Afghanistan: What to know?

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Afghanistan is a large landlocked nation on the Asian continent, often designated as part of the Middle East. Afghanistan is approximately 250,000 square miles (647,000 square km), just a little smaller than the state of Texas. It is inhabited primarily by Pashtuns, with Tajik and Hazara ethnic groups also making up sizable portions of the population.

The area that is present day Afghanistan has been inhabited for approximately 50,000 years and played an important role in several empires during that time. The area was ruled by Alexander the Great, the Turks, Arabs, Mongols and many different Persian empires. Incredible archaeological sites still dot the countryside, remnants of this different past.

In the mid-18th century, the present state of Afghanistan was created. It brought together regions ruled by different Pashtun tribes, forming a unified front. This new state would play a major role in the struggle between Tsarist Russia and Great Britain for dominance in Central Asia, a struggle often referred to as The Great Game. Afghanistan was viewed by Britain as a bulwark between Russia-controlled Asia and the most important of British possessions: India. So from the time the British took control of Afghanistan in 1838 until the time Afghanistan gained full independence in 1838, Afghanistan was treated as little more than a protective buffer.

From about the 1930s until the 1970s, Afghanistan enjoyed a period of relative stability. Unified under one ruler, King Zahir Shah, the nation was independent and quite prosperous. With the British gone, the Afghan people were able to carve their own destinies and reassert their unique heritage. All of that changed in the 1970s. First the king was deposed by his brother-in-law in a bloodless coup. Then, in 1978, the new royal family was assassinated and a communist group took control of the country.

Because of its strategic importance, and as part of a larger anti-Communist campaign, the United States became involved in Afghanistan’s political future in 1979. With America funding and training the anti-Soviet mujahideen and funding and l he training of the USSR for communist rule, Afghanistan became an active battleground in the Cold War. This battle raged on for nearly a decade, until the Soviet retreat in 1989. Having won the battle, the United States withdrew its support from Afghanistan and a power vacuum quickly formed.

In addition to this power vacuum, there was a vacuum left by intellectuals and progressives who had fled the country during the fighting. This was quickly filled by the Taliban, a fundamentalist group, who took control of the capital in 1996 and consolidated their control over the country at the end of the century. Their rule was notoriously brutal, with political and religious dissidents executed, archaeological marvels destroyed for religious reasons, and hard-line ideology generally taking the place of open discussion and free speech.
In 2001, the United States intervened following the attacks on American soil by al-Qaeda. Al-Queda was primarily based in Afghanistan, and this, coupled with the Taliban’s refusal to hand over key figures for prosecution, angered the United States. The Taliban government was forcibly removed and a new government was installed. Free elections were held in 2004 and a new president was elected. Although the Taliban government has been removed, Taliban fighters continue to fight across the country and a strong US presence remains.

As of 2007, the political climate in Afghanistan is such that visiting for pleasure is not considered particularly safe. The US government has a long-standing travel advisory for the country and precautions should be taken before visiting. Landmines abound in the country and a trusted guide should be followed when leaving the cities. Typically, the situation changes so rapidly that it is best to consult with your country’s embassy before planning a trip to Afghanistan.

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