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Political
Borders Its
international borders stretch 5769km: 2383km constitutes its
northern borders with Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan;
71km in the northeast with China; 2466km with Pakistan in the
south and east and 849km with Iran in the west. Afghanistan is the
point of intersection of three civilized worlds: the Middle East;
Turkish and Mongolian Central Asia; and the Indian sub-continent.
Climate
generally harsh, hot in summer, and cold in winter
Area
652,100
km2 .
Topography
Mountainous
areas cover 85% of the territory.
Forest
Surface 13,510km2
Rivers
All rivers in Afghanistan stem from the Hindu Kush Mountains. The
most important of these rivers are: Amu Darya in the north,
Harirud in the northwest, Helmand and Arghandab rivers in the
south and the Kabul river in the east.
Natural
Resources
Natural gas, oil, and coal
Important
cities Kabul
(the capital), Kandahar, Herat, and Mazar Al-Sharif.
Date
of Joining “The Islamic Conference Organization”:
September 22, 1969
Population
26.6
million (as estimated in 2000)
Rate
of Population Growth
2.6% (as estimated in 2000)
Languages
Pashtu,
Dari (Persian dialect). These are the two official languages
practiced by nearly 80% of the population. There are also 21 local
dialects
Religions
Sunni
Muslims (82-90%), Imam Shiite Muslims (8-15%), Isma`ili Shiite
Muslims (1-2%). Not more than 1%, Hindu, Sikh, and Jews.
Ethnic
Composition
There are more than 20 ethnic groups most important of which are
the Pashtuns and the Tajiks constituting 70% of the population.
Then follows the Uzbeks (6.6%), the
Aimaq (5.3), Farswan (5.2),
and Al Hazara (3.3%-6.3%). These ethnic groups intermingle
with the neighboring countries in Central Asia.
Economy
There
is no available information on the current economy. Before the
coup and the Russian-Afghani war, Afghanistan was considered one
of the poorest, underdeveloped countries in the world. Its economy
depended mainly on agriculture, which amounted to 52% of the Gross
National Product (GNP) in 1977/78. A large sector of industry was
dependent on agricultural raw material (spinning and weaving in
rug making, sugar, dried fruit, oils and hide for the leather
industry). Industry, however, played a minor role in the Afghani
economy, as it was mostly primary and consumer industries. The
commercial product of mining was confined to natural gas, coal,
and salt although Afghanistan is rich in mineral resources.
Industry and mining constituted 20.48% of the GNP in 1977/78.
Education
Religious
education continues in Afghanistan. In many cases schools were
annexed to large mosques. Although another system was introduced
in 1904, these schools, which pre-date that, still operate.
There
are five universities in Afghanistan: Kabul University (1942),
Galal Abad University (1962), Balkh University (1988), Herat
University (1988) and the Islamic university in Kabul (1988).
There are eight professional colleges
and
15 technological colleges. According to UNESCO, illiteracy among
adults in Afghanistan is still one of the highest in Asia. More
than half of the university faculty members have left Afghanistan
after the coup and the Soviet invasion. In the 1980s some 50, 000
Afghanis were sent to the Soviet Union for education and training.
As for education abroad, immigrants run more than 2900 schools in
the countries where they have settled.
Health
Afghanistan
suffers from a high rate of diseases - one of the highest in the
world (T.B., malaria, diarrhea and eye infections). These rates
decrease among Afghani immigrants in Pakistan and Iran thanks to
better health care. The average life expectancy has dropped from
41 to 36 due to poor health and war casualties.
Currency
Afghani
Independence
Day August
19 (the commemoration of the end of British sovereignty in 1919)
Modern
Political History of Afghanistan
Establishment
In
1747Ahmad Shah Durrani (Ahmad Khan Al Abdali) stepped in to power
in Kandahar after the death of Nadir Afshar, the Iranian ruler who
ruled the western and southern areas of Afghanistan as well as
Iran. Ahmad Shah was one of the officers in the Afshar’s army.
In a short period of time, he managed to subjugate areas in the
west and in the south - from Kashmir and Delhi in the east to
Mashhad in the west, and Amu Darya River in the north to India in
the south. He adopted Kandahar as his capital. Thus, all rulers of
Afghanistan belonged to the Pashtun Durrani tribe.
British-Afghani
War
During the 19th
century, Afghanistan was the victim of the British-Russian
conflict. Consequently, Afghanistan entered three wars with
Britain. In the first war (1839-1842), the British army suffered a
crushing defeat. In the second war (1878-1880), the British army
was also defeated and withdrew its forces. Amir Abdul Rahman Khan
came to power and his leadership was marked by wisdom. He adopted
an objective foreign policy towards the British and the Russian
empires, which continued until 1955. As for the third war (1919)
it ended with Britain signing the Rawalpindi
Agreement on August 19, 1919, in which it acknowledged
Afghanistan’s internal and foreign independence. Since then that
date became the commemoration of Afghani independence.
First
“Afghani-Soviet Friendly Agreement” (1921)
The first agreement signed by Afghanistan after independence in
1919. The agreement stated that Bengada (the area subjugated by
the Russians in 1885) must be restored. The agreement also
acknowledged the independence of Islamic states, Bukhara and
Khiva. It was not until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991
that this was implemented. King Amanullah who achieved a nine-fold
increase in Soviet-Afghani trade signed this agreement.
Deposing
Amanullah Amanullah
changed the heritage, religion, and tradition of the country. Thus
a large group of `ulama (religious scholars) and tribal leaders
became enraged. He was excluded from power in a national
revolution lead by Ibn Al Saqa (or Habib Allah) who tried to
establish an Islamic state, unlike his predecessor. However, Nadir
Khan, one of Amanullah’s previous leaders killed Ibn Al Saqa and
enter Kabul with the help of Pashtun tribes and Britain forces.
Nadir
Shah’s Assassination and Thahir Shah Stepping in (1933)
The latter is the son of Nadir Shah. He governed at the age of 19.
Muhammad
Dawoud as Prime Minister (1953-1963) He
was the cousin of King Thahir Shah. He was an outspoken leftist
and made use of left-wingers in the government. He also maintained
open relations with the Soviet Union.
Initiating
Soviet Military Aid to Afghanistan (1956)
After the U.S. refused to sell arms to Afghanistan (1953-1955),
Kharazov/Khrushchev and Bulganin visited Afghanistan in December
1955 to offer loans followed by aircraft and weapons.
Ousting
Dawoud and Appointing Muhammad Yusuf King
Thahir Shah began to feel the threat Dawoud’s leftist policies.
He dismissed him and appointed Muhammad Yusuf who was known for
his tendency towards the west.
The
Establishment of the “National Communist Party” (1965) This
took place in the house of Nur Muhammad Taraki who spearheaded the
war with the intention of maintaining solidarity between
communists in Afghanistan to prepare for elections in September
1965.
Political
Disruptions and Famine (1969-1973)
Student riots were unleashed in 1969, thwarting the academic year.
Famine struck Afghanistan causing the death of thousands of
people.
The
End of the Monarchy’s Reign and the Birth of the Republic of
Afghanistan under Muhammad Dawoud (1973-1978)
Muhammad Dawoud lead a peaceful military coup. He seized power
with the aid of his old allies from Al Sha`b (The
People’s Party). He began the republic era based on a new
constitution and one party.
Coup
of April 27, 1978, and the Communists Stepping in to Power In
1978 the Democratic Communist National Party carried out the great
military coup. Dawoud and his family were thrown out and Nur
Muhammad Taraki - the party’s secretary general – came to
power. He became head of the Revolutionary Council and prime
minister of the “Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.” Many
Islamic leaders, religious figures, and all opponents of
revolutionary communist decisions were detained. Thousands were
killed in detention and in collective massacres. The Afghanis were
angered by such practices, inducing them to turn against the
communist government.
Second
“Afghani-Soviet Friendly Agreement” (December 1978) Brezhnev
and Taraki signed this. This agreement was then used to justify
the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
The
Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan (December 27, 1979)
Hafith Allah Amin killed Taraki. The Soviets invaded Afghanistan
and killed Amin who opposed the Soviet hegemony. Karmal from
Moscow came to rule Afghanistan. Resistance broke up throughout
the whole state and more and more immigrants fled to Pakistan and
Iran.
Deposing
Karmal and Bringing Naguib to Power (1986)
This occurred peacefully when Karmal resigned. Dr. Naguib, head of
intelligence under Karmal, came to power. He adopted a “national
interests” policy as a prelude to the Soviet withdrawal.
However, war worsened.
Resistance
Culminates in 1987
The Mujahidin achieved several successes. They were able to
target 150-200 Soviet aircrafts. As for the Russian human losses
during the ten-year war, there were 14,500: whereas there were one
million Afghani losses.
Mujahidin
Government
The Mujahidin Government in Kabul replaced the overthrown
Naguib Allah’s regime in April 1992. During the first two months
Sibghat Allah Al Mugaddadi governed and he headed “Islamic Jihad
Council,” which, in turn, was appointed a temporary council of
ministers. On June 28, 1992, Mugaddadi handed over the presidency
- according to the suggestions in the Peshawar’s agreement - to
Burhan Addin Rabbani who headed the “Leadership Council.”
Rabbani
held power until the end of October 1992. On December 30, a
special advisory council elected Rabbani as the state’s
president until 1994. In March 1993 most of Mujahidin groups
signed a peace treaty in Islamabad. A multi-ethnic temporary
government south of Kabul (June 1993) was one of the outcomes of
the treaty. In June 1994, the Supreme Court extended Rabbani’s
presidency for another six-month term. Although this term ended in
early 1995, Rabbani continued to remain in power.
During
the period from April 1992 until the Taliban toppled Rabbani’s
government in Kabul in September 1996, Afghanistan was exposed to
ferocious battles between all fighting ethnicities. Sixty percent
of the capital underwent severe damages and more than
10,000 were killed in Kabul. Disruption prevailed while a culture
of warlords and insecurity reigned.
Taliban
Government
The Taliban forces entered Kabul in September 27, 1996. It
declared Afghanistan as an Islamic Emirate under the rule of the
Amir Al Mu’minin (ruler of believers), Mullah Muhammad Omar, who
was elected by a large council of clerics and `ulama before the
Taliban subjugated Kabul. A temporary ministerial council was
appointed to run affairs. However the Taliban government seemed
incapable of managing all aspects of life. This roots back to the
lack of experience and the continuing fighting between the Taliban
that controls 90% of Afghanistan and its opponents in the north.
On
the international level, only three countries acknowledged the
Taliban government: Saudi Arabia, The United Arab Emirates, and
Pakistan. Recently when the United States started accusing Taliban
of harboring terrorism. The UAE and Saudi Arabia subsequently
withdrew their acknowledgement of the Taliban government.
Rabbani’s government, however, still maintains a global
acknowledgment. Afghanistan has been exposed to a worldwide ban
under the Taliban government due to the Taliban’s hard-line
policies that do not conform to the UN’s resolutions. The
Afghanis, thus, suffer from war, famine, poverty, and a global
embargo.
Loya
Jirga
The
Afghani outlawed king Thahir Shah demands that the representative
council of Afghani forces known as Loya Jirga be convened to reach
a settlement among the various Afghani ethnicities and put an end
to internal bloodshed. Many regional and international forces hail
such solution as it offers an alternative to the Taliban’s
government in the current phase.
It
is the largest representative council reflecting the Afghani
nation’s will. It is composed of the president, the vice
president, members of the National Shura Council (legislative
council), the attorney general, council of ministers, socialist
prosecutor, his deputies and office members, head of the
Constitutional Council, heads of district councils and
representatives from each district according to the number
representing them in the People’s Assembly. The people, through
general secret balloting, elect these representatives. Loya Jirga
comprises not less than 50 political, scientific, social, and
religious dignitaries appointed by the President.
Loya
Jirga has the following authorities:
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To ratify and amend the constitution.
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To elect the president and accept his resignation.
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To give consent to the declaration of war and disarmament.
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To tackle resolutions relevant to significant state issues.
At
least two thirds of the members should be present for Loya
Jirga’s meetings to convene. The majority of votes take
decisions. If the People’s Assembly is dissolved, its members
should have their membership in Loya Jirga until
a new People’s Assembly is formed. Loya Jirga elections
are carried out under the law, but Loya Jirga puts it into effect.
If
no decision has been reached due to tensions in the committee, the
issue is taken to a joint National Shura Council session where it
can be discussed. Decisions are taken then by the majority of
votes. This decision, however, cannot be implemented without the
president’s consent. It is not until the president ratifies the
Shura Council decisions that they are put into effect.
Finally,
the president can declare the dissolution of the people’s
Assembly after consulting the head of the People’s Assembly, the
head of Sheikhs, the prime minister, communist prosecutor, and
finally the head of the Constitutional Council. He should state
reasons behind dissolving the council. A new council is elected
three months after the dissolution of the old
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