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National Map
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Afghanistan |
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National Flag
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Afghanistan |
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Flag
Description:
three equal vertical bands of black (hoist), red, and green,
with a gold emblem centered on the red band; the emblem
features a temple-like structure encircled by a wreath on
the left and right and by a bold Islamic inscription above
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National Emblem(Coat
Of Arms)
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Afghanistan |
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National Anthem
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Afghanistan |
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Categories National Symbol Of |
Afghanistan |
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Background:
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Ahmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes and
founded Afghanistan in 1747. The country served as a
buffer between the British and Russian empires until it
won independence from notional British control in 1919.
A brief experiment in democracy ended in a 1973 coup and
a 1978 Communist counter-coup. The Soviet Union invaded
in 1979 to support the tottering Afghan Communist
regime, but withdrew 10 years later under relentless
pressure by internationally supported anti-Communist
mujahedin rebels. A civil war between mujahedin factions
erupted following the 1992 fall of the Communist regime.
The Taliban, a hardline Pakistani-sponsored movement
that emerged in 1994 to end the country's civil war and
anarchy, seized Kabul in 1996 and most of the country
outside of opposition Northern Alliance strongholds by
1998. Following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks,
a US, Allied, and Northern Alliance military action
toppled the Taliban for sheltering Osama BIN LADIN. In
late 2001, a conference in Bonn, Germany, established a
process for political reconstruction that included the
adoption of a new constitution in 2003, a presidential
election in 2004, and National Assembly elections in
2005. On 9 October 2004, Hamid KARZAI became the first
democratically elected president of Afghanistan. The
National Assembly was inaugurated on 19 December 2005.
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Location:
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Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
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Geographic coordinates:
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33 00 N, 65 00 E |
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Map references:
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Asia |
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Area:
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total: 647,500 sq km
land: 647,500 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Texas |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 5,529 km
border countries: China 76 km, Iran 936 km,
Pakistan 2,430 km, Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744
km, Uzbekistan 137 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers |
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Terrain:
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mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m
highest point: Nowshak 7,485 m |
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Natural resources:
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natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc,
barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious
and semiprecious stones |
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Land use:
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arable land: 12.13%
permanent crops: 0.22%
other: 87.65% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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23,860 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains;
flooding; droughts |
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Environment - current issues:
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limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate
supplies of potable water; soil degradation;
overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining
forests are being cut down for fuel and building
materials); desertification; air and water pollution
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Marine Dumping
signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast
to southwest divide the northern provinces from the rest
of the country; the highest peaks are in the northern
Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor) |
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Population:
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29,928,987 (July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 44.7% (male 6,842,857/female
6,524,485)
15-64 years: 52.9% (male 8,124,077/female
7,713,603)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 353,193/female
370,772) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 17.56 years
male: 17.55 years
female: 17.57 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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4.77%
note: this rate does not take into consideration
the recent war and its continuing impact (2005 est.)
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Birth rate:
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47.02 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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20.75 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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21.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 163.07 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 167.79 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 158.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 42.9 years
male: 42.71 years
female: 43.1 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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6.75 children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.01% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and
protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk
countrywide below 2,000 meters from March through
November
animal contact disease: rabies (2004) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Afghan(s)
adjective: Afghan |
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Ethnic groups:
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Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%,
Turkmen 3%, Baloch 2%, other 4% |
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Religions:
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Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 19%, other 1% |
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Languages:
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Afghan Persian or Dari (official) 50%, Pashtu (official)
35%, Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%,
30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%,
much bilingualism |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 36%
male: 51%
female: 21% (1999 est.) |
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People - note:
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of the estimated 4 million refugees in October 2001, 2.3
million have returned |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan
conventional short form: Afghanistan
local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Afghanestan
local short form: Afghanestan
former: Republic of Afghanistan |
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Government type:
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Islamic republic |
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Capital:
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Kabul |
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Administrative divisions:
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34 provinces (velayat, singular - velayat); Badakhshan,
Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Daykondi, Farah, Faryab,
Ghazni, Ghowr, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol, Kandahar,
Kapisa, Khowst, Konar, Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar,
Nangarhar, Nimruz, Nurestan, Oruzgan, Paktia, Paktika,
Panjshir, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Vardak,
and Zabol |
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Independence:
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19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign
affairs) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 19 August (1919) |
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Constitution:
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new constitution drafted 14 December 2003 - 4 January
2004; signed 16 January 2004 |
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Legal system:
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according to the new constitution, no law should be
"contrary to Islam"; the state is obliged to create a
prosperous and progressive society based on social
justice, protection of human dignity, protection of
human rights, realization of democracy, and to ensure
national unity and equality among all ethnic groups and
tribes; the state shall abide by the UN charter,
international treaties, international conventions that
Afghanistan signed, and the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President of the Islamic Republic
of Afghanistan Hamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head
of government; former King ZAHIR Shah holds the
honorific, "Father of the Country," and presides
symbolically over certain occasions, but lacks any
governing authority; the honorific is not hereditary
head of government: President of the Islamic
Republic of Afghanistan Hamid KARZAI (since 7 December
2004); note - the president is both chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: 27 ministers; note - under the new
constitution, ministers are appointed by the president
and approved by the National Assembly
elections: the president and two vice presidents
are elected by direct vote for a five-year term; if no
candidate receives 50% or more of the vote in the first
round of voting, the two candidates with the most votes
will participate in a second round; a president can only
be elected for two terms; election last held 9 October
2004 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: Hamid KARZAI elected president;
percent of vote - Hamid KARZAI 55.4%, Yunus QANOONI
16.3%, Ustad Mohammad MOHAQQEQ 11.6%, Abdul Rashid
DOSTAM 10.0%, Abdul Latif PEDRAM 1.4%, Masooda JALAL
1.2% |
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Legislative branch:
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the bicameral National Assembly consists of the Wolesi
Jirga or House of People (no more than 249 seats),
directly elected for five-year terms, and the Meshrano
Jirga or House of Elders (102 seats, one third elected
from provincial councils for four-year terms, one third
elected from local district councils for three-year
terms - provincial councils elected temporary members to
fill these seats until district councils are formed, and
one third presidential appointees for five-year terms;
the presidential appointees will include two
representatives of Kuchis and two representatives of the
disabled; half of the presidential appointees will be
women)
note: on rare occasions the government may
convene a Loya Jirga (Grand Council) on issues of
independence, national sovereignty, and territorial
integrity; it can amend the provisions of the
constitution and prosecute the president; it is made up
of members of the National Assembly and chairpersons of
the provincial and district councils
elections: last held 18 September 2005; next to
be held for the Wolesi Jirga by September 2009; next to
be held for the provincial councils to the Meshrano
Jirga by September 2008
election results: the single non-transferable
vote (SNTV) system used in the election did not make use
of politial party slates; most candidantes ran as
independents |
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Judicial branch:
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the constitution establishes a nine-member Stera Mahkama
or Supreme Court (its nine justices are appointed for
10-year terms by the president with approval of the
Wolesi Jirga) and subordinate High Courts and Appeals
Courts (note - nine supreme court justices were
appointed in the interim in January 2005 pending
National Assembly selection of the Constitutionally
mandated justices); there is also a Minister of Justice;
a separate Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission
established by the Bonn Agreement is charged with
investigating human rights abuses and war crimes |
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Political parties and leaders:
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note - includes only political parties approved by the
Ministry of Justice: Afghan Millat [Anwarul Haq AHADI];
De Afghanistan De Solay Ghorzang Gond [Shahnawaz TANAI];
De Afghanistan De Solay Mili Islami Gond [Shah Mahmood
Polal ZAI]; Harakat-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Asif
MOHSINEE]; Hezb-e-Aarman-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Iihaj
Saraj-u-din ZAFAREE]; Hezb-e-Aazadee Afghanistan [Abdul
MALIK]; Hezb-e-Adalat-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad
Kabeer MARZBAN]; Hezb-e-Afghanistan-e-Wahid [Mohammad
Wasil RAHEEMEE]; Hezb-e-Afghan Watan Islami Gond [leader
NA]; Hezb-e-Congra-e-Mili Afghanistan [Latif PEDRAM];
Hezb-e-Falah-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad ZAREEF];
Hezb-e-Libral-e-Aazadee Khwa-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Ajmal
SOHAIL]; Hezb-e-Hambastagee Mili Jawanan-e-Afghanistan
[Mohammad Jamil KARZAI];
Hezb-e-Hamnbatagee-e-Afghanistan [Abdul Khaleq NEMAT];
Hezb-e-Harakat-e-Mili Wahdat-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad
Nadir AATASH]; Hezb-e-Harak-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan
[Ilhaj Said Hssain ANWARY]; Hezb-e-Ifazat Az
Uqoq-e-Bashar Wa Inkishaf-e-Afghanistan [Baryalai
NASRATEE]; Hezb-e-Istiqlal-e-Afghanistan [Dr. Gh. Farooq
NIJZRABEE]; Hezb-e-Jamhoree Khwahan [Sibghatullah SANJAR];
Hezb-e-Kar Wa Tawsiha-e-Afghanistan [Zulfiar OMID];
Hezb-e-Mili Afghanistan [Abdul Rasheed AARYAN];
Hezb-e-Mili Wahdat-e-Aqwam-e-Islami Afghanistan
[Mohammad Shah KHOGYANEE]; Hezb-e-Nuhzhat-e-Mili
Afghanistan [Ahmad Wali MASOUD]; Hezb-e-Paiwand-e-Mili
Afghanistan [Said Mansoor NADIRI];
Hezb-e-Rastakhaiz-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Said
ZAHIR]; Hezb-e-Refah-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mia Gul
WASEEQ]; Hezb-e-Risalat-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Noor Aqa
ROEEN]; Hezb-e-Sahadat-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad
Zubair PAIROZ]; Hezb-e-Sahadat-e-Mili Wa Islami
Afghanistan [Mohammad Usman SALIGZADA];
Hezb-e-Sulh-e-Mili Islami Aqwam-e-Afghanistan [Abdul
Qahir SHARYATEE]; Hezb-e-Sulh Wa Wahdat-e-Mili
Afghanistan [Abdul Qadir IMAMEE]; Hezb-e-Tafahum-e-Wa
Democracy Afghanistan [Ahamad SHAHEEN];
Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Karim
KHALILI]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Ustad
Mohammad MOHAQQEQ]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Mili Afghanistan
[Abdul Rasheed Jalili]; Jamahat-ul-Dahwat ilal
Qurhan-wa-Sunat-ul-Afghanistan [Mawlawee Samiullah
NAJEEBEE]; Jombesh-e Milli [Abdul Rashid DOSTAM];
Mahaz-e-Mili Islami Afghanistan [Said Ahmad GAILANEE];
Majmah-e-Mili Fahaleen-e-Sulh-e-Afghanistan [Shams ul
Haq Noor SHAMS]; Nuhzat-e-Aazadee Wa democracy
Afghanistan [Abdul Raqeeb Jawid KUHISTANEE];
Nuhzat-e-Hambastagee Mili Afghanistan [Peer Said Ishaq
GAILANEE]; Sazman-e-Islami Afghanistan-e-Jawan [Siad
Jawad HUSSAINEE]; Tahreek Wahdat-e-Mili [Sultan Mahmood
DHAZI] (30 Sep 2004) |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Jamiat-e Islami (Society of Islam) [former President
Burhanuddin RABBANI]; Ittihad-e Islami (Islamic Union
for the Liberation of Afghanistan), [Abdul Rasul SAYYAF];
there are also small monarchist, communist, and
democratic groups |
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International organization participation:
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AsDB, CP, ECO, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW,
OSCE (partner), SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Said Tayeb JAWAD
chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20008
telephone: [1] 202-483-6410
FAX: [1] 202-483-6488
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald E. NEUMANN
embassy: The Great Masood Road, Kabul
mailing address: 6180 Kabul Place, Dulles, VA
20189-6180
telephone: [00 93] (20) 230-0436
FAX: [00 93] (20) 230-1364 |
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Flag description:
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three equal vertical bands of black (hoist), red, and
green, with a gold emblem centered on the red band; the
emblem features a temple-like structure encircled by a
wreath on the left and right and by a bold Islamic
inscription above |
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Economy - overview:
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Afghanistan's economic outlook has improved
significantly since the fall of the Taliban regime in
2001 because of the infusion of over $4 billion in
international assistance, recovery of the agricultural
sector and growth of the service sector, and the
reestablishment of market institutions. Real GDP growth
is estimated to have slowed last fiscal year primarily
because adverse weather conditions cut agricultural
production, but is expected to rebound over 2005-06
because of foreign donor reconstruction and service
sector growth. Despite the progress of the past few
years, Afghanistan remains extremely poor, landlocked,
and highly dependent on foreign aid, farming, and trade
with neighboring countries. It will probably take the
remainder of the decade and continuing donor aid and
attention to significantly raise Afghanistan's living
standards from its current status, among the lowest in
the world. Much of the population continues to suffer
from shortages of housing, clean water, electricity,
medical care, and jobs, but the Afghan government and
international donors remain committed to improving
access to these basic necessities by prioritizing
infrastructure development, education, housing
development, jobs programs, and economic reform over the
next year. Growing political stability and continued
international commitment to Afghan reconstruction create
an optimistic outlook for continuing improvements in the
Afghan economy in 2006. Expanding poppy cultivation and
a growing opium trade may account for one-third of GDP
and looms as one of Kabul's most serious policy
challenges. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$21.5 billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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NA |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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8% (2005 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $800 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 38%
industry: 24%
services: 38%
note: data exclude opium production (2005 est.)
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Labor force:
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15 million (2004 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 80%, industry 10%, services 10% (2004 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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40% NA (2005 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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53% (2003) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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16.3% (2005 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $269 million
expenditures: $561 million, including capital
expenditures of $41.7 million NA (FY04-05 budget) |
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Agriculture - products:
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opium, wheat, fruits, nuts, wool, mutton, sheepskins,
lambskins |
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Industries:
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small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture,
shoes, fertilizer, cement; handwoven carpets; natural
gas, coal, copper |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA |
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Electricity - production:
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905 million kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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1.042 billion kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - imports:
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200 million kWh (2003) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2003) |
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Oil - consumption:
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5,000 bbl/day (2003 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2005) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2005) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl (1 January 2002) |
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Natural gas - production:
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220 million cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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220 million cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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49.98 billion cu m (1 January 2002) |
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Exports:
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$471 million (not including illicit exports or reexports)
(2005 est.) |
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Exports - partners:
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Pakistan 24%, India 21.3%, US 12.4%, Germany 5.5% (2004)
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Imports:
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$3.87 billion (2005 est.) |
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Imports - partners:
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Pakistan 25.5%, US 8.7%, India 8.5%, Germany 6.5%,
Turkmenistan 5.3%, Kenya 4.7%, South Korea 4.2%, Russia
4.2% (2004) |
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Debt - external:
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$8 billion in bilateral debt, mostly to Russia;
Afghanistan has $500 million in debt to Multilateral
Development Banks (2004) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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international pledges made by more than 60 countries and
international financial institutions at the Berlin
Donors Conference for Afghan reconstruction in March
2004 reached $8.9 billion for 2004-09 |
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Currency (code):
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afghani (AFA) |
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Exchange rates:
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afghanis per US dollar - NA (2005), 50 (2004), 50
(2003), 3,000 (2002), 3,000 (2001)
note: in 2002, the afghani was revalued and the
currency stabilized at about 50 afghanis to the dollar;
before 2002, the market rate varied widely from the
official rate |
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Fiscal year:
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21 March - 20 March |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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33,100 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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15,000 (2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: very limited telephone and
telegraph service
domestic: telephone service is improving with the
licensing of four wireless telephone service providers
by 2005; approximately 3 in 10 Afghans own a wireless
telephone; telephone main lines remain limited with only
0.1 line per 10 people
international: country code - 93; five VSAT's
installed in Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and
Jalalabad provide international and domestic voice and
data connectivity |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 21, FM 23, shortwave 1 (broadcasts in Pashtu, Afghan
Persian (Dari), Urdu, and English) (2003) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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at least 10 (one government-run central television
station in Kabul and regional stations in nine of the 32
provinces; the regional stations operate on a reduced
schedule; also, in 1997, there was a station in Mazar-e
Sharif reaching four northern Afghanistan provinces)
(1998) |
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Internet country code:
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.af |
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Internet users:
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1,000 (2002) |
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Communications - note:
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in March 2003 'af' was established as Afghanistan's
domain name; Internet access is growing through Internet
cafes as well as public "telekiosks" in Kabul that are
part of a nationwide network proposed by the
Transitional Authority for Internet access (2002) |
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Airports:
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47 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 10
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2005 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 36
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 9 (2005 est.) |
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Heliports:
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9 (2005 est.) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 387 km (2004) |
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Roadways:
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total: 34,789 km
paved: 8,231 km
unpaved: 26,558 km (2003) |
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Waterways:
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1,200 km
note: chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up
to 500 DWT (2004) |
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Ports and terminals:
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Kheyrabad, Shir Khan |
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Military branches:
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Afghan National Army (includes Afghan Air Force), Afghan
Militia Force (AMF) (2005) |
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Military service age and obligation:
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22 years of age; inductees are contracted into service
for a 4-year term (2005) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 22-49: 4,952,812 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 22-49: 2,662,946 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males: 275,362 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$188.4 million (2004) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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2.6% (2004) |
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Disputes - international:
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the UN has been able to repatriate over two million
Afghan refugees but several million more continue to
reside in Iran and Pakistan in camps and elsewhere, many
at their own choosing; Coalition and Pakistani forces
continue to patrol remote tribal areas to control the
borders and stem organized terrorist and other illegal
cross-border activities; regular meetings between
Pakistani and Coalition allies aim to resolve periodic
claims of boundary encroachments; occasional conflicts
over water-sharing arrangements with Amu Darya and
Helmand River states |
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Refugees and internally displaced persons:
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IDPs: 167,000 - 200,000 (mostly Pashtuns and
Kuchis displaced in south and west due to drought and
instability) (2004) |
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Illicit drugs:
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world's largest producer of opium; cultivation of opium
poppy reached unprecedented level of 206,700 hectares in
2004; counterdrug efforts largely unsuccessful;
potential opium production of 4,950 metric tons;
potential heroin production of 582 metric tons if all
opium was processed; source of hashish; many
narcotics-processing labs throughout the country; drug
trade source of instability and some antigovernment
groups profit from the trade; 80-90% of the heroin
consumed in Europe comes from Afghan opium; vulnerable
to narcotics money laundering through informal financial
networks |
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