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Afghanistan:Whydiditbecomealandlockedcountry?2021-09-1319:25
Afghanistanisatypicallandlockedcountry.Everyyear,mostofAfghanistan’simportandexporttrademustbecompletedthroughPakistan’sports.Getholdofit.However,Afghanistanhasacoastlineofnearly700kilometersinhistory,anditisaveritablecoastalcountry....Details
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Afghanistan:Abeggarwithagoldenmountainandasilvermountain,2021-09-0114:53
DifferentfromthewailinggaleabovetheTaklimakanDesert,thehugesnow-cappedmountainsareliketheMahaHellthatswallowseverything,makingpeopleforgettheexistenceoftimeandsound.Somepeopleinthegroupevendevelopedhysteria,andoccasionallyheardsomedesperateshoutsfromthedepthsoftheirminds.Butforthefar-awaylegendaryMahayanaBuddhistscriptures,theystillsteppedforwardfanaticallyandmechanicallytothedepthsofthecavemountain....Details
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WhatexactlyistheemirateoftheIslamicEmirateofAfghanistan2021-08-2312:52
NowthatthesituationinAfghanistanhasbasicallysettled,theTalibanhasbecomethenewregimeinchargeofAfghanistan.Afghanistanisaneighboringcountryconnectedbymountainsandriversofourcountry.Therefore,whetherAfghanistancanachievelong-termpeaceandwhethertheTalibancanestablishastableruleareallinourinterest....Details
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Historicalevolution
PrehistoricAfghanistan
ThehistoryofAfghanistancanbetracedbacktotheperiodofthePersianEmpire,whichwasincorporatedintoPersiaduringtheexpeditionofCyrustheGreatinthe6thcenturyBC.
AfterAlexanderinvadedin329BC,hewasincorporatedintohisempire.AfterthedeathofAlexander,theempirewasdividedintothreeparts,andtheAfghanregionwastransferredtotheeasternSeleuciddynasty.
About250BC,theGovernorofBactria,theGovernorofBactria,locatedbetweentheAmuDaryaandtheHinduKushMountains(includingnorthernAfghanistan),separatedfromtheSeleuciddynastyandbecameindependentandestablishedTheHellenisticKingdomofBactria(knowninChinesehistoricalrecordsasDaxia,Tochar,etc.)wasthestrongestinthefirsthalfofthesecondcentury.
InthefirsthalfofthesecondcenturyBC,theDayuepeoplewhooriginallyresidedintheHexiCorridorweredefeatedbytheHuns,andmovedwesttotheAmuDaryaValley,wheretheyconqueredDaxiaaround140-130BC,DrovetheGreeksinCentralAsiatonorthwesternIndia.
Inthe1stcenturyAD,GuishuangunifiedthetribesandexpandedintothepowerfulGuishuangKingdom.ItsprosperitystretchedfromtheAralSeainthewesttoConglingintheeast,andstraddledCentralAsiaandthenorthwesternpartoftheIndiansubcontinent.AdvocateMahayanaBuddhism.Afterthethirdcentury,itgraduallydeclinedandsplitintoseveralsmallcountries.Thefirsthalfofthefifthcenturywasannihilatedbythegangsterswhoattackedfromthenorth.
Theperiodoftherappers
Therappersareanomadicpeople,originallyinhabitedintheAltaiMountains,andbelongedtoRouran.TheRomansmistakenlyreferredtothemasthe"WhiteHuns."Atthebeginningofthefifthcentury,theymovedwestward,andlaterconqueredtheIliRiverBasin,theHezhongarea,Tochar,andnorthwesternIndia.TheyalsodefeatedthePersianSassaniddynasty,killeditsemperor,andbecameaformidablestrongclan.ThecenterofitsruleisIntoday'sAfghanistan,Zoroastrianismisbelieved.
About567,theSassanidPersiansandtheWesternTurksjoinedforcestodestroytheKatapeopleanddividetheirterritorieswiththeAmuDaryaastheboundary.TocharwasassignedtoPersia,butsoon(about568)wascapturedbytheWesternTurks.
In627,YehuKhansenthiseldestsontoestablishaTurkicdynastyinTocharo.
AftertheChineseTangarmydestroyedtheWesternTurks,theTurkickingofTocharaturnedtoChinatobecomehisvassal,andtheTangDynastysettheYueshicapitolhere.TherearealsoseveralsmallstatesbelongingtoTocharo'sministersinandaroundAfghanistantoday:guardingsecrets,guardingShiqian(theShazhouDudu'sresidenceintheTangDynasty),Yibin(XiuxianDudu'sresidence),andFanyan(wufengDudu'sresidence).),Hedalobranch(TiaozhiDuduMansion),GuDuo(GaoFuDuduMansion).Inaddition,TangalsonamedBelus,thesonofthelastemperorofPersia,whowasexiledtoChinafrom662to674,asthePersianemperor,andsetthePersiancapitalineasternPersiaandAfghanistan.
Atthebeginningoftheeighthcentury,ArabforcesenteredandcontrolledTochar.SincetheBattleofTarrosin751,allthecountriesintheWesternRegionswestofConglinghavebeenattributedtotheArabs.Sincethen,CentralAsiahasgraduallybecomeIslamized.
In821,thegovernoroftheAbbasiddynastyoftheArabianempire(black-clothed)KhorasanGovernorTahirestablishedtheTahirdynasty,whichownsthenorthernpartofCentralAsia,themiddleoftheriver,andtheAfghanregion,whichisrecognizedinnameTheCaliphissovereign,butindependent.
In867,Yakubu(nicknamedSafar),thearmycommanderofSistanProvince,roseuptoestablishtheSafardynasty.In873,theTahirdynastywasdestroyed,anditownedmostofPersia,rivers,Afghanistan,andwesternIndia.,WhosecenterisinKhorasan,onceinvadedBaghdad.Soon,theSamandynastyestablishedbylocalPersiangeneralsemergedintheHezhongarea,andtheSafardynastywasdestroyedin900.
In962,thegovernoroftheKhorasanTurkictribe,AlpTeqin,becameindependentfromGhazniCityandruledtheroost,establishedtheGhaznidynasty,andoccupiedAfghanistan.Attheendofthetenthcentury,theSamandynastywasdestroyed,andpartsofCentralAsiaandPersiaandthenorthernpartoftheIndusweresuccessivelyacquired.Intheeleventhcentury,itwashitbytheSeljukTurkmenanddeclinedandlostPersianandCentralAsianterritories.
Inthemiddleofthetwelfthcentury,theGuldynastyemergedintheGulmountainareabetweenHeratandGhazni,andsoontookpossessionoftheentireterritoryofAfghanistan,andthendestroyedtheGhaznidynastyandoccupiedPersia.OneeachinIndia.Around1215,theGuldynastywasdestroyedbytheHuarazimdynastythatroseintheriver.
In1220,KhorizmahwasdestroyedbytheMongols.Afterwards,AfghanistanwasruledbytheMongolKhanate,theIlkhanate,andsomesmallregimesattachedtotheMongols.AftertheriseoftheTurkicTimurGotoitsrule.AfterTimur'sdeath,AfghanistanbecameabattlefieldforthedescendantsofTimurandtheTurkmanblacksheepdynastyofWestAsia,anditwastransferredtothePersiansafterthe16thcentury.
Kingdomandmoderntimes
In1747,Ahmad,theAbuDarichiefofthePashtuntribeofAfghanistan,becameindependentontheoccasionofthedeclineofPersiaandestablishedtheDuranidynasty.AunifiedAfghanstateisofficiallyformed.IthasgonethroughtwodynastiesofDuranidynasty(1747-1826)andBalakzaidynasty(1826-1973).Inthemeantime,theydefeatedtheBritishinvasionthreetimesin1839-1842,1879-1880,and1919.
BeforeWorldWarII,AfghanistanhadalwaysbeenaBritishcolonialareathatBritainandRussiarepeatedlyfoughtover.Afghanistanlivesbetweenthesetwobeasts.
Afterthewar,Europefell,andtheworldenteredanenvironmentwheretheUSandtheSovietUnioncompetedforhegemony.Allotherforceswerepawnsinthefightbetweenthem.LittleAfghanistanisnoexception.
Inthe1950s,AfghanistanandPakistanhadaseriousdisputeoverthePashtostanissue,andthewarbetweenthetwocountrieswasabouttostart.TheSovietUnionseizedthisfavorableopportunitytoexpressitsfirmsupportforAfghanistan’spositiononthisissue,attackedthepro-AmericanPakistanatthetime,andquicklypulledAfghanistanintotheembraceoftheSovietUnion.
Atthattime,ZahirwasthekingofAfghanistan.ZahirfoundedtheNationalBankofAfghanistan,payingattentiontoeconomicdevelopment.DuringDaoud'stenureasprimeminister,theAfghaneconomyhasmadeconsiderableprogress.
From1973toSeptember1979,theSovietUnionlaunchedthreecoupsinAfghanistan.First,KingZahirwasoverthrownbythePrimeMinisterandhiscousinDaoud,andDaoudwasoverthrownbyNurMohammedTarakiinthefollowingyears.TarakiwasthenoverthrownbyHafizolaAmin.TheywereallunwillingtobeatthemercyoftheSovietUnionandwerelaunchedbytheSovietUnion'sinstructions.ExceptforthekingandDaoud,allthesefightingfiguresarefromdifferentfactionsoftheAfghanPeople'sDemocraticParty(acommunistpartyinAfghanistanestablishedbyTaraki).
AttheendofSeptember1979,theSovietUniondecidedtosendtroopstoAfghanistan.TheSovietarmywastrappedinthequagmireofguerrillasofvariousforces,makingitdifficulttomakeaquickbattle.AfterGorbachevcametopower,hedecidedtocarryoutaseriesofreformstothecountryandatthesametimedecidedtoendthefruitlesswarinAfghanistan.ThelastgroupofSoviettroopswithdrewinearly1989.
In1994,theTalibanwasfoundedbyOmaronthePakistan-Afghanistanborder.Mostofitsmemberswerestudentswhoweredissatisfiedwiththewarlordsfightinginthearea,hencethename.RepresentingtheinterestsofthelowestmainstreamPashtunpeople,sweepingthecountryinjustafewyears.TheyaretheTaliban."Taliban"isderivedfromArabicandmeans"student".
TheTalibanisarigorousorganizationofIslamicfundamentalism.Intheanti-warlordstruggleinKandahar,theTalibaneliminatedthelocalwarlordsandcontrolledtheentireKandahar.Politically,theTalibanadvocate"eliminatingthewarlordsandrebuildingthecountry."Theyarenotattachedtoanyfaction.TheyregardtheQuranasalaw,andtheirgoalistotransformtheAfghancountryandsocietyinaccordancewithIslamicfundamentalism.Propagandatobuildaunified,peacefulandprosperousAfghanistan,supportedbytaxcutsandstrictcommandments,hasbeenwidelysupported.Basicallyoccupiedthewholecountryin1997.Althoughtheirpoliciesaremuchmoreformalthanthoseofwarlords,theirpoliciessuchasbrutaltorture,discriminationagainstwomen,resistancetoallmodernizationsotherthanweapons,andhatredofallpaganismhavekeptthiscountryaliveinrepressionandterroruntil2001after9/11intheUnitedStates.TheU.S.overthrewtheTalibanregimeonthegroundsofattackingbinLadeninhiding.Subsequently,conflictsbetweentheUSmilitaryandthelocalarmedforcesandvariousviolentincidentscontinued.
Afterthe"September11"incidentin2001,theTalibanregimecollapsedundermilitarystrikesfromtheUnitedStatesandNATO’s"AlliedForces."UndertheauspicesoftheUnitedNations,Afghanistanlaunchedthe"BonnProcess"ofpost-warreconstruction.OnDecember5ofthesameyear,theinterimgovernmentofAfghanistanwasestablished,andKarzaiwaselectedasthechairmanoftheinterimgovernment.FromJune11to19,2002,AfghanistanheldanemergencyloyajirgainKabulandelectedatransitionalgovernmentwithKarzaiasitspresident.
InJanuary2004,AfghanistanpromulgatedanewconstitutionandnamedthecountrytheIslamicRepublicofAfghanistan.InSeptember2004,Afghanistanhelditsfirstpresidentialelection;inOctober,Karzaiwaselectedasthefirstdemocraticallyelectedpresident.InSeptember2005,Afghanistanheldnationalandlocalparliamentelections;inDecember,thenewparliamentwasestablishedandthe"BonnProcess"ended.InAugust2009,Afghanistanhelditssecondpresidentialelection;onNovember19,Karzaiwonthesecondpresidentialelectionforre-election.
InJuly2010,theAfghanInternationalConferencewasheldinKabultolaunchthe"KabulProcess"topromote"AfghanistanruleAfghan".InNovemberofthesameyear,theNATOLisbonSummitannouncedthatitwouldstartwithdrawingitstroopsin2011andcompletethetransferofsecurityresponsibilitiestotheAfghangovernmentbytheendof2014.InJune2014,Afghanistanheldapresidentialelection.OnSeptember21,theAfghanIndependentElectoralCommissionannouncedthatformerFinanceMinisterAshrafGhanihadwonthepresidentialelectionandformedagovernmentofnationalunitywithChiefExecutiveAbdullah.InOctober2018,Afghanistanheldanewroundofparliamentaryelections.
OnSeptember28,2019,Afghanistanheldapresidentialelection.Violentincidentsoccurredfrequentlyduringtheelectionprocess,andthevoterturnoutratewasnothigh.OnFebruary18,2020,theAfghanIndependentElectionCommissionannouncedthevictoryofthecurrentPresidentGhani,andAbdullahrefusedtorecognizetheresultsoftheelection.OnMay18,GhaniandAbdullahsignedadecentralizationagreement.AbdullahservedaschairmanoftheHighCommissionforNationalReconciliationinAfghanistanandestablishedaninclusivegovernment.
TheTalibaninAfghanistansteppeduptheiroffensiveagainstgovernmentforcesamonthagoandenteredKabulonAugust15,2021.OnthenightofAugust30,theUSmilitarylefttheKabulAirport,endingtheUSmilitaryinterventioninAfghanistanfornearly20years.OnSeptember6,2021,theTalibanannouncedthatPanjshir,thelastofthe34provincesinAfghanistan,hadbeenoccupiedbythem,andthewarinAfghanistanwasover.
KingdomPeriod | ||
|---|---|---|
1747-1818 | SaduchayDynasty(DuraniDynasty) | p> |
1818-1834 | Warlordmelee | |
1834-1839 | DusiEmirateofMohammed | |
1843-1878 | DustDynasty | |
1880-1901 | AbdulRahmanDynasty | |
1901-1919 | HabibullahDynasty | |
1919-1929 | AmanullahDynasty | |
1929-1933 | NadirDynasty | |
1933-1973 | TheZahirDynasty | |
Republicperiod | ||
1973-1978 | RepublicofAfghanistan | |
1978-1987 | AfghanpeopleMainRepublic | |
1987-1992 | RepublicofAfghanistan | |
1992-1996 | IslamicStateofAfghanistan | |
1996-2001 | IslamicEmirateofAfghanistan(Talibanregime) | |
2001-2004 | IslamicStateofAfghanistan(TransitionalGovernment) | |
2004topresent | IslamicRepublicofAfghanistan | |
Referencematerial: |
Naturalenvironment
Regionallocation
TheIslamicRepublicofAfghanistanislocatedinWestAsia,atthewesternendoftheQinghai-TibetPlateau.Itisamountainouslandlockedcountry.AfghanistanisborderedbyTurkmenistan,theRepublicofUzbekistan,andtheRepublicofTajikistaninthenorth,theIslamicRepublicofIraninthewest,theIslamicRepublicofPakistaninthesouthandeast,andtheprotrudingnarrowstrip(WahanCorridor)inthenortheastbordersthePeople’sRepublicofChina.ThefourterritoriesofAfghanistanareeast(74.89°eastlongitude),south(29.36°northlatitude),west(60.50°eastlongitude),andnorth(38.49°northlatitude),withanareaof647,500squarekilometers.
Topography
TheIslamicRepublicofAfghanistanisamountainousplateaucountrywithruggedterrainandslopesfromnortheasttosouthwest.ThenortheastendistheQinghai-TibetPlateau(Pamirs).TheHinduKushmountainrangerunsdiagonallyfromthenortheasttothesouthwest.Amongthem,theborderpeakofPakistan,NoshakPeak,is7485metersabovesealevel,whichisthehighestpeakinthecountry.Inthenorthareplainsandfoothills,andmostofthemarebelow500metersabovesealevel.Thesouthisadesertplateauareawithanaltitudeof500-1000meters.Thecentralpartisahighmountainanddeepvalley,withanaltitudeof1000-5000meters.
Climaticcharacteristics
TheIslamicRepublicofAfghanistanismostlygenusContinentalclimatezone,climatetypehassubtropicalaridandsemi-aridclimate,plateaumountainclimate.MostpartsofAfghanistanaredryanddrierthroughouttheyear,withcoldwintersandhotsummers.Theaverageannualrainfallinthecountryisonlyabout240mm.Mountainareasarecoldinwinterandcoolinsummer,whileplainareasarewarminwinterandhotinsummer.
Distributionofwatersystems
MostoftheriversintheIslamicRepublicofAfghanistanareinlandrivers,mostlyintodesertsandlakes.ThemainriversareAmuDarya,Kabul,HelmandandHariru.
Naturalresources
TheIslamicRepublicofAfghanistanisrichinmineralresources,buthasnotbeenfullyexploited.Asof2021,theprovenresourcesmainlyincludenaturalgas,coal,salt,chromium,iron,copper,micaandemeralds.TheAynakCopperMinelocatedinthesouthofthecapitalKabulhasatotalprovenorereservesofabout700milliontonsandatotalof11.33milliontonsofcoppermetal.Itisestimatedthatitmaybethethirdlargestcopperorebeltintheworld.Afghanistanmayalsohavethefifthlargestironoreveinintheworld,withcoalreservesofapproximately73milliontons.
Administrativedivisions
Divisiondetails
First-leveladministrativedistricts
TheIslamicRepublicofAfghanistanhas34provinces,includingcounties,districts,townships,andvillages;thelargestprovinceisHelmand(58,681squarekilometers),andthesmallestprovinceisKabisaProvince(1909squarekilometers).
AfghanistanProvinceTable | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BadakhshanProvince | BadghisProvince | BaghlanProvince | BalkhProvince | GolProvince | p>CapisaProvince | SarpuleProvince |
BamiyanProvince | DaikondiProvince | FariabProvince | GhazniProvince | HeratProvince | KhostProvince | TaharProvince |
FaraProvince | HelmandProvince | JuzjanProvince | KabulProvince | KandaharProvince | LibraryNarProvince | WardakProvince |
KunduzProvince | LaghmanProvince | LugarProvince | NangharProvince | NimruzProvince | SamanganProvince | ZabulProvince |
NurstanProvince | PanjshirProvince | UruzganProvince | PaktiaProvince | PaktyProvinceofCalgary | ProvinceofParvang | / |
Secondaryadministrativedistrict
Co-establishedintheIslamicRepublicofAfghanistanThereare328county-leveladministrativedistricts,thelargestisCharBurjakCounty(21182squarekilometers),andthesmallestisHeratCity(35squarekilometers).
Afghanistanadministrativedivisionmap
MainCity
Kabul
Kabul,thecapitalofAfghanistan,meanstradehub.In1773,theDuranidynastyunifiedAfghanistanandsetitscapitalhere,andlaterdevelopedintoanimportanttownonthe"SilkRoad".
Kabulhasanareaof211squarekilometers.Withapopulationof4.22millionin2019,KabulisthelargestcityinAfghanistan.Kabulisabout1,800metersabovesealevel,surroundedbymountains,withfourdistinctseasons,andtheannualaveragetemperatureis13degreesCelsius.
TheHamidKarzaiInternationalAirportinthenortheasternsuburbsofKabulisthemainairportforentryandexitinAfghanistan,whichcandirectlyreachChina,theUAE,India,Pakistan,Turkey,Iran,Tajikistan,Turkmenistanandothercountries.
Herat
Herat,thecapitalofHeratProvinceWithanareaof35squarekilometers,itisthesmallestcityinAfghanistan.In2018,Herathadapopulationof578,000,makingitthesecondlargestcityinAfghanistan.
Mazarsharif
Mazarsharif(Mazarsharif),alsoknownasMazarsharifThecapitalofBalkhProvince,withanareaof66squarekilometers,isthethirdsmallestcityinAfghanistan.In2018,MazarSharifhadapopulationof519,000,makingitthethirdlargestcityinAfghanistan.
Kandahar
Kandahar,thecapitalofKandaharProvince,coversanareaof629squarethousandMeter.In2018,Kandaharhadapopulationof271,000,makingitthefourthlargestcityinAfghanistan.
Nationalsymbol
Nationalflag
ThenationalflagoftheIslamicRepublicofAfghanistanhasbeeninusesince2013andhasablack,red,andgreentricolor.Blacksymbolizesthepast,theerawhenAfghanistanwashumiliatedbythepowers;redsymbolizesblood,Afghanistaninitiatedandshedbloodfortheholywar,andthesufferingsufferedbytheAfghanpeople;greensymbolizesthefuture,afterthecollapseofimperialism,Afghanistanwillprosper.Atthesametime,thesethreecolorsarealsotypicalIslamiccolors.Themainbodyofthenationalflagisthenationalemblemlocatedinthecenter.Thecenterofthenationalemblemiscomposedofawhitemosquenicheandapulpit.InthecenteroftheupperpartistheIslamiclanguage(الشهادة)thatconnectsthedayofascension,andtherearetwowhiteflagsonbothsides.ThelowerpartoftheIslamicWordsiswrittenwith"AllahIsGreat"(اللهأكبر).Locatedinthelowerpartofthenationalemblemisthenameofthecountry"Afghanistan"(افغانستان)andtheArabicnumeral"1298"(١٢٩٨),representingtheyear1919(Islamiccalendar1298)whenAfghanistanbecameindependentfromtheUnitedKingdom.Theperipheryofthenationalemblemissurroundedbytwoearsofwheat.
NationalEmblem
TheNationalEmblemofAfghanistanisroundandopenedin2005.Thetwobundlesofthenationalemblemareroundedwithearsofgraintiedwitharibbon.ThemiddleisamosquepatternwithIslamicreligiouscolors.TheupperpartisthenameofthecountryofAfghanistanwritteninArabic,andthelowerpartisafamousIslamicsaying:"AllthingsarenottheLord,onlyAllah,MuhammadisthemessengerofAllah".ThewholepatternissurroundedbytwoArabmacheteswithcrossedhandlesandisgoldenyellow.Inthecenteroftheupperpartofthenationalemblem,thereisaSahadaattachedtotherisingsun,andthenationalemblemissurroundedbytwowheatears.
NationalFlower
ThenationalflowerofAfghanistanisthetulip.Theoriginalmeaningofthetulipisakindofflower.Intermsofplanttaxonomy,itisatypeofbulbousbulbbelongingtothegenusTulipintheLiliaceaefamily.herb.
NationalTree
Mulberry:MulberryisadeciduoustreebelongingtothegenusMoraceae.Mulberryleavesareegg-shapedandarefeedforsilkworms.Deciduoustree,16mhigh,1mdiameteratbreastheight.Thecrownisobovate.Theleavesareovateorbroadlyovate,apexpointedortapered,baseroundorheart-shaped,serrationsthickandobtuse,youngtreeleavesareoftenlobed,deeplydivided,glabrousonthetop,sparsehairsalongtheveinsonthebottom,veinaxillaryTuftedhairs.Juhuaguo(mulberry)ispurple-black,reddishorwhite,juicyandsweet.FloweringinApril;fruitripeningfromMaytoJuly.
NationalAnthem
"AfghanistanNationalAnthem"(Pashto:ملیسرود,MilliSurood;Persian:سرودملی,Surūd-eMillī)wasdeterminedinaccordancewithArticle20oftheAfghanConstitutionandwasformallyadoptedinMay2006.ThelyricsareinPashto.AccordingtotheTheconstitutionstipulatesthatthelyricsmustmentionthenamesofthetribesinAfghanistanand"Allahisgreat."
PopulationandEthnicity
Population
ThepopulationofAfghanistanin2019isapproximately32.2million,ofwhich51%aremalesand49%arefemales.Theurbanpopulationis7.7million,theruralpopulationis23million,andanother1.5millionarenomads.Theannualpopulationgrowthrateisabout2.14%.Duetotheperennialwar,theproportionofyoungpeopleintheAfghanpopulationisveryhigh,ofwhich15.4millionpeopleareunder15yearsold,accountingfor47.7%,rankingamongthehighestintheworld.Thepopulationover65onlyaccountsfor2.7%.
YearsofwarhavebroughtseriousdisasterstoAfghansociety.AccordingtoUnitedNationsstatistics,nearlyaquarterofAfghanistan’s32.2millionpopulationhavelefttheirhomes.Currently,therearestill4.6millionAfghansinexileintheworld,ofwhich2.7millionhaveobtainedrefugeestatus.PakistanandIranhavehosted1.4millionand1millionAfghanrefugeesrespectively.AccordingtotheMinistryofRefugeeandRepatriationAffairs,morethan540,000refugeeshavereturnedtoAfghanistanfromMarch2019toMarch2020.AccordingtostatisticsfromtheUNrefugeeagency,variousarmedconflictsandturbulenceinthesecuritysituationcausedmorethan400,000peopletobedisplacedacrossthecountryin2019.
KabulProvince | 503 |
HeratProvince | 209.5 |
NangharProvince | 166.8 |
BalkhProvince | 147.6 |
HellmandProvince | 142.1 |
KandaharProvince | 136.8 |
GhazniProvince | 133.9 |
KunduzProvince | 111.4 |
FariabProvince | 108.9 |
BadakhshanProvince | p>103.6 |
Referencematerial: |
Ethnicity
PashtunsintheIslamicRepublicofAfghanistanaccountfor40%,Tajiksaccountfor25%,aswellasHazara,Uzbek,TurkmenWaitingformorethan20ethnicminorities.PashtoandDariareofficiallanguages.OtherlanguagesincludeUzbek,Baluchi,Turkish,etc.SunniMuslimsaccountedfor86%,ShiaMuslimsaccountedfor13%,andothersaccountedfor1%.
Politics
Government
Afghanistanimplementsapresidentialrepublic.ThePresidentistheheadofstateandthehighestexecutiveexecutiveofthecountry.ThePresidenthasprivilegesintheexecutive,legislativeandjudicialfields.Thepresidentiselectedbythepeopleforafive-yearterm.TheministersarenominatedbythePresidentandappointedbytheParliament.
InDecember2001,theUnitedNationssignedthe"BonnAgreement"withtheAfghanNorthernAlliance,theformerKingZahir,thePashtunanti-TalibanandotherAfghanfactions,whichconfirmedthe"SeparationofPowers"inAfghanistan.Thebasicframeworkofpoliticalreconstruction.OnApril5,2014,Afghanistanheldthefirstroundofpresidentialelections,andnocandidateobtainedasimplemajorityofmorethan50%.OnJune14,thesecondroundofpresidentialelectionswasheld.OnSeptember21,formerFinanceMinisterAshrafGhaniwaselectedPresidentofAfghanistan.InSeptember2019,Afghanistanheldpresidentialelections.OnMarch9,2020,Ghaniheldaninaugurationceremony.
Constitution
FromJanuary2002toJanuary2004,theTransitionalGovernmentofAfghanistanfollowedthe1964ConstitutionpromulgatedbytheformerKingZahir.OnJanuary26,2004,PresidentKarzaioftheTransitionalGovernmentofAfghanistansignedandpromulgatedanewconstitution,establishingthenameofthecountryasthe"IslamicRepublicofAfghanistan"andimplementingthepresidentialsystem.
Parliament
AfghanLoyaJirga,alsoknownastheGrandNationalAssembly.InJune2002,AfghanistanconvenedanemergencyloyajirgaandelectedanAfghantransitionalgovernmentheadedbyPresidentKarzai.AconstitutionalloyajirgawasheldinDecember2003toformulateandpassanewconstitution.AccordingtothenewAzerbaijaniConstitution,theLoyaJirgaisthehighestexpressionofthewilloftheAfghanpeople.Itisthecountry’shighestlegislature.ItiscomposedofthePeople’sChamber(lowerhouse)andtheHouseofElders(upperhouse)aswellasthepresidentsoftheprovincialassemblies.ItisresponsibleforformulatingandamendingtheconstitutionandapprovingotherstateRelevantlaws;powertodecideonissuesrelatedtoAfghannationalindependence,sovereignty,territorialintegrityandnationalinterests;reviewthelistofcabinetcompositionsubmittedbythepresident;cabinetministers,SupremeCourtjudgesandjusticescanattendmeetings;meetingsareheldirregularly.Therearenomorethan250membersofthePeople’sChamber,andtheyareevenlydistributedaccordingtothepopulationofeachregion,buteachprovinceisguaranteedtohaveatleast2femalemembers.MembersoftheHouseofEldersareindirectlyelectedfromamongthemembersofthemanagementcommitteesoftheprovincesanddistricts.TheNationalAssemblyhasthepowertoimpeachthepresident,butitmustconvenetheLoyaJirgaandobtaina2/3majoritytoremovethepresident.ThePeaceLoyaJirgawasheldinJune2010,callingontheTalibanandotherstoparticipateinthepoliticalreconciliationprocess.ThenewparliamentwaselectedinSeptember2010andwasformallyestablishedinJanuary2011.ThecurrentchairmanoftheHouseofEldersisFazalHadiMusrimyar,andthechairmanoftheHouseofPeopleisAbdulRaufIbrahimi.TheGreatLoyaJirgawasheldinNovember2011todiscussthesigningofastrategicpartnershipdocumentbetweenAfghanistanandtheUnitedStates.
Government
ThecurrentcabinetmembersofAfghanistaninclude:PresidentAshrafGhani(resigned),VicePresidentMohamedQasimFahim,VicePresidentMohamedKaReemKhalili,CabinetMinisterHaidayatAminAlSala,MinisterofForeignAffairsZalmayRasoul,MinisterofDefense,GeneralAbdulRahimWardak,MinisteroftheInteriorBismilaKhanMohammedi,MinisterofFinanceOmarZaherwar,MinisterofJusticeHabibullahGarib,MinisterofHajjandIslamicAffairsMohamedYusufNeyaz,MinisterofEconomyAbuDulleHadiArganDival,MinisterofRuralRehabilitationandDevelopmentVisAhmedBarmack,MinisterofMartyrs,DisabledPeopleandSocialAffairsAminaAfzari,MinisterofAnti-narcoticsZalal·AhmedMuqbal,MinisterofEducationFaroukWardak,MinisterofInformationandCultureSaidMahdumRacine,MinisterofMineralsVahidullahSharani,MinisterofAgricultureMohamedASefRahimi,MinisterofCommerceandIndustryAnwarHaqAhadi,MinisterofPublicWorksNajibullahOchan,MinisterofEnergyandWaterMohamedIsmailKhan,MinisterofWomen’sAffairsHassonBaNuGazanfar(female),MinisterofUrbanDevelopmentHassanAbdullah,MinisterofHigherEducationObaidullahObaid,MinisterofPublicHealthSorayaDalil,MinisterofTransportandCivilAviationUdAliNajafi.
Inaddition,thereare4actingministers:MinisterofPublicWelfareSohrabAliSafari,MinisterofCommunicationsAmirzaiSankin,MinisterofBorderandTribalAffairsAlSarahJamal,MinisterofRefugeeAffairsAbdulRahim.
ThemaineconomicdepartmentsincludetheMinistryofFinance,theMinistryofIndustryandCommerce,theMinistryofEconomy,theMinistryofMiningandPetroleum,theMinistryofEnergyandWaterResources,theMinistryofTransportation,andtheBankofAfghanistan.
Justice
TheAfghanjusticesystemisdividedintothreelevels.Thelowestlevelisthelocalcourts,withatotalofabout350nationwide;themiddlelevelistheappealcourt,locatedintheprovincesofAfghanistan;thehighestlevelistheSupremeCourt,locatedinthecapitalKabul.
Politicalparties
TheTransitionalGovernmentofAfghanistanpromulgatedthe"PoliticalPartyLaw"inOctober2003.Therewerenearly100politicalpartiesin2014.Themainpoliticalpartiesinclude:
(1)AfghanistanIslamicPromotionAssociation:establishedin1972.ModerateIslam,membersaremostlyTajiks.Sunni.ThemainleaderisMuhammadQasimFahim.
(2)AfghanistanIslamicUnityParty(Khalilifaction):TheoriginalAfghanistanIslamicRevolutionaryAlliance,establishedin1987.In1991,itchangedtoitscurrentname.InMarch1995,theformerleaderMazariwaskilledbytheTalibanandthepartysplit.ItbelongstotheShi'itesectofIslam,andthemembersaremostlyHazarapeople.ThechairmanofthepartyisMohamedKarimKhalili,whoisnowthesecondvicepresidentofAfghanistan.
(3)TheIslamicNationalMovementinAfghanistan:ThemainleaderisAbdullahSidDostam,Uzbek.
(4)AfghanNationalLiberationFront:establishedin1978.Thenationalistfaction,Pashtun,belongstotheSunniIslamism.ThemainleaderisSibugatullahMujadidi,thecurrentchairmanoftheHouseofPresbyterians.
(5)AfghanMujahideenIslamicLeague:Establishedin1981.ThePashtunethnicgroupbelongstotheSunniIslamism.ThemainleaderisAbdulRasulSayaf.
(6)TheIslamicNationalFrontofAfghanistan:Establishedin1979.Thenationalistfaction,Pashtun,belongstotheSunniIslamism.ThemainleaderisSaidGailani.
Dignitaries
GovernmentChiefAbdullahAbdullah.BornonSeptember5,1960inthePanjshirValleyinnorthernAfghanistan.HegraduatedfromKabulUniversityin1983withabachelor'sdegreeinmedicine.ServedasMinisterofForeignAffairsoftheNorthernAllianceregimeledbyMasood.AftertheTalibanregimewasoverthrownin2001,AbdullahservedasMinisterofForeignAffairsintheKarzaigovernment.InJune2006,Abdullahwasfired.OnSeptember29,2014,hebecametheheadoftheAfghangovernment.
ChairmanoftheHouseofPresbyterians:FazalHadiMusrimyar,chairmanoftheHouseofPresbyterians,bornin1970,fromthePashtunethnicgroupinNangarharProvince.Receivedabachelor'sdegreeinlawandparticipatedintheWarofResistanceagainsttheSovietUnion.From2005to2009,heservedaschairmanoftheNangarharProvincialAssembly.In2010,hewaselectedthefirstvicechairmanoftheHouseofPresbyteriansoftheAlgerianParliament.InJanuary2011,hewaselectedchairmanoftheHouseofElders.
TheSpeakerofthePeople’sChamberoftheParliament:AbdulRaoufIbrahimi.FormerUzbekwarlord,fromKunduzprovinceinnorthernAzerbaijan,participatedinthewaragainsttheSovietUnion.InFebruary2011,hewaselectedastheSpeakerofthePeople'sCourt.
Economy
Overview
Afghanistanisoneofthemostbackwardcountries.Aftermorethan30yearsofwarandchaos,economicdestructionhasbeenexhausted,transportation,communications,industry,education,andagriculturalinfrastructurehavesufferedthemostseveredamage,productionandlivingmaterialsareinshortsupply,andmorethan6millionpeoplehavebecomerefugees.TheinternationalcommunityactivelysupportsAfghanistan'speacefulreconstructionanddevelopment,andhasprovidednearly100billionU.S.dollarsinaidtoAfghanistan.Duringthe2016BrusselsInternationalConferenceonAfghanistan,theinternationalcommunitypromisedtoprovide15.2billionU.S.dollarsinaidtoAfghanistanwithinfouryears.
Since2002,theAfghannationaleconomyhasshown"low-levelrapidgrowth",andtheeconomyhasgraduallyresumeddevelopment.Inthe2013/14fiscalyear,theeconomygrewby6.4%year-on-year,withagrossdomesticproduct(GDP)of21.2billionU.S.dollars,apercapitaGDPof720U.S.dollars,andatotalforeigntradeof5.847billionU.S.dollars.
Forfiscalyear2019/2020,Afghanistan’smaineconomicdataareasfollows:GrossDomesticProduct(GDP):US$18.89billion.GDPpercapita:US$586.6.GDPgrowthrate:3.9%.
Currency
ThenameofthecurrencyofAfghanistan:Afghani,abbreviatedasAni.
Officialexchangerate(April2007):Officialexchangerateof1USdollar=45Ani(2011):Exchangerate:1USdollar≈77.8Ani.(February2021)
Chineseabbreviation:Ani
Currencyconversion
1Afghani=100pool
Currency:25.50Pooleand1.2.5Afghanis
Nameoftoken:Poole
Inflationrate:14.5%.
Inflationrate:2.3%.(February2021)
Agricultureandanimalhusbandry
AgricultureandanimalhusbandryarethemainpillarsofAfghanistan'snationaleconomy.Thepopulationofagricultureandanimalhusbandryaccountsfor80%ofthetotalpopulationofthecountry.Cultivatedlandislessthan10%ofthetotallandareaofthecountry.Themaincropsincludewheat,cotton,sugarbeets,driedfruitsandvariousfruits.Themainlivestockproductsarefat-tailedsheep,cattle,goats,etc.Afghanistanisthecenterofthe"GoldenCrescent",theworld'slargestsourceofdrugs.Theoutputofopiumin2013was5,500tons,theoutputofopiumin2015was3,300tons,andtheoutputofopiumin2018wasmorethan6,400tons,whichseriouslyaffectedtheprocessofpeaceandreconstructioninAfghanistan,andalsobroughtthreatsandchallengestoregionalpeaceandsecurity.
AgricultureisthemostimportantindustryinAfghanistan.Agricultureabsorbsabout40%ofemployment,andagriculturaloutputvalueaccountsforabout1/4ofGDP.Agribusinesslacksmodern,high-techagriculturalfacilitiesandbasicallydependsontheskyforfood.Themaincropsincludewheat,barley,rice,corn,driedfruitsandvariousfruits.Inrecentyears,Azerbaijanhashadabumperharvestyearafteryear,butitisstillnotself-sufficientandneedsinternationalassistanceorimportedfoodeveryyear.Animalhusbandryismainlybasedonstocking,includingsheep,goats,andcattle.
Industry
YearsofwarshavecausedAfghanistan'sindustrialbasetocollapse.Lightindustryandhandicraftarethemainindustries,includingtextiles,fertilizers,cement,leather,carpets,electricity,sugar,metalmanufacturing,agriculturalproductsandfruitprocessing.
YearsofwarshavebasicallycollapsedAfghanistan’sindustrialbase,lackingacompleteindustrialsystem,andindustrialoutputvalueonlyaccountsfor1/5ofGDP.Mainlylightindustryandhandicraftindustry,includingchemicalindustry,buildingmaterials,carpet,agriculturalproductsprocessing,etc.Existingenterprisesaremainlysmallandmedium-sizedenterprises,andtherearebasicallynolarge-scaleenterprises.Mostenterprisesarelabor-intensive,workshop-typeprimaryprocessingplants,withsmallscale,backwardproductiontechnology,andagingequipment,andtheirproductsaremainlyforthedomesticmarket.
FinancialFinance
Inthe2006/2007fiscalyear,thedirectbudgetoftheAfghangovernmentwasUS$2.205billion,andtheforeignaiddevelopmentbudgetwasUS$2.95billion.AsofMarch2006,Afghanistan’sforeignexchangereservestotaledapproximatelyUS$1.8billion.
ForeignTrade
Afghanistanhastraderelationswithmorethan60countriesandregions.Themainexportcommoditiesarenaturalgas,carpets,driedandfreshfruits,wool,cottonandsoon.Themainimportedcommoditiesarevariousfoods,motorvehicles,petroleumproductsandtextiles.ThemainexporttargetsarePakistan,theUnitedStates,theUnitedKingdom,Germany,India,etc.,andthemainimportingcountriesareChina,Pakistan,theUnitedStates,Japan,SouthKorea,Turkmenistan,India,etc.Theforeigntradesituationisasfollows(unit:100millionU.S.dollars)
2002/03fiscalyear | FiscalYear2003/04 | FiscalYear2004/05 | FiscalYear2005/06 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Exportamount | 0.94 | 1.47 | 3.05 | 0.74 |
Importamount | 24.68 | 20.01 | 21.77 | 28.32 |
Thedifference | -23.74 | -18.53 | -18.72 | -27.58 |
(Referencesource:)
Themaineconomicdataforfiscalyear2017/2018areasfollows:
GrossDomesticProduct(GDP):20.2billionUSdollars.
PercapitaGDP:US$681.
Grossdomesticproductgrowthrate:2.9%.
Currencyname:Afghani(Afghani),referredtoas"Ani".
Exchangerate:1USdollar≈68Ani.
Inflationrate:4.4%.
ForeignAid
TheinternationalcommunityhasprovidedalargeamountoffundsandmaterialassistancetoAfghanistan’spost-warreconstruction.Since2002,donorcountrieshavepledgedabout30billionU.S.dollars(allinU.S.dollarsbelow)inaid,ofwhichtheU.S.13.6billion,theU.K.1.46billion,Japan1.457billion,Germany960million,EU1billion,India755million,andCanada703millionplusYuan,447millionintheNetherlands,314millioninNorway,304millioninIran,270millioninItaly,etc.Sofar,$12.8billionhasbeensecured.Atthesametime,theinternationalcommunityhasassistedtheAfghangovernmentwithalotofbasicequipmentineducation,health,agriculturalirrigation,transportation,telecommunications,andgovernmentoffices.
Culture
Media
AfghanistanTVmedia:Thereare106radiostationsand66TVstationsinthecountry.RadioAfghanistanwasestablishedin1925andbroadcastsin9languages.TheAfghanTelevisionStation(RTV)wasestablishedin1978andbroadcastsmainlyinPersianandPashto.OthermajorprivatetelevisionstationsincludeToloTV,ATN,ATV,etc.
Newspapermedia:Afghanistanhas926typesofnewspapersandmagazines,ofwhichKabulaccountsforabout80%.Therearethreemainstreamnewspapers:"AfghanistanTimes"(English),"DailyLookout"(English)and"AnisDaily"(Persian).OthersincludeSewardDaily(Pashto),KabulTimes(English)andCherag.
Diet
ThestaplefoodofAfghansisnaanandpilaf.Naanismadefromwheat,barley,corn,driedmulberryandpeas.Therearetwokindsofstuffingandwithoutstuffing.Thepilafistopourtheoilintoapotandheatit,addshreddedcarrotsandchoppedgreenonions,stir-fry,addwater,muttonfat,salt,etc.toaboil,thenenlargetherice,serveitonaplateaftercooking,andmixwithlemonjuice,chiliorotherseasonings.
Insummer,Afghansoftendrinkayogurtsoupboiledwithaproperamountofyogurt,saltandcucumberslicesinwater.Theylikesour,spicy,andfragranttaste,butforreligiousreasons,theydon’tDrinking.Milkandbeefandmuttonareimportantfoodsonthetable.Chicken,duck,etc.arealsoeaten,porkisnoteaten,andfishisrarelyeaten.Theyofteneatroastlegoflamb,andgrillthewholelambonmajorfestivedaysorentertainingguests.Afghansalsoeat"horsemeatintestines.""Horsemeatintestines"arestuffedhorsemeatandsaltintohorseintestines,boiled,anddried.
Afghanisoftenusemilkasadrink,andtheyalsoliketodrinktea.Thetypesofteaincludemilkteaandbricktea.Invitingpeopletodrinkteaoftenhastodrinkthreecupsinarow.Thefirstcupquenchesthirst,thesecondcupexpressesfriendship,andthethirdcupisacourtesy.Ifyoureallydon’twanttodrinkanymore,youcancoverthecupwithyourhandstoshowrejection.
AfghanpeoplebelieveinIslam,menandwomenhavedifferentseats,andmaleandfemaleguestscannoteatinthesameroom.Alwayswashyourhandsbeforemeals,theguestswashfirst,andthehostwasheslater.Wheneating,usethetraywithyourlefthandandgrabthefoodwithyourrighthand.Theorderofmealsistoservethedishesfirst,thepilafinthemiddle,andthenthedishesandfruits.Guestsshouldwashtheirhandsaftereating.
CulturalArchitecture
AfghanistanNationalMuseum,AfghanistanNationalArchives
Language
PashtoandPersianareofficiallanguages.OtherlanguagesincludeUzbek,Baluchi,Turkman,etc.SunniMuslimsaccountedfor80%,ShiaMuslimsaccountedfor19%,andothersaccountedfor1%.
Religion
ThereisawidespreadbeliefinIslaminAfghanistan,withMuslimsaccountingforabout99%,ofwhichSunniaccountingfor80%andShiaaccountingfor19%.AllIslamictaboosapplytoAfghanistan,suchasprohibitionofalcoholandpork.WhenworkingandlivinginAfghanistan,localreligiousbeliefsshouldberespectedinparticular,andanywordsanddeedsthatinsulttheKoranandrelatedpatternsmustnotbemade.
Customs
AfghanistanisanIslamiccountry,andallIslamictaboosalsoapply,suchasprohibitionofalcoholandpork.TherearequiteafewrestrictionsonwomeninAfghanistan.Generally,womenwearakindofclothingcalledBURKARwhentheygoout.Theycan’tseepeoplefromheadtotoeandcanonlyseethingsthroughsmallmeshwindows.AfterthefalloftheTalibanregime,thissituationhaschangedalot.ManyurbanwomenhavebravelyputonWestern-styleclothesto"showtheirfaces."Afghanpeopleusuallygreetthembyshakinghandsorputtingtheirhandsontheircheststoshowrespect,andtheywillgiveface-to-facesalutesbetweenfriends.
Taboos
AfghanistanisanIslamiccountry,andtheclothesareconservative.Menshouldnotwearshortstogotothestreets,andwomenshouldnotwearnarrowandrevealingclothing.Itisbesttowearaheadscarf.Governmentstaffgenerallydressneatly,especiallymiddleandupper-levelofficialsallwearsuits.Therefore,whenvisitingAfghanofficials,Chinesepersonnelshouldpayattentiontodress.
Holidays
GovernmentofficedaysareSaturdaytoThursdaymorning,andThursdayafternoonandFridayarepublicholidays.Workdayat8:00am,leaveat12:00,getoffworkat13:00andleaveat16:00intheafternoon.Butthestaffoftenarrivelateandleaveearly.
TherearethreetypesofcalendarsinAfghanistan:oneistheA.D.calendar,theotheristheAfghansolarcalendar,andtheotheristheAfghanlunarcalendar(Islamiccalendar).Forexample,May25,2017istheAfghanGregoriancalendar,March1396.Onthe4th,August28,1438intheAfghanlunarcalendar.Amongthem,thesolarcalendarhas365daysayear,andthelunarcalendarhas354daysayear.
TherearealsotwoholidaysinAfghanistan:religiousholidaysarecalculatedaccordingtothelunarcalendar,andtherestarecalculatedaccordingtothesolarcalendar.BecausetheGregoriancalendarandtheGregoriancalendarhavethesamenumberofdaysineachyear,theholidayscalculatedintheGregoriancalendararefixedintheGregoriancalendareachyear;thelunarcalendarhas11dayslessdaysperyearthantheGregoriancalendar,sothereligiousfestivalshavedifferentdatesintheADcalendareachyear.Generally,eachyearishigherthanthepreviousyear.About10-11daysinadvance.
AfghanNewYear:March21everyyear
Afghanistan’sIndependenceDay:August19everyyear
Eidal-Fitr:Thedateisvariableeveryyear(changeswiththeIslamiccalendar),Eidal-Fitrisapublicholiday.Thisisadayoffforordinarypeople.Schoolsandmostbusinessesareclosed.
Ramadan(alsoknownasRamadanorRamzan)istheninthmonthintheIslamiccalendar.ThisisanerawhenMuslimsallovertheworldfocusonprayer,fasting,charityandreligiousbeliefs.ThelastthirdofRamadanisaparticularlysacredperiodbecauseitcommemoratesthediscoveryofthefirstverseoftheKoranbytheProphetMuhammad(MuhammadorMuhammad).Ramadanisapublicholiday.Thisisadayoffforordinarypeople.Schoolsandmostbusinessesareclosed.
GurbanFestival:Thedateisvariableeveryyear(changeswiththeIslamiccalendar)
VictoryDayinAfghanistanisapublicholiday.Thisisadayoffforordinarypeople.Schoolsandmostbusinessesareclosed.
ArafatDayisapublicholiday.Thisisadayoffforordinarypeople.Schoolsandmostbusinessesareclosed.
Military
OnOctober7,2001,theUnitedStateslaunchedthewarinAfghanistaninthenameofanti-terrorism.InFebruary2020,theUSgovernmentandtheTalibansignedanagreement,promisingtowithdrawfromAfghanistanbyMay2021.
WarinAfghanistan(6photos)
In2002,theAfghanTransitionalGovernmentbeganpreparationsfortheestablishmentoftheAfghanNationalArmywiththehelpoftheUnitedStates.Accordingtothe"AfghanistanNATOSummitDeclaration"adoptedattheNATOChicagoSummitinMay2012,attheendof2014,theUnitedStatesandNATOcompletedthetransferofsecurityresponsibilitiestoAfghanistan.AsofFebruary2021,thereareabout350,000Afghansecurityforces,andtheinternationalcommunityneedstoprovidealotoffinancialsupportforitsconstruction.The2016NATOWarsawSummitdecidedtocontinuetoprovideAfghanNationalSecurityForceswithannualfinancialsupportofUS$1billionuntil2020.InMarch2020,theUnitedStatessignedapeaceagreementwiththeTaliban,promisingtowithdrawallitsmilitaryforcesinAfghanistaninphasesandconditionswithinthenext14months.InFebruary2021,thenumberofUSsoldiersinAfghanistanwilldropto2500.OnMay1,2021,theUSmilitaryinAfghanistanbegantowithdraw,anditisexpectedtobecompletelywithdrawnfromtheendofAugusttoearlySeptember.InJuly2021,BidenstatedthattheUSmilitarymissioninAfghanistanwillendonAugust31.OnAugust15,theTalibanenteredandcontrolledKabul,thecapitalofAfghanistan.OntheeveningofAugust30,2021,aU.S.militarytransportplanetookofffromKabulAirportcarryingthelastbatchofU.S.soldiers.Endedthe20-yearwarinAfghanistan-thelongestwarinAmericanhistory.OnAugust31,U.S.PresidentBidenstatedattheWhiteHousethatendingthewarinAfghanistanwastherightdecisionandthattheUnitedStateswouldcontinueitsanti-terrorismoperations.
Traffic
Highways
Thereare177,789kilometersofhighwaysinAfghanistan,including4,906kilometersofnationalhighwaysand5,000kilometersofhighwaysunderconstruction,mainlyincludingKabultoMazar-e-Sharif,HerattoKandahar,KabulRingExpressway,TokhamtoKabulandotherhighways.
TheoverallroadconditionsinAfghanistanarepoor.Yearsofwarhavecausedalargenumberofroadstobeseriouslydamaged.Afghanvehiclesdriveontheright,thesameasinChina.Whendrivingandencounteringtrafficcontrolandcrowds,youshouldquicklystayawayfromdetours.AChinesedriver’slicensecannotbeusedlocally,andanAfghandriver’slicensemustbeobtainedthroughanexambeforedriving.TherailwaymileageinAfghanistanisrelativelyshort,leadingtoIranandUzbekistanrespectively.
Railway
TherearerailwaystoIran,UzbekistanandTajikistanintheIslamicRepublicofAfghanistan.TheearliestrailwayinAfghanistanwastheKabul-PaghmanrailwaybuiltbyAmanullahKhan.InApril1975,Iranpromisedtoprovide2billionU.S.dollarsinloans,ofwhich1.7billionwasusedtobuilda1,815kilometersintotallengthfromIrantoAfghanistan.RailwaysinRath,KandaharandKabul.
Inaddition,AfghanistanhasarailwayinthenorthernborderareaofAfghanistan,whichconnectsUzbekistanandTajikistan.TherailwaydepartsfromDushanbe,thecapitalofTajikistan,andbordersTermez,Uzbekistan.ItcrossestheAmuDaryaandendsatMazarSharif,whichis15kilometerslonginAfghanistan.
Watertransportation
PartsoftheAmuDaryaandKunduzRiversontheborderbetweenthenorthernIslamicRepublicofAfghanistanandUzbekistanandTurkmenistanarenavigable.
AirTransport
AsofFebruary2021,thereare3airlinesintheIslamicRepublicofAfghanistan.AlianaAirlinesisrelativelystrong,mainlyoperatinginternationalroutes,openinganumberofinternationalroutestoChina,Pakistan,Iran,UAE,India,Turkey,Germany,Russia,Azerbaijan,SaudiArabia,KuwaitandTajikistan.KAMAirlinesandSAFIAirlinesoperatesomedomesticandinternationalroutes.Thereare43airportsintheIslamicRepublicofAfghanistan,amongwhich4airportsareHamidKarzaiInternationalAirport,HeratInternationalAirport,MazarSharifInternationalAirport,andKandaharInternationalAirport.
Society
Education
Afghanistanhasabackwardeducationlevel,weakteachers,andlackofbasiceducationfacilitiesandfunds.Schoolsaredividedintotwotypes:publicandprivate.Publicschoolsimplementcompletelyfreecompulsoryeducation,with6yearsofprimaryschool,6yearsofmiddleschool,and4to5yearsofuniversity.Tuitionisfree.Privateschoolsaremoreexpensive.
Infiscalyear2019/2020,thereare16,429primaryandsecondaryschoolsofvarioustypesinAfghanistan,with9.589millionstudents,ofwhich3.686millionaregirls.Thereare211,500teachers,including72,500women.Intermsofhighereducation,thereareatotalof166universitiesandresearchinstitutionsofvarioustypes,ofwhich38arepublicand128areprivate;thereareabout18,900teachers,including2,599femaleteachers;425,000students,including114,000women.KabulUniversityisthehighestinstitutioninthecountry,withapproximately23,000students.
People'sLivelihood
ThewarhascausedgreatdamagetoAfghanistan’sbasiclivingfacilities,roaddamage,powershortages,risingprices,andlackofdailynecessities.AftertheestablishmentoftheAfghangovernment,withthehelpoftheUnitedNationsandtheinternationalcommunity,ithasvigorouslyrestoredbasiclivelihoodfacilities,resettledrefugeesreturningtoAfghanistan,solvedwaterandelectricityforresidents,increasedmedicalstafftraining,andrestoredschooleducationatalllevels.AccordingtotheWorldBankreport,lessthan20%ofurbanresidentsinAfghanistancanenjoytapwatersupply,whichisthelowestcountryintheworld.Basicmedicalcarecanonlycover40%ofthepopulation,andthereisaseriousshortageofmedicalstaff,especiallyfemalemedicalstaff.TherateofaccesstobasicmedicalcareforAfghanwomenisverylow.
Sports
TheAfghanSuperLeagueisthehighest-levelfootballleagueinAfghanistan.Establishedin2006,thisisalsothecountry’sfirstfootballleagueandthefirstlarge-scalefootballmatchsincetheSovietinvasionin1979.DuringtheTalibanperiod,footballwasevendeclaredasafrivolousandillegalactivityagainstIslamicteachings.Afterthe2001AfghanistanWarFootballisgraduallyreborninthisland.
TheAfghannationalteamhasneverwonagoldmedalinanyinternationalcompetition.AfghanistanbegantoparticipateintheOlympicGamesin1936toAthensin2004,withoutwinninganOlympicmedal.Itwasn'tuntilthe2008BeijingOlympicsthatTaekwondoplayerNickPawonabronzemedalbelow58kg,achievingabreakthroughinAfghanistan'szeromedal.
OnAugust16,2021,AfghanistanhasconfirmedthatitwillnotparticipateintheTokyoParalympicGamesscheduledtoopenonAugust24.
EntryandResidence
Visaentry:TheAfghanEmbassyinChinausuallyissuesasingleentryvisawithavalidityperiodof30days.Forspecificmatters,pleaseconsulttheAfghanEmbassyinChina.
Residenceandnaturalization:IfyouwanttostayinAfghanistanforalongtime,youmustapplyforaresidencepermitvisaforsixmonthstooneyearwithin30daysofenteringthecountry,andthenyoumustapplyagain.
Customsregulations:TheAfghanCustomsstipulatesthatforeigncurrencywithalimitofnotmorethan20,000USdollarscanbecarriedinandoutofthecountry,andrequiresproofoflegaloriginandnecessarybankpermits;forlegalexchangeandremittancesThereisnorestriction;itisnotallowedtobringrawjadestonessuchaslapislazulioutofthecountry;itisstrictlyforbiddentobringinalcoholicbeveragesandanimalfoodsuchaspork.Violationoftheaboveregulationswillbepunishedbyrelevantlaws.Therearenoclearregulationsonthereasonablequantityandvarietyofpersonaluseitemscarriedbyindividuals.Whenenteringthecountry,itisrecommendedtotaketheinitiativetoaskforandfillintheimmigrationcard.
Medicaltreatment
Afghanistan'smedicalandhealthfacilitiesareseverelyinadequate,withashortageofmedicalstaff.80%ofhealthcentersinvariousregionslackdoctorsandmedicines,andmedicalfacilitiesareinshortsupply.TherearesomepublichospitalsinbigcitiessuchasKabul,butthelevelofmedicalequipmentandservicesispoor.Manylocalsgotoneighboringcountriesformedicaltreatment,suchasPakistan,India,andtheUAE.France,Germany,Indiaandothercountries,aswellasAfghandomesticinvestors,haveprivatehospitalsorclinicsinAfghanistan,withvaryinglevelsandgenerallyhigherfees.
Infiscalyear2019/2020,thereare641hospitalsinAfghanistan,including181publichospitalsand460privatehospitals;thereare8082doctors,including6351malesand1731females.Thereare14,511hospitalbeds,andthebedownershiprateper10,000peopleis4.5.Infiscalyear2019,Afghanistan’snationaldevelopmentbudgetwasapproximatelyUS$1.92billion.Amongthem,thebudgetforhealthexpenditurewas210millionUSdollars,accountingforabout11%,ayear-on-yeardecreaseof2.4percentagepoints.
ThecommondiseasesinAfghanistanaretuberculosis(incidencerate0.08%)andmalaria(incidencerate0.39%).ThenumberofregisteredAIDSpatientsis2,923.Amedicalfacilityisseriouslyinadequate,coveringonly60%ofthepopulation.AccordingtodatareleasedbytheMinistryofPublicHealthofAfghanistanandtheWorldHealthOrganization,anaverageof55per1,000birthsdiedbeforetheageof5,andabout41%ofchildrenunder5werestunted.Onlyabout58%ofthecountry’spopulationhasaccesstocleandrinkingwater,andanother19%lackpublictoilets,comparedto81%inruralareas.
Afghanistanimportsabout80millionU.S.dollarsworthofmedicineseachyear,andmostofthemareimportedthroughillegalchannels.TheMinistryofPublicHealthofAfghanistanisplanningtoestablishanationalpharmaceuticalcompanytoimportqualifieddrugsandpreventviciouscompetition.Atthesametime,theMinistryofPublicHealthofAfghanistanisalsoplanningtosetupdrugandfoodcontrolcentersinKabul,Herat,Balkh,Nangarhar,Khost,Kandaharprovincesandotherplacestotestthequalityofimporteddrugsandfood.ThereisonlyonemedicineandfoodcontrolcenterinKabulinAfghanistan.
Communication
Communicationpowersupply:Afghanistanvoltageis220V,50Hz,ACtwo-holeroundplug.
ThepenetrationrateofmobilephonesinAfghanistanisrelativelyhigh,andthetariffsarerelativelycheap.MostofthemobilephonesofChinesestandardcanbeusedinAfghanistan,andmostofthebigcitieshavealreadyopened3Gfunction.Internetoperatorscanprovidewirelessnetworkcards,butthespeedislowandthetariffisexpensive.
ScienceandTechnology
AfghanistanisoneoftheleastdevelopedcountrieslistedbytheUnitedNations.Theoveralllevelofscienceandtechnologyisbackward,andtherearenonationalscientificresearchinstitutions.Onlysomegovernmentdepartmentssetupprimary-levelresearchCenter,butthescaleissmall,thecapitalisscarce,andtheoveralllevelisbackward.Exceptfortherelativelydevelopedtelecommunicationsindustry,therearebasicallynohigh-techindustriesorcommodityimportandexportinspectionandquarantinefacilities.
Media
Thereare816radiostationsand331TVstationsacrossAfghanistan.RadioAfghanistanwasestablishedin1925andbroadcastsin9languages.TheAfghanTelevisionStation(RTV)wasestablishedin1978andmainlybroadcastsinPersianandPashto.OthermajorprivateTVstationsincludeToloTV,ATN,ATV,etc.
Thereare824kindsofnewspapersandmagazinesinAfghanistan,ofwhichabout64%arepublishedinKabul.Thereare3mainstreamnewspapers:"AfghanistanTimes"(English),"AfghanistanDailyObservatory"(English)and"AnisDaily"(Dali).OthersincludeHewadDaily(Pashto),KabulTimes(English)andCheragh.
Diplomacy
ForeignPolicy
ThereconstructionofAfghanistanmainlydependsonthesupportandassistanceofWesterncountries.From2002to2010,AfghanistanreceivedatotalofUS$55.6billioninforeignaid.TheAlgeriagovernment’sdiplomacyiscenteredonseekingaidandactivelydevelopsrelationswithWesterncountriessuchastheUnitedStates,Germany,Japan,andtheEuropeanUnion.
Afghanistanattachesgreatimportancetodevelopingrelationswithneighboringcountriesandparticipatinginregionalcooperation.In2002,AlgeriaandsixneighboringcountriesincludingChinasignedthe"KabulGood-NeighborlyDeclaration",the"KabulGood-NeighborlyDeclaration"andthe"KabulGood-NeighborlyFriendshipDeclaration"onEncouragingCloserTrade,TransitandInvestmentCooperationandthe"KabulGood-neighborlyandFriendshipAnti-drugDeclaration.
InOctober2005,AfghanistanbecameamemberoftheCentralAsianRegionalEconomicCooperationOrganization,establishedacontactgroupwiththeShanghaiCooperationOrganizationinNovember,andbecameamemberoftheSouthAsianAssociationforRegionalCooperationinthesamemonth.InJune2012,itbecameanobservercountryoftheSCO.Azerbaijanalsousesitsgeographicaladvantagestostrivetobecomeatradeandtransportationhubintheregion.
Foreignrelations
RelationswithChina
OnJanuary20,1955,ChinaandAfghanistanestablisheddiplomaticrelations.InJanuary1957,PremierZhouEnlaiandVicePremierHeLongvisitedAfghanistan,whichwasthefirstvisitbyaChineseleaderinthehistoryofSino-Arabrelations.Thetwocountriessignedatreatyoffriendshipandnon-aggressionin1960,andsignedabordertreatyin1963.TheChina-Arabborderis92.45kilometerslong.
AftertheestablishmentofdiplomaticrelationsbetweenChinaandArabcountriesin1955,theeconomicandtraderelationsbetweenthetwocountrieshaveinitiallydeveloped.In1957,thetwopartiessignedatradeexchangeandpaymentagreement.InApril1972,theSino-ArabExchangeProtocolwassigned.DuringthewarinAfghanistan,theeconomicandtradeexchangesandeconomicandtechnologicalcooperationbetweenthetwocountrieswereseverelyaffected.AftertheestablishmentofthenewAfghangovernment,economicandtradeactivitiesbetweenthetwocountrieshavegraduallybecomeactive.In2013,thebilateraltradevolumewas338millionU.S.dollars.
Asof2013,China’seconomiccooperationcontractsinAfghanistantotaled858millionU.S.dollarsandcompletedatotalturnoverofapproximately983millionU.S.dollars,mainlyinvolvingcommunications,highwayconstructionandotherinfrastructurefields.
AsmallnumberofforeignstudentsfromAfghanistanarestudyinginChina.InJanuary2008,thefirstConfuciusInstituteinAfghanistanwasestablishedatKabulUniversity.DuringPresidentKarzai'svisittoChinainMarch2010,Chinaannouncedthatstartingfrom2011,itwillprovide50governmentscholarshipstoAfghanistaneachyear.In2008,ChinaestablishedaConfuciusInstituteatKabulUniversity.In2013,AfghancitizensvisitedChina10,674times,andmainlandChineseresidentsvisitedAfghanistan867times.
InFebruary2014,PresidentXiJinpingmetwithPresidentKarzaiduringtheSochiWinterOlympics.ForeignMinisterWangYivisitedAfghanistanattheendofFebruary.TheChinesesidesetforthitspolicygoalstowardsAfghanistan,hopingtoseeaunited,stable,developingandfriendlyAfghanistan,andiswillingtoplayaconstructiveroleinhelpingAfghanistanachieveasmoothtransitionandpromotereconciliation.InMay,AfghanPresidentKarzaicametoChinatoattendtheCICASummit,andPresidentXiJinpingmetwithhim.InSeptember,PresidentXiJinping'sspecialenvoyandMinisterofHumanResourcesandSocialSecurityYinWeiminattendedtheinaugurationofAfghanistan'snewPresidentGhani.InOctober,AfghanPresidentGhanipaidastatevisittoChina.PresidentXiJinping,PremierLiKeqiangandChairmanZhangDejiangheldtalksandmeetingswiththemrespectively.Thetwosidesissuedthe"China-ArabStatesJointStatementonDeepeningStrategicCooperativePartnership"andsignedothereconomicandtradecooperationdocuments.DuringhisstayinBeijing,PremierLiKeqiangandPresidentGhanialsoattendedtheFourthForeignMinisters’MeetingoftheIstanbulProcessonAfghanistan.InNovember,StateCouncilorandMinisterofPublicSecurityGuoShengkunvisitedAfghanistan.InDecember,PremierLiKeqiangmetwithAfghanChiefExecutiveAbdullahduringhisattendanceattheShanghaiCooperationPrimeMinisters'MeetinginAstana.
FromJanuarytoNovember2015,bilateraltradevolumewasUS$330million,ayear-on-yeardecreaseof9.28%.Amongthem,China'sexportvalueis322millionU.S.dollars;importvalueis11millionU.S.dollars.China'sexportstoAfghanistanaremainlymachineryandelectronics,hardware,textiles,dailynecessities,andlightindustries.ImportedgoodsfromAfghanistanaremainlycowsandsheepskins.InNovember2011,Chinaannouncedthatitwouldgivezero-tarifftreatmentto97%ofthetaxableproductsof33leastdevelopedcountries,includingAfghanistan.In2017,thebilateraltradevolumebetweenChinaandAfghanistanwasUS$544million,ayear-on-yearincreaseof24.9%,ofwhichChina’sexportvolumewasUS$430million.
InJune2017,PresidentXiJinpingmetwithPresidentGhaniduringtheAstanasummitoftheShanghaiCooperationOrganization.InDecember,PremierLiKeqiangmetwithAbdullah,ChiefExecutiveOfficerofAfghanistan,duringhisattendanceattheSCOPrimeMinisters'MeetinginSochi.InMarch,theChairmanoftheAlgerianHouseofElders,MuslimYar,cametoChinatoattendtheBoaoForumandmetwithVicePremierZhangGaoli.InSeptember,MuhammadKhan,thefirstdeputychiefexecutiveofAfghanistan,cametoChinatoattendthe2017China-ArabStatesExpo.ZhangPing,vicechairmanoftheStandingCommitteeoftheNationalPeople'sCongress,metwithhim.Inthesamemonth,Ibrahimi,SpeakerofthePeople'sCourtofAfghanistan,cametoChinatoattendthe2017EurasianEconomicForumandmetwithVicePremierWangYang.
InJune2018,PresidentXiJinpingmetwithPresidentGhaniwhocametoChinatoattendtheSCOsummitinQingdao.Inthesamemonth,Mukhazik,theseconddeputychiefexecutiveofAfghanistan,cametoChinatoattendthe5thSouthChinaExpoandmetwithVicePremierHuChunhua.InAugust,PresidentMuslimYarofthePresbyterianHouseoftheAlgerianParliamentcametoChinatoattendthe6thAsia-EuropeExpo.VicePremierHuChunhuametwithhim.InSeptember,thesecondVicePresidentofAlgeriaDenishcametoChinatoattendthe3rdDunhuangCulturalFair,andVicePremierSunChunlanmetwithhim.InOctober,PremierLiKeqiangmetwithAbdullah,ChiefExecutiveOfficerofAfghanistan,duringhisattendanceattheSCOPrimeMinisters'MeetinginDushanbe.
ChineseAmbassadortoAfghanistan
WangYu.Location:SardarShahMahmoudGhaziWat,Kabul,Afghanistan.
AfghanAmbassadortoChina
S.HabiburahmanHusinpur(S.HabiburahmanHusinpur).Location:No.8DongzhimenwaiStreet,ChaoyangDistrict,Beijing.
RelationswiththeUnitedStates
AmericaandtheUnitedStatesestablisheddiplomaticrelationsin1934.Afterthe"September11"incident,theUnitedStatesfullyledthepeaceprocessandeconomicreconstructionofAfghanistan,andprovidedhugeamountsofeconomicassistancetoAfghanistan.TheUnitedStateshasalsocoordinatedwithNATOandotherstodispatchprovincialreconstructionteams(PRT)toAfghanistan.In2005,theU.S.andtheU.S.establishedastrategicpartnershipandsignedajointdeclaration,whichincludedtheU.S.providingassistancetoU.S.indemocraticgovernance,economicdevelopment,andmaintainingsecurity.Afreedomtocarryoutappropriatemilitaryoperations,etc.
InMay2012,Aramcosignedthe"LastingStrategicPartnershipAgreement"tomakeplansforAramcopolitical,economic,andsecuritycooperationafter2014.TheUnitedStatesgrantedAfghanistanthestatusofa"non-NATOmajorally"andreiteratedthatitdoesnotseektohavepermanentmilitaryfacilitiesinAfghanistan,butwillretainacertainmilitarypresenceinAfghanistanafter2014.OnSeptember30,2014,afterPresidentGhanicametopower,thetwosidessignedthe"BilateralSecurityandDefenseCooperationAgreement."InAugust2017,theUnitedStatesannouncedanewpolicyonAfghanistanandSouthAsia,emphasizingthatitwillnolongersetatimelimitforthewithdrawaloftroopsfromAfghanistan.InFebruary2019,PresidentTrumpstatedinhisStateoftheUnionaddressthathewouldgraduallyreducethenumberoftroopsstationedinAfghanistaninaccordancewiththenegotiationprocess.InNovember,PresidentTrumpvisitedAfghanistanandmetwithPresidentGhani.OnFebruary29,2020,theUnitedStatesandtheTalibansignedapeaceagreementinQatar,layingthefoundationfortheU.S.withdrawalfromAfghanistan.InMarch,U.S.SecretaryofStatePompeocoordinatedtherelationshipbetweenPresidentGhaniandtheformerCEOofAbdullahtonoavail.HeannouncedareductionofUS$1billioninaidtoAfghanistanthisyearandafurtherreductionofUS$1billionin2021.
RelationswithPakistan
AfghanistanandPakistanhavecloseties,andPakistanhasacceptedalargenumberofAfghanrefugees.However,thetwocountrieshavebigdifferencesonissuessuchasbordersandcounter-terrorism.Inrecentyears,bilateralrelationshavebeenvulnerabletoemergenciesandfluctuated.Bothsideshaveexpressedtheirwillingnesstoactivelypromotetheimprovementofbilateralrelationsonmanyoccasions.InSeptember2014,PakistaniPresidentHusseinattendedtheinaugurationofPresidentGhani.InNovember,PresidentGhanivisitedPakistan.InOctober2017,Bajwa,ChiefofStaffofthePakistanArmy,visitedAfghanistanandproposedthe"A-PakPeaceandSolidarityActionPlan(APAPPS)."InApril2018,thenPakistaniPrimeMinisterAbasivisitedAfghanistan.InMay,afterfourroundsofconsultations,AbbareachedanagreementontheAAPPPStextandagreedtoestablishandstartsixworkinggroupsassoonaspossible:politicalanddiplomatic,economic,refugee,military,intelligenceandmechanismreview,topromotebilateralcooperationandnegotiatetoresolvedifferences.PresidentGhanivisitedPakistaninJune2019,andPrimeMinisterImranKhanofPakistanvisitedAfghanistaninNovember2020.
RelationswithIndia
TheAfghangovernmentattachesgreatimportancetothedevelopmentofrelationswithIndia,andthetwocountriesmaintaincloseexchangesbetweenhigh-levelofficials.InOctober2011,thetwocountriesestablishedastrategicpartnership.Indiahassofarprovidedabout3billionU.S.dollarsinaidtoAfghanistan.Indiahas1embassyand4consulatesinAfghanistan.From2006to2013,PresidentKarzaivisitedIndiaeighttimes.ThetwosidesreachedconsensusonIndia'sassistanceinreconstruction,strengtheninganti-terrorismcooperation,andpromotingeconomicandtradeexchangesandregionalcooperation.InDecember2015andJune2016,IndianPrimeMinisterModivisitedAfghanistantwice.InSeptember2016andOctober2017,PresidentGhanivisitedIndiatwice.InSeptember2018,PresidentGhaniandChiefExecutiveAbdullahvisitedIndiasuccessively.
RelationswithRussia
DuringtheTalibanrule,Russiasupportedtheanti-Thailandalliance.AftertheestablishmentofthenewAfghangovernment,RussiaresumedrelationswithAfghanistan.RussiasupportsthepeacefulreconstructionofAfghanistan,hasprovided700millionU.S.dollarsinaidtoAfghanistanandcancelledU.S.dollarsindebtowedbyAfghanistan.RussiaemphasizedthattheUnitedNationsshouldplayaleadingroleintheAfghanissueandpayattentiontotheAfghandrugproblem.
RelationswithIran
IranisanimportantneighboringcountryinwesternAfghanistan.Thetwocountrieshaveprofoundhistorical,cultural,religious,andethnicoriginsandconnections.DuringtheAfghanwar,Iraqacceptedmorethan2millionAfghanrefugees.SincethefalloftheTalibanregime,IraqhasactivelyparticipatedinthereconstructionofAfghanistanandhaspledgedtoprovide$560millioninfreeaid.TheArab-Iranianrelationshavecontinuedtodevelop.Thetwosidesbelievethatexchangesinthefieldsofeconomy,trade,culture,andeducationshouldbestrengthened,withafocusoncooperationincombatingdrugsmuggling.InDecember2016,RussiaheldRussia-China-PakistanconsultationsonAfghanistaninMoscow.InFebruaryandApril2017,RussiaheldconsultationsonAfghanistaninMoscow,China,Pakistan,India,andIran.Kazakhstan,Tajikistan,Uzbekistanandotherregionalcountriesparticipated.
RelationshipwiththeShanghaiCooperationOrganization
Since2004,thePresidentandVicePresidentofAfghanistanhaveattendedtheShanghaiCooperationOrganizationsummitsandprimeministers’meetingsasguestsofthehostcountry..InNovember2005,AfghanistanestablishedacontactgroupwiththeShanghaiCooperationOrganization.Since2009,theSCOhasheldfiveconsultationsatthedeputyforeignministerlevelontheAfghanistanissueandaninternationalconferenceonAfghanistan.InJune2012,AfghanistanofficiallybecameanobservercountryoftheShanghaiCooperationOrganization.InOctober2017,thefirstdeputyforeignminister-levelmeetingoftheShanghaiCooperationOrganization-AfghanistanLiaisonGroupwasheldinMoscow.InMay2018,anewroundofthe"ShanghaiCooperationOrganization-AfghanistanLiaisonGroup"deputyforeignminister-levelmeetingwasheldinBeijing.
RelationswiththeUnitedNations
TheUnitedNationshasplayedanimportantroleinpromotingthepeaceprocessinAfghanistan.InDecember2001,theUnitedNationspresidedoverthelaunchofthe"BonnProcess"anddispatchedtheInternationalSecurityAssistanceForce(ISAF)toAfghanistantohelpmaintainlawandorder.InMarch2002,theUnitedNationsAssistanceMissioninAfghanistan(UNAMA)wasestablishedtohelptheAfghangovernmentmaintainstability,protecthumanrights,andpromotesocialandeconomicdevelopment.TheUnitedNationshasalsoactivelypromotedtheinternationalcommunitytoholdmanyinternationalconferencesonaidtoAfghanistan.
Tourism
TouristAttractions
TheFifthMosqueofHerat
TheFifthMosqueofHeratPopularlyknownasJamiMosquebythelocals,itislocatedinHerat,thecapitalofHeratProvinceinnorthwesternAfghanistan.Builtinthe14thcentury,theFridayMosqueisthelargestmosqueinAfghanistanandoneofthelargestintheworld.Itcoversanareaof46,000squaremetersandcanaccommodate80,000peopletoprayatthesametime.
HazratAliMausoleum
TheHazratAliMausoleumisusuallycalledtheBlueMosqueandislocatedinMaza,thecapitalofBalkhProvince,AfghanistanRisharifisaveryfamousmosque.OneofthereasonswhytheMausoleumofHazratAliisfamousisbecausesomeAfghanssayAli’sremainsareburiedhere.AlibinAbiTalibisthefounderofIslamandthecousinandson-in-lawoftheprophetMuhammad,andhiscity,Mazar-e-Sharif,means"themausoleumofnobles."
KabulZoo
TheKabulZooislocatedonthebanksoftheKabulRiver.Itwasopenedin1967.Atthebeginningofitsestablishment,theparkmainlylivedwithAfghananimals.Araretouristandleisure"resort"inAfghanistan,hasattractedtheattentionofcitizensandthemedia.
Securityprecautions
Publicsecuritysituation:Carbombs,humanbodybombs,rocketsandotherterroristattacksfrequentlyoccuracrossAfghanistan;attacksandkidnappingsofChinesehavealsooccurred.
Naturaldisasters:ThemainnaturaldisastersinAfghanistanaredrought,dustandearthquakes,andearthquakesarefrequent.ThereisalmostnorainthroughouttheyearfromApriltoNovember,withasmallamountofrainandsnowinwinter;sandyanddustyweatherinspringandautumn.
食品卫生：建议旅阿时，携带必要的药物，以应对可能发生的腹泻及发烧状况。如不习惯，则要少食生冷食物，尽可能饮用开水或瓶装水。