Between a fall of the Taliban after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and the 2003 Loya jirga, Afghanistan was referred to by the West as the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan. Under its recently constitution a country is nowadays officially known as the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

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Origin and history of the name

A region which is presently known as Afghanistan has never agaaround across two or three title changes in its yearn history. One of a number 1 ancient list, based on data from historiographer & scholars, was Ariana - a Greek pronounciation of the ancient Aryanam Vaeja, Land of the Aryans. Now this Old-Iranian & Avestan expression is preserved in the name Iran and it is noted in the title of the Afghan national airline, Ariana Airlines, as well.

Numerous centuries late, Afghanistan evolved into section of Greater Khorasan, and hence was recognized sustaining a title Khorasan (along with regions centered in the area of Merv and Neishabur), which in Pahlavi means "The Eastern Land" (خاور زمین around Persian). (Dehkhoda, p8457)

A todays title of Afghanistan derives from either a choice title for the Pashtuns: Afghan [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_country_name_etymologies], being a founders of modern Afghanistan. A remainder of a title originates from either the Persian word stān (united states or even land). A title Afghanistan was given to the united states per British in the 19th century. A English word Afghanland that appeared within various pact between Pashtuns and the United Kingdom was adopted by the Afghans & became Afghanistan.

History
Independent article: History of Afghanistan

Afghanistan, typically known as a carrefour of Central Asia, has had the super turbulent history. Through a ages, the area in todays world called Afghanistan'' has been on a edge of the total of major empires, including the Persian Empire, the British Empire and the Soviet Union, when well as a empires of Genghis Khan and Alexander the Great.

A Afghanistan united states-state when these are known now inherit being within 1746 under the Durrani Empire, but control was ceded to Britain until King Amanullah acceded to the throne inside 1919 (see "The Great Game"). around a period of the period of British intervention in Afghanistan, ethnic Pashtun territories were divided per Durand Line & would lead to strained relations between Afghanistan and British India and late a recently state of Pakistan across what come to referred to as a Pashtunistan debate.

A historical rulers of Afghanistan belonged to a Abdali tribe of the ethnic Afghans, whose title was changed to Durrani upon the accession of Ahmad Shah. It belonged to the Saddozay section of the Popalzay kinship group or to the Mohammadzay section of the Barakzay clan of the ethnic Afghans. A Mohammadzay furnished a Saddozay kings ofttimes by using top counsellors, world health organization served on occasion when regents, identified by using a epithet Mohammadzay.

Since 1900, eleven rulers were unseated through undemocratic means: 1919 (assassination), 1929 (abdication), 1929 (execution), 1933 (assassination), 1973 (deposition), 1978 (execution), 1979 (execution), 1979 (execution), 1987 (removal), 1992 (overthrow), 1996 (overthrow) and 2001 (overthrow).

A endure period of stability within Afghanistan lay between 1933 and 1973, when a united states was under a rule of King Zahir Shah. But, inside 1973, Zahir's brother-around-law, Sardar Mohammed Daoud launched a bloodless coup. Daoud & his entire personal were murdered within 1978 whenever a communist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan launched a coup and took over the government.

Opposition against, & conflict in, a series of left-of-center governments that followed was considerable. Within August 1978 the Western government commenced funding anti-government mujahideen forces; the Soviet Union invaded on December 24, 1979. Faced by owning mounting international pressure & losses of roughly 15,000 Soviet soldiers following of mujahideen opposition trained by the United States, Pakistan, and more foreign governments, a Soviets withdrew decade years late around 1989. For extra details, view Soviet war in Afghanistan.

Fight after continued among a various mujahadein factions. This in time produce to the state of warlordism. A chaos & corruption taking part within warlordism successively spawned a rise of the Taliban in reaction. A severest of this combat occurred within 1994, when 10,000 humans were flushed from either factions combat in the Kabul vicinity. Backed by Pakistan & her strategical allies, a Taliban developed as a political/religious click & one of these days seized power within 1996. A Taliban were take a breath to capture 90% of the united states, aside from either Afghan Northern Alliance strongholds primarily in the northeast. the Taliban sought to inflict a nonindulgent interpretation of Islamic Sharia law. A Taliban gave safe haven & assistance to people & organizations that engaged around terrorist act, especially Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda.

A United States and allied military action within trend lines of a opposition below the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks forced the class action's downfall. Inside late 2001, major leaders from either a Afghan opposition groups & diaspora met inside Bonn and agreed on the plan for the formulation of a freshly government structure that resulted in the inauguration of Hamid Karzai as Chairman of the Afghan Interim Authority (AIA) on December 2001. When the countrywide Loya Jirga in 2002, Karzai was elected President.

In March 3 and March 25 2002, the series of earthquakes struck Afghanistan, by owning a loss of hundreds to thousands of homes & terminated 1800 endures. All over 4000 additional humans were hurt. A earthquakes occurred at Samangan Province (March 3) and Baghlan Province (March 25). A latter was a worse of the deuce, & found virtually all of the casualties. International authorities assisted a Afghan government around treating by having a situation.

When the united states continues for its feet back on the ground, when recently 2005 it was struggling against extreme impoverishment, severe warlordism, the battered infrastructure, a immense total of ground-emplaced mine & more undischarged ordinance, besides as a sizeable illegal poppy & herion trade. It wwhen as well subject to once in a while violent political jockeying as a united states's foremost elections were with success held, & occasional acts of violence from either two or three remaining al-Qaeda and Taliban elements and a in-on-going military opeations to root retired the children out.

View likewise: Afghanistan timeline, Invasions of Afghanistan

Politics
Independent article: Politics of Afghanistan

Afghanistan is presently led by president Hamid Karzai, who was elected inside October of 2004. Prior to a election Karzai led a united states when getting been hand-picked per administration of United States' President Bush to head an interim government after the fall of the Taliban. His todays cabinet includes members of the Afghan Northern Alliance, & a mix from either either more regional and ethnic groups formed from the transitional government per Loya jirga (grand council). Previous monarch Mohammed Zahir Shah returned to the country, however wwhen non reinstated as king & lone exercises limited ceremonial powers.

Under a Bonn Agreement the Afghan Constitution Commission was established to consult with the public & formulate a draft constitution. the meeting of the constitutional loythe jirgthe was held inside December 2003, while a recently constitution was adopted creating a presidential form of government by using a two-chambered legislative assembly.

Troops & intelligence agencies from a United States & the total of more countries come present, a few to keep the peace, others assigned to hunt for remnants of the Taliban and al Qaeda. The United Nations peacekeeping force known as a International Security Assistance Force has been operating in Kabul since December 2001. NATO took control of this Force in August 11, 2003. A few of a united states remains under the control of warlords. [http://www.newstatesman.com/200502070006]

In March 27, 2003, Afghan deputy defense minister and right warlord General Abdul Rashid Dostum created an office for the North Zone of Afghanistan and appointed officials to it, defying so-interim president Hamid Karzai's orders that there be there is no zones within Afghanistan.

Eurocorps took over a responsibility for the NATO-led ISAF in Kabul August 9, 2004.

National elections were held on October 9, 2004. On top 10 million Afghans were registered to vote. Virtually all of the Seventeen candidates opposing Karzai boycotted the election, charging fraud; [http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1354517,00.html] an independent commission discovered grounds to believe of fraud, however ruled that it did non affect a effect of the poll. Karzai won 55.4% of the vote. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3977677.stm] He wwhen inaugurated as president in December 7. It was a united states's foremost national election since 1969, while parliamentary elections were previous held.

In September 18, 2005, parliamentary elections were held.

look at likewise: List of leaders of Afghanistan, List of Afghanistan Governors

Subdivisions
Afghanistan is divided into 34 provinces (velayat) which are then farther divided into territory.

Independent article: Provinces of Afghanistan Independent article: Districts of Afghanistan

A 34 provinces come:

Geography
Independent article: Geography of Afghanistan

Afghanistan occurs as mountainous country by having plains northerly & southwest. A greatest point, at 7485 m above sea level, is Nowshak. Big area of the united states come dry, & freshwater the diapers come limited. Afghanistan has the l& climate, by using hot summers and cold winters. A united states is oft subject to earthquakes.

A major cities of Afghanistan come its capital Kabul, Herat, Jalalabad, Mazar-e Sharif and Kandahar.

Look at too List of cities in Afghanistan, Places in Afghanistan.

Economy
Independent article: Economy of Afghanistan

Afghanistan is an extremely unfortunate united states, extremely contingent farming and livestock raising however virtually all population simply domestic plenty food to feed themselves. A economy has suffered greatly from either a recent political & military unrest, when severe drought has added to the united states's difficulties around 1998-2001. A majority of the people continues to suffer from either deficient food, article of clothing, housing, medical care, & more problems exacerbated by operation & political uncertainties. Inflation remains the good condition. Ensuing a Me-led coalition war that led to the kill of the Taliban inside November 2001, many of the united states's farmers keep close at hand resorted to growing cash crops for exportation instead of food for the nutrients of their population. The notable case of such the crop is the opium poppy (1,30Klick² around 2004 based on data from a United Nations Office on Doses & Crime), a cultivation of which has largely increased when you took a endure decade: Afghanistan, section of the thus-alleged "Golden Crescent", has become a number 1 destruct opium producer in the globe, prior to Burma (Myanmar), part of the then-supposed "Golden Triangle).

International efforts to rebuild Afghanistan lead to the formulation of the Afghan Interim Authority (AIA), as a result of the December 2001 Bonn Agreement, and later addressed at the Tokyo Donors Conference for Afghan Reconstruction in January 2002, where $4.5 billion was collected for a trust fund to be administered by the World Bank Group. Priority areas for reconstruction include the construction of education, health, and sanitation facilities, enhancement of administrative capacity, the development of the agricultural sector, and the rebuilding of road, energy, and telecommunication links. Two-thirds of the population live on less than US$2 a day. The infant mortality rate is 166 per 1000 births.

Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Afghanistan

The population of Afghanistan is divided into a large number of ethnic groups. Because a systematic census has not been held in the country recently, exact figures about the size and composition of the various ethnic groups are not available. Therefore most figures are approximations only. According to the CIA World FactBook (updated on 17 May 2005), the ethnic group distribution is as follows: Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%, Turkmen 3%, Baloch 2%, other 4%.

The official languages of Afghanistan are Persian (local name: Dari) 50% and Pashtu 35%. Other languages include Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%. Also a small number of ethnic minorities, primarily Sikhs and Hindus, speak Punjabi. Bilingualism is common.

According to the CIA World Factbook (updated on 17 May 2005), religiously, Afghans are overwhelmingly Muslim (approximately 84% Sunni and 15% Shi'a). There are also Hindu and Sikh minorities. Afghanistan was once home to a many-centuries-old Jewish minority, numbering approximately 5,000 in 1948. Most Jewish families fled the country after the 1979 Soviet invasion, and only one individual remains today, Zablon Simintov. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39702-2005Jan26.html] With the fall of the Taliban a number of Sikhs have returned to the Ghazni Province of Afghanistan.

Constitution
Main article: Constitution of Afghanistan

According to the 2004 constitution, Afghanistan is run by a president, who is elected by direct popular vote to a five-year term. The president may only serve two terms. A candidate for president must be at least forty years of age, a Muslim, and a citizen of Afghanistan. A candidate has two vice-presidents. The president serves as head of state and government and is commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The president makes appointments for his cabinet as well as posts in the military, police force, and provincial governerships with the approval of parliament.

The legislative body of Afghanistan is a parliament consisting of two houses: the Wolesi Jirga (House of the People) and the Meshrano Jirga (House of Elders). The Wolesi Jirga consists of up to 250 members elected to five-year terms through direct elections in proportion to the population of each province. At least two women must be elected from each province. In the Meshrano Jirga, one-third of the members are elected by provincial councils for four years, one-third are elected by district councils of each province for three years, and one-third are appointed by the president for five years, of which half must be women.

The judicial system of Afghanistan consists of the Stera Mahkama (Supreme Court), appeals courts, and lower district courts designated by law. The Stera Mahkama is made up of nine judges appointed by the president with the approval of parliament to a ten-year term. Judges must be at least forty years of age, not belong to a political party, and have a degree in law or Islamic jurisprudence. The Stera Mahkama can judge the constitutionality of all laws in the country.

Culture
Main article: Culture of Afghanistan

Many of the country's historic monuments have been damaged in the wars in recent years. The two famous statues of Buddha in the Bamiyan Province were destroyed by the Taliban because they were regarded by them as being idolatrous.

Other famous sites include the cities of Herat, Ghazni and Balkh. The Minaret of Jam, in the Hari Rud valley, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The people of Afghanistan being renowned horsemen, the sport known as Buzkashi is popular there. Afghan hounds, running dogs, originate from Afghanistan.

Before the Taliban gained power, the city of Kabul was home to many musicians who were masters of both traditional and modern Afghan music, especially during the Nauroz-celebration. Kabul in the middle part of the 20th century has been likened to Vienna during the 18th and 19th centuries.

See also: Radio Kabul, music of Afghanistan, Islam in Afghanistan

Education
Main article: Education in Afghanistan

In the spring of 2003, it was estimated that 30% of Afghanistan's 7,000 schools had been seriously damaged during more than two decades of Soviet occupation and civil war. Only half of the schools were reported to have clean water, while less than an estimated 40% had adequate sanitation. Education for boys was not a priority during the Taliban regime, and girls were banished from schools outright.

In regards to the poverty and violence of their surroundings, a study in 2002 by the Save the Children aid group said Afghan children were resilient and courageous. The study credited the strong institutions of family and community.

Up to four million Afghan children, possibly the largest number ever, are believed to have enrolled for class for the school year which began in March of 2003. Education is available for both girls and boys.

Literacy of the entire population is estimated at 36%.

Miscellaneous topics

Communications in Afghanistan Foreign relations of Afghanistan Afghan asylum seekers affair in Nauru List of sovereign states Military of Afghanistan Transportation in Afghanistan Stamps and postal history of Afghanistan List of birds on stamps of Afghanistan List of fish on stamps of Afghanistan