afghanistan. afghanistan: geography located in central asia bordered by six countries: ● ● china...
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AFGHANISTANAFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan: GeographyAfghanistan: GeographyLocated in Central
AsiaBordered by six countries:● China● Iran● Pakistan● Tajikistan● Turkmenistan● Uzbekistan
Afghanistan: GeographyAfghanistan: Geography
Landlocked nation (slightly smaller than Texas)Total Population: 31 millionCapital: Kabul
Afghanistan: GeographyAfghanistan: Geography➢ Rugged mountains
➢ Hindu Kush: main mountain range across Afghanistan and into Pakistan
➢ Climate: cold winters and hot, dry summers
Afghans: A Diverse Afghans: A Diverse PeoplePeople
Major Ethnic Major Ethnic Groups: Groups:
Pashtuns 42%Pashtuns 42% Takiks 27%Takiks 27% Uzbeks 9%Uzbeks 9% Hazaras 9%Hazaras 9% Others 13%Others 13%
Afghans: A Diverse Afghans: A Diverse PeoplePeople
LanguagesLanguages
Many Afghans are bilingualMany Afghans are bilingual The main languages spoken The main languages spoken
by Afghans are:by Afghans are:Dari (official language) 50% Dari (official language) 50% Pashtu (official language) 35%Pashtu (official language) 35%Turkic languages 11%Turkic languages 11%
ReligionReligion
IIslamslam is the is the religion practiced religion practiced by most Afghans; by most Afghans; it is central to it is central to Afghans' identity Afghans' identity
99% of Afghans 99% of Afghans are are MuslimMuslim
Rural LifeRural Life Most Afghans live in Most Afghans live in
rural areasrural areas About ¾ of the About ¾ of the
population consists population consists of farmers and of farmers and nomadsnomads
Only 12% of the land, Only 12% of the land, however, is arablehowever, is arable
What problems might What problems might this lead to?this lead to?
Sport/PastimeSport/Pastime Bazkashi, Bazkashi, the the
national sport of national sport of Afghanistan, is a Afghanistan, is a team game played team game played on horsebackon horseback
Kite-fightingKite-fighting is is also a popular also a popular pastime among pastime among Afghan youth Afghan youth where participants where participants try to cut through try to cut through the strings of their the strings of their opponents' kitesopponents' kites
Afghan HistoryAfghan History
Afghanistan's Afghanistan's location along location along the Silk/Spice the Silk/Spice Road has allowed Road has allowed the country to the country to serve as an serve as an important link important link between east and between east and west throughout west throughout historyhistory
Afghan HistoryAfghan HistoryThis location, however, has meant This location, however, has meant
significant intervention from outsiderssignificant intervention from outsiders
Great Britain & Russia fought over Great Britain & Russia fought over Afghanistan as far back as the 18Afghanistan as far back as the 18thth & 19 & 19thth centuriescenturies
Soviet Union invaded in 1979 and Soviet Union invaded in 1979 and installed a Communist governmentinstalled a Communist government
From 1979-1989, Afghanistan became a From 1979-1989, Afghanistan became a battleground of the Cold War between battleground of the Cold War between the US-USSR (with the U.S. supporting the US-USSR (with the U.S. supporting Afghans who resisted the Soviets)Afghans who resisted the Soviets)
Afghan HistoryAfghan History Soviet Union withdrew in Soviet Union withdrew in
1989, but civil war erupted 1989, but civil war erupted among factions of guerilla among factions of guerilla fighters known as fighters known as 'mujahedin' 'mujahedin'
Civil war continued until Civil war continued until 1996, when hard-line group 1996, when hard-line group known as the Taliban seized known as the Taliban seized powerpower
Taliban imposed a strict Taliban imposed a strict interpretation of Islaminterpretation of Islam
TalibanTaliban➢ Limited women's ability Limited women's ability
to work in public placesto work in public places➢ Banned girls from Banned girls from
attending schoolattending school➢ Required women to Required women to
wear burqas in public wear burqas in public (photos)(photos)
➢ Required men to wear Required men to wear beardsbeards
➢ Banned music, sportsBanned music, sports➢ Allowed al-Qaeda & Allowed al-Qaeda &
Osama bin Laden to Osama bin Laden to operate within the operate within the country country
Refugee CrisisRefugee Crisis During the 23 years of During the 23 years of
conflict, roughly 4 conflict, roughly 4 million Afghans million Afghans became refugeesbecame refugees
Most refugees fled to Most refugees fled to two main countries:two main countries:➢ IranIran➢ PakistanPakistan
There are also an There are also an estimated 200,000 estimated 200,000 Afghans living Afghans living overseasoverseas
Afghanistan TodayAfghanistan Today
Afghanistan now faces a number of Afghanistan now faces a number of challenges as it tries to rebuild challenges as it tries to rebuild after years of war. Some of these after years of war. Some of these challenges include:challenges include:
PovertyPovertyEducationEducationHealthHealthGender equityGender equityGovernance Governance
PovertyPoverty
At least 2/3 of At least 2/3 of Afghans live on less Afghans live on less than $2 a daythan $2 a day
Only 23% of Afghans Only 23% of Afghans have access to safe have access to safe waterwater
Only 12% of Afghans Only 12% of Afghans have access to have access to sanitationsanitation
Only 6% of Afghans Only 6% of Afghans have access to have access to electricityelectricity
EducationEducation 67% of boys go to 67% of boys go to
school, while only school, while only 37% of girls do 37% of girls do (US Dept (US Dept of State)of State)
Constraints to school Constraints to school attendance:attendance: Lack of teachersLack of teachers Distance between Distance between
home and schoolhome and school Cultural Cultural
constraints for girlsconstraints for girls Not enough school Not enough school
buildings (esp. for buildings (esp. for girls)girls)
HealthHealth
Average life Average life expectancy for Afghans expectancy for Afghans is 42, more than 25 is 42, more than 25 years younger than the years younger than the average American average American (World (World Health Organization)Health Organization)
One in four children One in four children dies before the age of 5 dies before the age of 5 (USAID)(USAID)
Many Afghans lack Many Afghans lack access to basic medical access to basic medical carecare
Gender EquityGender Equity
Women have been a marginalized group in Women have been a marginalized group in AfghanistanAfghanistan
Cultural restrictions lead to difficulty accessing Cultural restrictions lead to difficulty accessing education and health serviceseducation and health services
Only 10% of Afghan women can read and writeOnly 10% of Afghan women can read and write Yet, Afghan women are important contributors to Yet, Afghan women are important contributors to
household income, especially in rural areashousehold income, especially in rural areas
GovernmentGovernment
In October 2004, In October 2004, Hamid Hamid KarzaiKarzai was elected was elected President of Afghanistan. President of Afghanistan.
Parliamentray elections Parliamentray elections were held in 2005.were held in 2005.
Local warlords, however, Local warlords, however, still hold power in many still hold power in many parts of the country. This parts of the country. This contributes to the contributes to the insecurity in Afghanistan.insecurity in Afghanistan.
Despite these Despite these challenges, Afghans challenges, Afghans
remain hopeful remain hopeful about the futureabout the future
THE ENDTHE END
What have you What have you learned about learned about Afghanistan?Afghanistan?
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