female Figurine, known as ''Bactrian Princess'', from [[Bactria]], north of Afghanistan, about 4,000 years ago]]

Farmers and herders settled in the plains surrounding the [[Hindu Kush]] as early as 7000 B.C. These people may have grown rich off the [[lapis lazuli]] they found along riverbeds, which they traded to early city sites to the west, across the [[Iranian plateau]] and [[Mesopotamia]]. As farms and villages grew and thrived in Afghanistan, these ancient people eventually invented [[irrigation]] (digging ditches for water so it flows to crops) that allowed them to grow crops on the northern Afghanistan desert plains. This [[civilization]] (advanced state of organization) is today called BMAC ([[Bactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex]]), or the "Oxus civilization".<ref>Hiebert, F., Cambon, P., 2008, AFGHANISTAN Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul, page 58, Washington, National Geographic, {{ISBN|978-1-4262-0295-7}}</ref>

The Oxus civilization expanded as far east as western edge of the [[Indus Valley]] during the period between 2200 and 1800 B.C.<ref>Hiebert, F., Cambon, P., 2008, AFGHANISTAN Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul, page 73, Washington, National Geographic, {{ISBN|978-1-4262-0295-7}}</ref> These people, who were the ancestors of the Indo-Aryans, used the term "[[Aryan]]" to identify their ethnicity, culture, and religion. Scholars know this when they read the ancient texts of these people; the [[Avesta (religious scripture)|Avesta]] of Iranic peoples and the [[Vedas]] of Indo-Aryans.<ref>[R. Ghirshman, L’Iran et la migration des Indo-aryens et des Iraniens, Leiden, 1977.]</ref><ref>[Encyclopedia Iranica, IRANIAN IDENTITY ii. PRE-ISLAMIC PERIOD. Retrieved 14 October 2010 http://www.iranica.com/articles/iranian-identity-ii-pre-islamic-period]</ref>

[[Zoroaster]], the founder of the [[Zoroastrian]] religion, the world's earliest [[monotheistic]] religion, (meaning a religion believing in one god) lived in the area (somewhere north of today's Afghanistan), around 1000 B.C.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/zoroaster-ii-general-survey|title=ZOROASTER ii. GENERAL SURVEY – Encyclopaedia Iranica|website=iranicaonline.org}}</ref>

=== Ancient history ===
[[File:Ancient Khorasan highlighted.jpg|thumb|Names of territories during the [[Caliphate]] in 750 CE. [[Greater Khorasan|Khorasan]] was part of Persia (in [[yellow]]ish).]]
Before the middle of the sixth century [[BCE]], Afghanistan was held by the [[Medes]].
Then the [[Achaemenids]] took over control of the land and made it part of the [[Persian empire]]. [[Alexander the great]] defeated and conquered the Persian Empire in 330 BCE. He founded some cities in the area. The people used Macedonian culture and language. After Alexander, [[Greco-Bactrians]], [[Scythians]], [[Kushans]], [[Parthians]] and [[Sassanians]] ruled the area.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/851961/ancient-Iran |title=ancient Iran |encyclopedia=Britannica Online Encyclopedia |accessdate=30 August 2011}}</ref><ref>https://www.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=493bae8ab2c54a96af9b8bbc1e844771</ref>

Kushans spread [[Buddhism]] from [[India]] in the 1st century BCE, and Buddhism remained an important religion in the area until the [[Islamic conquest]] in the 7th century CE.<ref>[Encyclopedia Iranica, BUDDHISM i. In Pre-Islamic Times. Retrieved 12 September 2010 http://iranica.com/articles/buddhism-i {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201181222/http://iranica.com/articles/buddhism-i |date=1 December 2010 }}]</ref>

The [[Buddhas of Bamiyan]] were giant statues, a reminder of Buddhism in Afghanistan. They were destroyed by the [[Taliban]] in 2001. There were international protests. The Taliban believe that the ancient statues were [[Islam|un-Islamic]] and that they had a right to destroy them.

=== Medieval history ===

[[Arabs]] introduced [[Islam]] in the 7th century and slowly began spreading the new religion. In the 9th and 10th centuries, many local Islamic dynasties rose to power inside Afghanistan. One of the earliest was the [[Tahirids]], whose kingdom included [[Balkh]] and [[Herat]]; they established independence from the [[Abbasids]] in 820. The Tahirids were succeeded in about 867 by the [[Saffarids]] of [[Zaranj]] in western Afghanistan. Local princes in the north soon became [[wikt:feudatory|feudatories]] of the powerful [[Samanids]], who ruled from [[Bukhara]]. From 872 to 999, north of the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan enjoyed a golden age under Samanid rule.<ref>"Afghanistan." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2010.</ref>

In the 10th century, the local [[Ghaznavid Empire|Ghaznavids]] turned [[Ghazni]] into their capital and firmly established Islam throughout all areas of Afghanistan, except the Kafiristan region in the northeast. [[Mahmud of Ghazni]], a great Ghaznavid [[sultan]], conquered the [[Multan]] and [[Punjab region]], and carried raids into the heart of [[India]]. Mohammed bin Abdul Jabbar Utbi (Al-Utbi), a historian from the 10th century, wrote that thousands of "Afghans" were in the Ghaznavid army.<ref name="Houtsma">{{Cite book|title=E.J. Brill's first encyclopaedia of Islam, 1913–1936|last1=Houtsma|first1=Martijn Theodoor|volume=2|year=1987|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-04-08265-6|page=151|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GEl6N2tQeawC&pg=PA151 |accessdate=24 September 2010}}</ref><ref name="Habibi">{{cite web |url=http://www.alamahabibi.com/English%20Articles/Afghan_and_Afghanistan.htm |title=Afghan and Afghanistan |work=Abdul Hai Habibi|publisher=alamahabibi.com|year=1969|accessdate=1 July 2012}}</ref> The Ghaznavid dynasty was replaced by the Ghorids of [[Ghor]] in the late 12th century, who reconquered Ghaznavid territory in the name of Islam and ruled it until 1206. The Ghorid army also included ethnic Afghans.<ref name="Houtsma"/>
[[File:Portrait miniature of Ahmad Shah Durrani.jpg|left|thumb|150px|[[Ahmad Shah Durrani]], [[founder]] of the modern state of Afghanistan in 1747.]]

Afghanistan was recognized as ''Khorasan'', meaning "land of the rising sun," which was a prosperous and independent geographic region reaching as far as the Indus River.<ref name="EI">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cJQ3AAAAIAAJ |title="Khurasan", The Encyclopaedia of Islam, page 55. |year=1967 |quote=''In pre-Islamic and early Islamic times, the term “Khurassan” frequently had a much wider denotation, covering also parts of what are now Soviet Central Asia and Afghanistan; early Islamic usage often regarded everywhere east of western Persia, sc. Djibal or what was subsequently termed 'Irak 'Adjami, as being included in a vast and ill-defined region of Khurasan, which might even extend to the Indus Valley and Sind.''|publisher=Brill |accessdate=22 October 2010}}</ref><ref name="Britannica">{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/316850/Khorasan |title=Khorasan |quote=''historical region and realm comprising a vast territory now lying in northeastern Iran, southern Turkmenistan, and northern Afghanistan. The historical region extended, along the north, from the Amu Darya (Oxus River) westward to the Caspian Sea and, along the south, from the fringes of the central Iranian deserts eastward to the mountains of central Afghanistan. Arab geographers even spoke of its extending to the boundaries of [[Hindustan|India]].''|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |accessdate=21 October 2010}}</ref>

All the major cities of modern Afghanistan were centers of science and culture in the past. The New Persian [[literature]] arose and flourished in the area. The early Persian poets such as [[Rudaki]] were from what is now Afghanistan. Moreover, [[Ferdowsi]], the author of [[Shahnameh]], the national [[Epic poetry|epic]] of Iran, and [[Rumi]], the famous [[Sufi]] poet, were also from modern-day Afghanistan. It has produced scientists such as [[Avicenna]], [[Al-Farabi]], [[Al-Biruni]], [[Omar Khayyám]], [[Al-Khwarizmi]], and many others who are widely known for their important contributions in areas such as [[mathematics]], [[astronomy]], [[medicine]], [[physics]], [[geography]], and [[geology]]. It remained the cultural capital of Persia until the devastating [[Mongol]] invasion in the 13th century.<ref>Lorentz, J. Historical Dictionary of Iran. 1995 {{ISBN|978-0-8108-2994-7}} AFGHANISTAN</ref><ref>From the Alleyways of Samarkand to the Mediterranean Coast (The Evolution of the World of Child and Adolescent Literature,Afghanistan, [[Poopak Niktalab]] , printed 2019 , Faradid Publishing</ref>

[[Timur]], the Turkic conqueror, took over in the end of the 14th century and began to rebuild cities in this region. Timur's successors, the [[Timurids]] (1405–1507), were great patrons of learning and the arts who enriched their capital city of Herat with fine buildings. Under their rule Afghanistan enjoyed peace and prosperity.

Between south of the Hindu Kush and the Indus River (today's Pakistan) was the native land of the Afghan tribes. They called this land "Afghanistan" (meaning "land of the Afghans"). The Afghans ruled the rich northern Indian subcontinent with their capital at [[Delhi]]. From the 16th to the early 18th century, Afghanistan was disputed between the [[Safavid dynasty|Safavids]] of [[Isfahan]] and the [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]] of [[Agra]] who had replaced the [[Lodi dynasty|Lodi]] and [[Sur Empire|Suri]] Afghan rulers in India. The Safavids and Mughals occasionally oppressed the native Afghans but at the same time the Afghans used each empire to punish the other. In 1709, the [[Hotaki dynasty|Hotaki]] Afghans rose to power and completely defeated the Persian Empire. Then they marched towards the Mughals of India and nominally defeated them with the help of the Afsharid forces under Nader Shah Afshar.

In 1747, after Nader Shah of Persia was killed, a great leader named [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]] united all the different Muslim tribes and established the Afghan Empire ([[Durrani Empire]]). He is considered the founding father of the modern state of Afghanistan<ref name="ReferenceA"/> while [[Mirwais Hotak]] is the grandfather of the nation.

===Since the 1800s===
During the 1800s, Afghanistan became a buffer zone between two powerful empires, the [[British Indian Empire]] and the [[Russian Empire]]. As British India advanced into Afghanistan, Russia felt threatened and expanded southward across Central Asia. To stop the Russian advance, Britain tried to make Afghanistan part of its empire but the Afghans fought wars with British-led Indians from 1839 to 1842 and from 1878 to 1880. After the third war in 1919, Afghanistan under [[Amanullah Khan|King Amanullah]] gained respect and recognition as a completely independent state.

The Kingdom of Afghanistan was a [[constitutional monarchy]] established in 1926. It was the successor state to the [[Emirate of Afghanistan]]. On 27 September 1934, during the reign of Zahir Shah, the Kingdom of Afghanistan joined the [[League of Nations]]. During [[World War II]], Afghanistan remained neutral. It pursued a [[Diplomacy|diplomatic policy]] of non-alignment.

The creation of Pakistan in 1947 as its eastern neighbor created problems. In 1973, political crises led to the overthrow of the king. The country's new leader ended the monarchy and made Afghanistan a [[republic]]. In 1978, a [[Communist]] political party supported by the [[Soviet Union]] seized control of Afghanistan's government. This move sparked rebellions throughout the country. The government asked the Soviet Union for military assistance. The Soviets took advantage of the situation and [[Soviet war in Afghanistan|invaded Afghanistan in December 1979]].

Most people in Afghanistan opposed the sudden Soviet presence in their country. For nearly a decade, anti-Communist Islamic forces known as ''Mujahideen'' were trained inside neighboring Pakistan to fight the Soviets and the Afghan government. The [[United States]] and other anti-Soviet countries supported the Mujahideen. In the long war, over one million Afghan civilians were killed. The Soviet Army also lost more than 15,000 soldiers in that war. Millions of Afghans left their country to stay safe in neighboring Pakistan and Iran. In 1989 the Soviet Army withdrew the last of its troops.

After the Soviets left in 1989, the [[Afghan Civil War (1989–1992)|Afghan Civil War]] started; different Afghan warlords began fighting for control of the country. The warlords received support from other countries, including neighboring Pakistan and Iran. A very conservative [[Islamic]] group known as the [[Taliban]] emerged in an attempt to end the civil war. By the late 1990s the Taliban had gained control over 95% of Afghanistan. A group known as the Northern Alliance, based in northern Afghanistan near the border with Tajikistan, continued to fight against the Taliban.

The Taliban ruled Afghanistan according to their strict version of [[Islamic law]]. People whom the Taliban believed violated these laws were given cruel punishments. In addition, the Taliban completely restricted the rights of women. Because of such policies, most countries refused to recognize the Taliban government. Only [[Pakistan]], [[Saudi Arabia]] and the [[United Arab Emirates]] (UAE) accepted them as the official government.

The Taliban also angered other countries by allowing suspected [[terrorist]]s to live freely in Afghanistan. Among them were [[Osama bin Laden]] and members of the [[al-Qaeda]] terrorist network. In September 2001, the United States blamed bin Laden for the [[September 11 attacks|terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C.]] The Taliban refused to hand him over to the United States. In response, the United States and its allies launched a bombing campaign against al-Qaeda in October 2001. Within months the Taliban abandoned Kabul, and a new government led by [[Hamid Karzai]] came to power, but fighting between the Taliban and US-led armies continued. Taliban fighters have gone into Afghanistan from neighboring Pakistan. Afghans accuse Pakistan's military of being behind the Taliban militants but Pakistan has rejected this and stated that a stable Afghanistan is in Pakistan's own interest.

[[File:2011 Afghan Independence Day-2.jpg|thumb|upright|Former [[President of Afghanistan|Afghan President]] [[Hamid Karzai]] at the 2011 Afghan Independence Day in [[Kabul]].]]
[[File:Afghan soldiers.jpg|right|thumb|The [[NATO]]-trained [[Afghan National Army]] (ANA) [[collapse]]d in 2021]]
In December 2004, Hamid Karzai became the first [[democracy|democratically]] elected president of Afghanistan.<ref name=cia/> [[NATO]] began rebuilding Afghanistan, including its military and government institutions. Many schools and colleges were built. Freedom for women has improved. Women can study, work, drive, and run for office. Many Afghan women work as politicians, some are ministers while at least one is a mayor. Others have opened businesses, or joined the military or police. Afghanistan's economy has also improved dramatically, and NATO agreed in 2012 to help the country for at least another 10 years after 2014. In the meantime, Afghanistan improved diplomatic ties with many countries in the world and continues.

In August 2021, the [[Cabinet of Afghanistan]] lost its power. Most of the country fell to the [[Taliban]] on [[Fall of Kabul (2021)|15 August 2021]] with President [[Ashraf Ghani]] [[escape|escaping]] the country. As of 18 August 2021, the former government's last remaining [[holdout]] is the [[Panjshir Valley]].<ref>https://www.news18.com/news/india/amrullah-saleh-is-mounting-an-anti-taliban-front-from-afghanistans-panjshir-his-birth-land-4100060.html. [[CNN-News18]]</ref>

== Government ==
Since the [[Taliban]] [[Fall of Kabul (2021)|captured Kabul]] on 15 August 2021, the governance of Afghanistan is disputed between the [[Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan]] and the [[Islamic Republic of Afghanistan]].

According to [[Transparency International]], Afghanistan remains in the top most corrupt countries list.<ref name="TI">{{cite web |url=https://www.transparency.org/news/feature/corruption_perceptions_index_2016 |title=Corruption Perceptions Index 2016 Results |publisher=[[Transparency International]] |access-date=30 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125040730/http://www.transparency.org/news/feature/corruption_perceptions_index_2016 |archive-date=25 January 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Provinces ==
As of 2004, there are thirty-four [[province]]s. Each province is divided into districts. (For cities see [[List of cities in Afghanistan]].)

{| class="wikitable" style="width:78%; margin:auto; font-size:90%;"
|-
|+ style="text-align:center; background:#bfd7ff;"| '''Province map of Afghanistan'''
|-
|align=center| [[File:Afghanistan provinces numbered gray.PNG|400x400px|Provinces of Afghanistan]]
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%; width:78%; margin:auto;"
|+ style="text-align:center; background:#bfd7ff;"|'''Provinces of Afghanistan'''<ref>References and details on data provided in the table can be found within the individual provincial articles.</ref>
|- style="background:#efefef;"
!align="left"|Province
!align="left"|Map #
!align="right"|[[ISO 3166-2:AF]]<ref>[[ISO 3166-2:AF]] ([[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]] [[ISO 3166-2|3166-2]] codes for the provinces of Afghanistan)</ref>
!align="left"|Capital
!align="right"|Population<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/en/page/6070 |title=Population Estimation 2011 - 12 - Central Statistics Organization |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2012-06-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619071838/http://cso.gov.af/en/page/6070 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
!align="right"|Area (km²)
!align="right"|Languages
!align="right"|Notes
!align="right"|U.N. Region
|-
| [[Badakhshan Province|Badakhshan]] || style="text-align:center;"| 30 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-BDS || [[Fayzabad, Badakhshan|Fayzabad]] || align=right| 889,700 || align=right| 44,059 || [[Dari (Persian)]], [[Pamiri languages|Pamiri]], [[Pashto language|Pashto]] || 29 districts <ref>http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Badakhshan.pdf{{Dead link|date=September 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> || North East Afghanistan
|-
| [[Badghis Province|Badghis]] || style="text-align:center;"| 4 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-BDG || [[Qala i Naw, Afghanistan|Qala i Naw]] || align=right| 464,100 || align=right| 20,591 || Dari, Pashto || 7 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Badghis.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305104541/http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Badghis.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || West Afghanistan
|-
| [[Baghlan Province|Baghlan]] || style="text-align:center;"| 19 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-BGL || [[Puli Khumri]] || align=right| 848,500 || align=right| 21,118 ||Dari, [[Uzbek language|Uzbeki]], [[Turkmen language|Turkmeni]], Pashto || 16 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Baghlan.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313050344/http://cso.gov.af/content/files/baghlan.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || North East Afghanistan
|-
| [[Balkh Province|Balkh]] || style="text-align:center;"| 13 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-BAL || [[Mazari Sharif]] || align=right| 1,219,200 || align=right| 17,249 || Dari, Pashto || 15 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Balkh.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305105016/http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Balkh.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || North West Afghanistan
|-
| [[Bamyan Province|Bamyan]] || style="text-align:center;"| 15 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-BAM || [[Bamiyan City|Bamiyan]] || align=right| 418,500 || align=right| 14,175 || Dari || 7 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Bamyan.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=30 June 2012 |archive-date=25 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025153839/http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Bamyan.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || Central Afghanistan
|-
| [[Daykundi Province|Daykundi]] || style="text-align:center;"| 10 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-DAY || [[Nili, Afghanistan|Nili]] || align=right| 431,300 || align=right| 8,088 || Dari, Pashto || 8 districts Formed from [[Orūzgān Province|Oruzgan]] in 2004 <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Daykundi.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314042703/http://cso.gov.af/content/files/daykundi.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || South West Afghanistan
|-
| [[Farah Province|Farah]] || style="text-align:center;"| 2 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-FRA || [[Farah, Afghanistan|Farah]] || align=right| 474,300 || align=right| 48,471 || Pashto, Dari, [[Balochi language|Balochi]]|| 11 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Farah.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313114051/http://cso.gov.af/content/files/farah.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || West Afghanistan
|-
| [[Faryab Province|Faryab]] || style="text-align:center;"| 5 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-FYB || [[Maymana]] || align=right| 931,800 || align=right| 20,293 || Uzbek, Dari, Pashto, Turkmen || 14 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Faryab.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305103613/http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Faryab.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || North West Afghanistan
|-
| [[Ghazni Province|Ghazni]] || style="text-align:center;"| 16 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-GHA || [[Ghazni]] || align=right| 1,149,400 || align=right| 22,915 || Pashto, Dari || 19 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Ghazni.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305103531/http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Ghazni.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || South East Afghanistan
|-
| [[Ghōr Province|Ghor]] || style="text-align:center;"| 6 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-GHO || [[Chaghcharan]] || align=right| 646,300 || align=right| 36,479 || Dari, Pashto || 10 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Ghor.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305104845/http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Ghor.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || West Afghanistan
|-
| [[Helmand Province|Helmand]] || style="text-align:center;"| 7 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-HEL || [[Lashkar Gah]] || align=right| 1,441,769 || align=right| 58,584 || Pashto, Dari || 13 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Helmand.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314050331/http://cso.gov.af/content/files/helmand.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || South West Afghanistan
|-
| [[Herat Province|Herat]] || style="text-align:center;"| 1 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-HER || [[Herat]] || align=right| 1,744,700 || align=right| 54,778 || Dari, Pashto, Turkmeni || 15 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Herat.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305104924/http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Herat.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || West Afghanistan
|-
| [[Jowzjan Province|Jowzjan]] || style="text-align:center;"| 8 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-JOW || [[Sheberghan]] || align=right| 503,100 || align=right| 11,798 || Uzbeki, Turkmeni, Pashto, Dari ||9 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Jawzjan.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314044338/http://cso.gov.af/content/files/jawzjan.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || North West Afghanistan
|-
| [[Kabul Province|Kabul]] || style="text-align:center;"| 22 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-KAB || [[Kabul]] || align=right| 3,691,400 || align=right| 4,462 || Dari, Turkmeni, Pashto, Uzbeki || 18 districts <ref name="cso.gov.af"/> || Central Afghanistan
|-
| [[Kandahar Province|Kandahar]] || style="text-align:center;"| 12 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-KAN || [[Kandahar]] || align=right| 1,127,000 || align=right| 54,022 || Pashto, Dari || 16 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Kandahar.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313113212/http://cso.gov.af/content/files/kandahar.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || South East Afghanistan
|-
| [[Kapisa Province|Kapisa]] || style="text-align:center;"| 29 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-KAP || [[Mahmud-i-Raqi]] || align=right| 413,000 || align=right| 1,842 || Dari, Pashto, [[Pashayi language|Pashai]] || 7 districts <ref>http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Kapisa.pdf{{Dead link|date=September 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> || Central Afghanistan
|-
| [[Khost Province|Khost]] || style="text-align:center;"| 26 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-KHO || [[Khost]] || align=right| 537,800 || align=right| 4,152 || Pashto || 13 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Khost.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314051526/http://cso.gov.af/content/files/khost.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || South East Afghanistan
|-
| [[Kunar Province|Kunar]] || style="text-align:center;"| 34 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-KNR || [[Asadabad, Afghanistan|Asadabad]] || align=right| 421,700 || align=right| 4,942 || Pashto || 15 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Kunarha.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305103653/http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Kunarha.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || North East Afghanistan
|-
| [[Kunduz Province|Kunduz]] || style="text-align:center;"| 18 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-KDZ || [[Kunduz]] || align=right| 935,600 || align=right| 8,040 || Pashto, Dari, Uzbeki, Turkmeni || 7 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Kunduz.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=30 June 2012 |archive-date=13 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313035619/http://cso.gov.af/content/files/kunduz.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || North East Afghanistan
|-
| [[Laghman Province|Laghman]] || style="text-align:center;"| 32 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-LAG || [[Mihtarlam]] || align=right| 417,200 || align=right| 3,843 || Pashto, Pashai, Nuristani, Dari || 5 districts <ref>http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Laghman.pdf{{Dead link|date=September 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> || East Afghanistan
|-
| [[Logar Province|Logar]] || style="text-align:center;"| 23 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-LOW || [[Pul-i-Alam]] || align=right| 367,000 || align=right| 3,880 || Pashto, Dari || 7 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Logar.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314044536/http://cso.gov.af/content/files/logar.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || Central Afghanistan
|-
| [[Nangarhar Province|Nangarhar]] || style="text-align:center;"| 33 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-NAN || [[Jalalabad, Afghanistan|Jalalabad]] || align=right| 1,409,600 || align=right| 7,727 || Pashto, Dari || 23 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Nangarhar.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313120448/http://cso.gov.af/content/files/nangarhar.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || East Afghanistan
|-
| [[Nimruz Province|Nimruz]] || style="text-align:center;"| 3 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-NIM || [[Zaranj]] || align=right| 153,900 || align=right| 41,005 || Balochi, Pashto, Dari || 5 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Nimroz.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314060932/http://cso.gov.af/content/files/nimroz.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || South West Afghanistan
|-
| [[Nuristan Province|Nuristan]] || style="text-align:center;"| 31 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-NUR || [[Parun, Afghanistan|Parun]] || align=right| 138,600 || align=right| 9,225 || [[Nuristani languages|Nuristani]], Pashto || 7 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Nooristan.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305104759/http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Nooristan.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || North East Afghanistan
|-
| [[Orūzgān Province|Oruzgan]] || style="text-align:center;"| 11 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-ORU || [[Tarin Kowt]] || align=right| 328,000 || align=right| 22,696 || Pashto, Dari || 6 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Urozgan.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305104722/http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Urozgan.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || Central Afghanistan
|-
| [[Paktia Province|Paktia]] || style="text-align:center;"| 24 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-PIA || [[Gardez, Afghanistan|Gardez]] || align=right| 516,300 || align=right| 6,432 || Pashto || 11 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Paktia.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314044447/http://cso.gov.af/content/files/paktia.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>|| South East Afghanistan
|-
| [[Paktika Province|Paktika]] || style="text-align:center;"| 25 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-PKA || [[Sharan, Afghanistan|Sharan]] || align=right| 407,100 || align=right| 19,482 || Pashto || 15 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Paktika.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314062912/http://cso.gov.af/content/files/paktika.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || South East Afghanistan
|-
| [[Panjshir Province|Panjshir]] || style="text-align:center;"| 28 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-PAN || [[Bazarak, Panjshir|Bazarak]] || align=right| 143,700 || align=right| 3,610 || Dari, Pashto || 5 districts Created in 2004 from Parwan Province <ref>http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Panjsher.pdf{{Dead link|date=September 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> || North East Afghanistan
|-
| [[Parwan Province|Parwan]] || style="text-align:center;"| 20 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-PAR || [[Charikar]] || align=right| 620,900 || align=right| 5,974 || Dari, Pashto || 9 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/parwan.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313051550/http://cso.gov.af/content/files/parwan.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || Central Afghanistan
|-
| [[Samangan Province|Samangan]] || style="text-align:center;"| 14 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-SAM || [[Aybak]] || align=right| 362,500 || align=right| 11,262 || Dari, Uzbeki || 5 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Samangan.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314061236/http://cso.gov.af/content/files/samangan.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || North West Afghanistan
|-
| [[Sar-e Pol Province|Sar-e Pol]] || style="text-align:center;"| 9 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-SAR || [[Sar-e Pol, Afghanistan|Sar-e Pol]] || align=right| 522,900 || align=right| 16,360 || Dari, Pashto, Uzbeki || 7 districts <ref>http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Sar-e-pul.pdf{{Dead link|date=September 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> || North West Afghanistan
|-
| [[Takhar Province|Takhar]] || style="text-align:center;"| 27 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-TAK || [[Taloqan]] || align=right| 917,700 || align=right| 12,333 || Dari, Uzbeki, Pashto || 12 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Takhar.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313135001/http://cso.gov.af/content/files/takhar.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || North East Afghanistan
|-
| [[Wardak Province|Wardak]] || style="text-align:center;"| 21 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-WAR || [[Meydan Shahr]] || align=right| 558,400 || align=right| 9,934 || Pashto, Dari || 9 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Wardak.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305104634/http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Wardak.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || Central Afghanistan
|-
| [[Zabul Province|Zabul]] || style="text-align:center;"| 17 || style="text-align:center;"| AF-ZAB || [[Qalat, Zabul Province|Qalat]] || align=right| 284,600 || align=right| 17,343 || Pashto || 9 districts <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Zabul.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-06-30 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305104501/http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Zabul.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> || South East Afghanistan
|}

==Relationship with other countries==
* Russia's [[ambassador]] ([[Dmitrij Zjirnov]]) had a meeting with representatives from Taliban on 18 August 2021; Russia's [[embassy]] was still in [[operation]] (or open).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrk.no/urix/ashraf-ghani-flyktet-_-hvor-mye-penger-fikk-han-med-seg_-1.15614004|title=Ashraf Ghani flyktet – hvor mye penger fikk han med seg?|first=Morten|last=Jentoft|date=18 August 2021|publisher=NRK}}</ref>
* An "[[India]]n [ [[diplomat]] or] [[envoy]] to Qatar" had [at least one] [[meeting]] "with Taliban leader [[Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai|Stanekzai]] in [[Doha]] in late August", media said.<ref>https://www.news18.com/news/india/afghanistan-situation-worsen-humanitarian-crisis-lack-of-governance-india-ready-shringla-4305527.html. Retrieved 9 October 2021</ref>
* A United States "team led by" [then] "Deputy Special Representative [[Tom West]] and [a] top [[USAID]] humanitarian official" had meetings, in Qatar in October, with Afghanistani officials.<ref>https://www.news18.com/news/world/taliban-warn-us-not-to-destabilise-regime-in-face-to-face-talks-4305626.html. Retrieved 9 October 2021</ref> [[Women's rights]] was a [[subject]] during the talks.<ref>https://www.news18.com/news/world/un-chief-antonio-guterres-slams-broken-taliban-promises-made-to-women-and-girls-4312271.html. Retrieved 11 October 2021</ref>
* Norway's ambassador visited Afghanistan - and had meetings with Taliban - during a two-day visit in the middle of January 2022. [[Representative]]s of the Taliban leadership will come to Norway and meet diplomats from different countries, during 23.-25. January.<ref>"Taliban kommer til Norge for å forhandle". Vg.no</ref><ref name="ReferenceB">"Taliban besøker Norge". [[Nrk]].no</ref> Also, Norway has stopped (as of 2022's first quarter) supporting with money - (to) the authorities of Afghanistan, media said.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> Previously, Norwegian diplomats had at least two meetings with Taliban in Doha, in 2021's fourth quarter;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://direkte.vg.no/nyhetsdognet/news/her-moetes-norge-og-taliban.FL_MnNT_M?utm_source=vgfront&utm_content=hovedlopet_row36_pos1|title = Her møtes Norge og Taliban – VG Nå: Nyhetsdøgnet}}</ref><ref>https://twitter.com/QaharBalkhi/status/1453411486257369103</ref><ref>https://direkte.vg.no/nyhetsdognet/news/norske-diplomater-traff-taliban-foer-helgen.vqVOdz8WD?utm_source=vgfront&utm_content=hovedlopet_row69_pos1. Retrieved 13 October 2021</ref> There are no political talks yet (as of 2021's fourth quarter); the talks are about [[humanitarian aid]] and [[evacuation]].<ref>https://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/i/x8edMR/afghanistans-ambassadoer-vesten-skylder-oss-en-avtale. Retrieved 21 October 2021</ref>
* [[Mevlut Cavusoglu|Turkey's foreign minister]] had a meeting (in Turkey) with "a [[delegation]] led by" [[Amir Khan Mutaqqi|foreign minister of Afghanistan]], in 2021's fourth quarter.<ref>https://www.news18.com/news/world/taliban-want-to-help-afghans-who-fled-to-turkey-to-return-home-turkish-minister-says-4323596.html. Retrieved 15 October 2021</ref>
* In Russia, a meeting about Afghanistan was held on October 20; "The [[participant]]s [... were] India, USA, Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, Iran and Central Asian" countries, media said.<ref>https://www.news18.com/news/world/moscow-talks-on-wednesday-india-to-come-face-to-face-with-taliban-for-the-second-time-4340747.html. Retrieved 20 October 2021</ref>

===Diplomatic missions that still represent the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan===
* The ambassador in [[Oslo]], Norway does not [[recognition|recognize]] the Taliban-led government (as of 2021's fourth quarter).<ref>https://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/i/JxvJrm/norges-ukjente-rolle-i-taliban-forhandlingene. Retrieved 19 October 2021</ref>

==Related pages==
* [[Government of Afghanistan]]
* [[Afghanistan at the Olympics]]
* [[Afghanistan national football team]]
* [[List of rivers of Afghanistan]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==

{{wikivoyage}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/afghanistan-virtual-jewish-history-tour|title=Afghanistan Virtual Jewish History Tour|work=Alden Oreck|publisher=[[Jewish Virtual Library]]}}
* [http://afghanstudiescenter.org/ Afghan Studies Center]

{{Asia}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Least developed countries]]
[[Category:Members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]]
[[Category:1709 establishments]]
[[Category:Former British colonies]]
[[Category:Landlocked countries]]
[[Category:Middle Eastern countries]]
[[Category:Occupied territories]]
[[Category:Republics]]

Afghanistan

2022-09-27T23:59:37Z

222.127.93.217:

Afghanistan

2022-09-27T23:59:37Z

222.127.93.217: