Afghanistan

Afghanistan ( Pashto / Dari : افغانستان, Afghanistan), officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a country in Central Asia . The country has a population of about 31 million people living in a territory of more than 652,000 square kilometers. The country is bordered by Pakistan in the south and east, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to the north and China in the far northeast.



Contents
[ hide ]  *1 Name 
 * 2 History
 * 2.1 Current situation
 * 3 Geography
 * 3.1 Climate
 * 3.2 Water
 * 3.3 Geographic Statistics
 * 3.4 Large cities
 * 4 Administrative divisions
 * 5 Population
 * 5.1 Religion
 * 5.2 Population Statistics
 * 5.3 Life Expectancy
 * 5.4 Drug use
 * 5.5 Literacy
 * 6 Directors
 * 7 Economics
 * 7.1 Economic Statistics
 * 7.2 Transport
 * 7.2.1 Air
 * 7.2.2 Railways
 * 7.2.3 Poverty
 * 8 Culture
 * 8.1 Media and Entertainment
 * 8.2 Clothing
 * 8.3 Sport
 * 8.4 Kitchen
 * 9 Famous Afghans
 * 10 Sights in Afghanistan
 * 11 Miscellaneous
 * 12 See also
 * 13 External links

Name
The name literally means land of Afghanistan Afghans. The Pashtuns began using the term Afghan themselves from the Islamic period. According WK Frazier Tyler, MC Gillet and other scholars, "The word Afghan first appears in history in the Hudud-al-Alam in 982 "The last part of the nameAfghanistan derives from the Persian word Stan (state or country). The English name Afghan land in various treaties between Qajar and Englandprevents the countries inhabited by Pashtun tribes (contemporary South Afghanistan) between Persia and the Indies was taken over by the Afghans and was Afghanistan.

From the 18th century, when Ahmad Shah Durrani a government formed on the basis of Pashtunwali, Afghanistan was called by its current name;Afghanistan was internationally recognized as the official name during the reign of Abdur Rahman Khan . Before the 18th century, Afghanistan was known as Khorasan and even earlier if Aryana (also spelled Ariana).

History
The oldest human settlement in Afghanistan dates back to the Middle Paleolithic. The country was due to its strategic location along the Silk Roadsince ancient times associated with the cultures of the Middle East and other parts of Asia. Through the centuries, the country was the arena of widely varying powers, like the Greeks of Alexander the Great, Muslim Arabs of the caliphate of the Umayyads and Abbasids , Mongols of Genghis Khan , Britons and Russians . The country was the birthplace of the rich of the Kushans , Hephthalieten , Samanid , saffarid dynasty , Ghaznaviden, Ghowriden , Khilji's , Moguls , Hotakiden and Durraniden .

The political history of the modern state of Afghanistan began in the 18th century with the Hotakiden and Durraniden. In the late 19th century, Afghanistan became a buffer state in " the Great Game "between the British and Russian empires. After the Anglo-Afghan War of 1919 under names Amanoellah Khan and Mohammed Zahir Shah, the modernization of the country. A series of coups in the seventies was followed by a Russian invasion, which was opposed by the Americans. After the Russian withdrawal followed in the eighties, a series of civil wars that devastated much of the country. Eventually, this made ​​the way for the Taliban, a group of religious extremists who briefly managed to conquer virtually the entire country.

In 2001 attacked the United States in Afghanistan, searching for Osama bin Laden . Immediate reason was the September 11 attacks . Bin Laden was not found, but the Taliban government was ousted. A transitional government was under Hamid Karzai appointed to govern the country. Karzai was confirmed as president in 2004 in the first free elections in the country. In 2004 was also drafted a new constitution. Since then, the reconstruction has been difficult. The security situation has worsened by the resurgence of the Taliban and the activities of local warlords. Under the huge problems the country is facing are also widespread corruption, the lack of good infrastructure and widespread poverty among the population.

Current situation
After the attacks by the United States, which supported the advance of the Northern Alliance , an alliance of armed opponents of the Taliban , a new regime was established under PresidentHamid Karzai . Since late 2001, there is a security presence in Afghanistan present, the ISAF . Until August 11, 2003, the leadership in the hands of Netherlands and Germany, took then, against the wishes of Afghanistan itself, the NATO this task.

As part of Task Force Uruzgan since August 1, 2006 Camp Holland furnished.

Supporters of the former Taliban regime continue to struggle with attacks and terrorist acts against the presence of infidels in Afghanistan and against the regime of Hamid Karzai, which they consider a puppet. They operate from the Pakistani border. Several ISAF soldiers were killed (including three Canadians and one Turk Turks ), as well as employees of the Red Cross and theUnited Nations .

On June 28, 2005 members American troops example, the heaviest loss since the overthrow of the Taliban regime. Three members of a special Navy Seals team were killed, and a Chinookhelicopter with 16 passengers, sent to rescue them was shot allowing all occupants perished. Following the parliamentary elections scheduled for September 2005, the unrest and violence in the region has grown significantly.

Another problem for the Karzai government is that the regional directors (again) as independent warlords drafting, and leave themselves little located to the central authority. The governors enrich themselves, compete and suppress the population, while the central government is nearly bankrupt. The Afghans would like to extend the mandate of ISAF to the provinces, but theWestern coalition refuses preliminary financial and logistical reasons.

Another problem are the refugees . The return of refugees to Afghanistan is the largest such operation in thirty years. In 2002, 2.3 million refugees returned back home (including 1.8 million from abroad) for 2003 were 2.5 million returnees expected. With these refugees, the problems were in shortage of food and drinking water reinforced.

Geography
Satellite sandstorm in AfghanistanAfghanistan is the northeastern part of the Highland Iran . The country has many steeply sloped mountains and foothills of the Hindu Kush -hooggebergte (with peaks over 7300 m) in the center of the country. The highest mountain is the Noshaq (7492 m). There are, however, within the mountain ranges and on their edges, many fertile valleys and plains. In the south, and particularly in the southwest, are large deserts in the Helmendbekken, including the areas of Seistan and Registan . In the north, between the central mountain ranges and the river Amu Darya are the highlands of Badakhshan, Afghan Turkistan , the plain of Amu Darya, and the rich valley of Hari Rud (Arius) in the northwest corner of the country (the heart of the old Ariana ). In the middle of the country is the national park Band-e Amir .

Climate
The climate of the country varies greatly, although most of the land is dry. In Afghanistan will include a steppe climate (northwest and northeast),desert climate (south and center) and continental climate (northeast) for. Because of its distance from the ocean keeps it dry, hot summers and cold winters. Most rain falls in the east and in the mountain areas.

Water
Kajakidam built in 1953 in the Helmand<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The central highlands separates three river basins . In the north flows Kunduz to the Amu Darya . The latter is more than 1000 km border withPakistan . The eastern part of the basin of the Indus, the main river Kabul , and as tributaries Panjshir , Alisjang and Kunar . The water is used since ages for irrigation . In the west flow Hariroed and Helmand, which largely to the southwest of the Hindu Kush Iranian border flows. These contain only now and then water. The rivers are mostly navigable.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Dry Afghanistan has few large natural lakes. There are several reservoirs that ensure both the supply of large cities as well as for drinking and irrigation.

Geographic Statistics

 * Surface: 652 864 km².
 * Capital: Kabul (population 2.9 million - 2005)

Big cities
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The ten largest cities in Afghanistan counted as estimated by the Bureau of Statistics of Afghanistan in 2006, all more than 50,000 inhabitants. These are listed below, as well as their population at the last census of 1979 <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[5] <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Cities that since 1979, the top 10 have disappeared Baghlan (2006: 56,200 inhabitants) and Ghazni (48,700).

Administrative divisions
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Afghanistan has 34 provinces, or Velayat , which are further divided into a total of 398 districts .

Population
Demographic development of AfghanistanEthnic groups (per district)Dominant languages ​​by district<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:inherit;font-size:11.1333608627319px;"><span style="border-style:none;border-width:initial;color:rgb(126,230,77);">██  Dari

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:inherit;font-size:11.1333608627319px;"><span style="border-style:none;border-width:initial;color:rgb(124,99,0);">██  Pashto

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:inherit;font-size:11.1333608627319px;"><span style="border-style:none;border-width:initial;color:rgb(237,27,36);">██  Uzbek

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:inherit;font-size:11.1333608627319px;"><span style="border-style:none;border-width:initial;color:rgb(254,153,1);">██  Turkmen

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:inherit;font-size:11.1333608627319px;"><span style="border-style:none;border-width:initial;color:rgb(174,174,174);">██  Circassian

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:inherit;font-size:11.1333608627319px;"><span style="border-style:none;border-width:initial;color:rgb(25,222,255);">██  Noeristani

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;line-height:inherit;font-size:11.1333608627319px;"><span style="border-style:none;border-width:initial;color:rgb(200,6,253);">██  Pasjai <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">At the beginning of the 20th century, Afghanistan had approximately four million inhabitants; that number has now increased sevenfold.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Although warfare in the last century caused a substantial population displacement (millions of refugees migrated to Pakistan and Iran), the population has not changed much over the years. Tajiks, who form the second largest ethnic group in the country, live around the heart and in the Northeast; Uzbeks living in the north and nomadic Turkmen live along the border with Turkmenistan. In the central mountains live the Hazaras, of Mongolian origin. In the eastern and south-central portions attend the Pashtuns, who form the largest ethnic group in the country. Circassianlive in the far south.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Dari (Eastern or Persian ), Pashto , Uzbek , Turkmen and Circassian are the main languages ​​of the country.

Religion
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Almost all (99%) residents are Muslim . The vast majority (80 to 85%) is Sunni, a minority (15 to 19%, more than two million and mainly Hazara)Shiite . 1% is one religion to another.

Population Statistics
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">These figures are based on data from the World Factbook <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-people_1-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[1] from the CIA . Other sources, such as, for example, can be found on Hewad.com <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[6], sometimes give significantly different figures.
 * Bevolkingsgroepen: Pathanen (42%), Tadzjieken (27%), Hazara (9%), Oezbeken (9%), Aimak (4%), Turkmenen (3%), Beloetsjen (2%),Nuristani en Kirgiezen .
 * Languages: Dari (Afghan Persian ) 50%, Pashto (including Pashto, Pashtu) 35% (official languages), Uzbek , Turkmen , Circassian , Pasjai, several Nuristaanse and other languages. Bilingualism is common.
 * Religion: Sunni 80%, Shiism 19% and others 1% (including Ishmaelites ).

Life expectancy
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">20% of Afghan children die before reaching the age of 5 years. 1 in 7 children die during the first year of life due to illness or malnutrition.However, the annual population growth rate is high.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Data from UNICEF shows that the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan in the year 2005 still worrying. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[7]


 * The last 3 years was the enrollment of girls in secondary schools only 10%.
 * 40% of married women having reached the age of 18 years. Of these, over a third already have children.
 * 1600 (and in some areas 6000) women per 100,000 die while giving birth or because of complications occurring.

Drug use
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">A widespread problem in Afghanistan is drug use . According to a study by the UN Services UNODC used in 2005 some 920,000 Afghans drugs like heroin , hashish and opium . In anticipation of a revised report will still have to appear in 2009, a significant increase is expected in the number of drug users. According to the 2009 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report of the US State Department, there were an estimated two million drug users in Afghanistan. The capital Kabul could already count 50,000-60,000 drug addicts. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[8]

Literacy
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The literacy of the entire population is estimated at 36%. The percentage of literate women in 2005 still 15%.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">In the spring of 2003 it was estimated that 30% of the 7,000 schools in Afghanistan was seriously damaged during more than two decades of civil war and Soviet domination. Only half of the schools had clean water and less than an estimated 40% had adequate sanitation. Education for boys was not a priority during the Taliban regime, and girls were not allowed to go to school.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">It is believed that up to four million Afghan children, possibly the largest number ever registered for the school year alone that began in March 2003. Education is available for both girls and boys.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Since the overthrow of the Taliban, more than 40 girls' schools have been blown up, burnt or attacked.

Board
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Since the battle of the Mujahideen against the occupation by the Soviet Union and the overthrow of the Taliban regime in 2001, much has changed. From December 2001, Hamid KarzaiGovernment and provisional head of state.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">After the country for some time by an interim transitional government was administered, was a new constitution drawn up for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and approved in January 2004 by the 502-member Loya Jirga . A presidential system was set up with two vice presidents. Both Dari and Pashtu is branded as national language, but sources used more than 85% of the population Dari as the official language [https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=nl&u=https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Bronvermelding&usg=ALkJrhgSmvPee-JqyCgbBJfN5AmT0vV4RQ#Bron_gevraagd <sup class="noprint nopopups" style="line-height:1;">[source? ]] . Other ethnic languages ​​as official languages ​​will apply in the areas where they are spoken.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">On October 9, 2004 Karzai won the presidential election. The transitional cabinet remained in office until 24 December 2004. On that day a new government led by Hamid Karzai sworn. This government however had yet to be approved by the Afghan parliament to elect yet. The elections were originally scheduled for June 2004, but were postponed several times and finally found place in September 2005.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">In September 2014 Karzai was succeeded by Ashraf Ghani .

Economy
Afghan pomegranatesA handmade Afghan carpets<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Afghanistan is a poor country, the majority of economic activity is agriculture and livestock. There is also lapis lazuli found. Of these intense bluegem is the country's provider of the highest quality stone. The GDP per capita is only around $ 150-180 per year ( IMF estimate for 2000).

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">One of the few areas in which the Afghan economy it is successful, the ( illicit ) production and export of opium . In this context, they even the infamous opium field in Southeast Asia located Golden Triangle left behind. With an estimated 3400 tonnes (2002) Afghanistan is the world's largest opium producer. In 1999 production was 5,000 tons, but under the Taliban production was strictly forbidden, and dropped according to official statistics together into "less than 200 tonnes." An action of the Karzai government to put an end to opium production, failed because the compensation for farmers was insufficient, and by strong protest from the opium trade intertwined warlords.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The economy of Afghanistan has had a hard time during the war. As part of the reconstruction after the war, Afghanistan was a significant pledge to aid funds; the actual amount donated thereby remains behind. Moreover, the aid was primarily necessary for humanitarian relief, and investment in infrastructure, health and education, as well as support the suffering of the Afghan treasury, have therefore insufficiently occurred.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The local currency is the afghani (Af, AFN), price: 1 Af = € 0.156 (October 2006). The old afghani ( ISO-4217 -Code: AFA) in 2002 replaced by the new afghani (AFN), with three zeros after the decimal point were deleted.

Economic statistics
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">These figures are based on data from the World Factbook <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9] of the CIA .
 * National product: $ 21.5 billion (2004)
 * National product per capita: $ 800 (2004)
 * Economic growth: 8% (2006)
 * Agricultural products: grain , fruits , nuts , vegetables , cotton , poppy , sheep
 * Commodities: lapis lazuli , natural gas , salt , coal , copper , oil , iron ore
 * Exports: $ 471 million (2005)
 * Export Products: fruits and nuts, carpets , wool , cotton, hides, opium
 * Export Partners: India (22%), Pakistan (21%), USA (14.6%), United Kingdom (6.3%), Denmark (5.5%), Finland (4.3%)
 * Imports: $ 3.87 billion (2005)
 * Import Products: food , petroleum products, consumer goods
 * Import Partners: Pakistan (37.5%), USA (11.9%), Germany (7.1%), India (5.1%)

Air transport
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Afghanistan has about 53 airports. The largest of these are the Kabul airport, near the capital and the surrounding region, Kandahar International Airport in the south, Herat International Airportin the west and Mazar-i-Sharif Airport airport to the north. Ariana Afghan Airlines is the national airline with domestic flights between Kabul, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif. International flights include United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Turkey, India, Iran, Pakistan and some other Asian destinations.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">There are also domestic and international flights operated by local airlines Kam Air , Pamir Airways and Safi Airways . The region offer airlines such as Turkish Airlines , Gulf Air , Air Arabia , Air India , PIA and various other services to Afghanistan.

Railways
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The country has limited rail with Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to the north. The government plans to extend the railway to the capital and then to the eastern border town of Torkham to realize in 2014 a connection to Pakistan Railways.

Poverty
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">In Afghanistan, 36% of the population lives below the poverty line . <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[10]

Culture
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Afghan culture existed for more than two millennia and going back at least to the time of the Achaemenids around 500 v. Chr. It is primarily a nomadic and tribal society, in different regions of the country has its own tradition, reflecting the multicultural and multilingual character of the nation. In the southern and eastern regions, but also in West Pakistan in the past was part of Afghanistan, people live according to the Pashtun culture by following Pashtunwali, an ancient way of life that is still preserved. The rest of the country is culturally Persian and Turkish. Some non-Pashtuns have adopted the Pashtunwali who live in the proximity of the Pashtuns, while some Pashtuns have taken over the Persian culture. Millions of Afghans living in Pakistan and Iran have been affected in the past 30 years by the cultures of neighboring countries.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Afghans again proud of their culture, land, ethnicity and especially their religion and independence. Like other highlanders, they are regarded with a mixture of fear and condescension, for their high regard for personal honor, for their loyalty to their tribe and their willingness to use violence to resolve disputes. Tribal wars and internecine feuds is something they have been dealing with since time immemorial. This feature made it difficult for foreigners to conquer the land. Tony Heathcote considers the tribal system as the best way of organizing large groups of people in a country that is geographically difficult to access, and in a society that has an uncomplicated lifestyle from a materialistic point of view. There are an estimated 60 major Pashtun tribes and the number of Afghan nomads is estimated to be about 2 to 3 million.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The country has a complex history that is reflected in its current culture and in the form of various languages ​​and monuments. Unfortunately, many of the historic monuments damaged in the recent wars. The two famous Buddhas in the province of Bamyan were destroyed by the Taliban, who regarded them as idolatrous. Although archaeologists are still Buddhist relics in different parts of the country, some dating from the 2nd century. This indicates that Buddhism was widespread in Afghanistan. Other historic sites include the cities of Herat, Kandahar, Ghazni, Mazar-i-Sharif and Zarang. The Minaret of Jam in the Hari River is UNESCO World Heritage . A jacket that was worn reputedly kept by the prophet Muhammad in the Sanctuary of the cloak in Kandahar, a city founded by Alexander the Great and the first capital of Afghanistan. The citadel of Alexander in the western city of Herat in recent years been renovated and is a popular attraction for tourists. In the north of the country, the blue mosque of Mazar-i-Sharif by many to be the place where Ali ibn Abu Talib was buried. The Afghan Ministry of Information and Culture is working on the renovation of 42 historic sites in Ghazni until 2013, when the province capital of Islamic civilization will be explained. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[11] The National Museum of Afghanistan is located in Kabul.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Although literacy is low, classic Persian and Pashto play poetry play an important role in the Afghan culture. Poetry has always been one of the main educational pillars in the region and has been integrated into the culture. Some notable poets include Rumi , Rabi'a Balkhi , Sanai , Jami , Khushal Khan Khattak , Rahman Baba , Khalilullah Khalili and Parwin Pazhwak . <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[12]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The people of Afghanistan originate horse riders, making the sport known as Buzkashi is popular there.

Media and entertainment
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The first Afghan newspaper appeared in 1906. In the 1920s, Radio Kabul began broadcasting local radio services. Afghanistan National Television was launched in 1974 but was closed in 1996 when the media were tightly controlled by the Taliban. Since 2002, the restrictions are gradually lifted and private media diversified. Freedom of expression of the press is enshrined in the constitution in 2004, censorship is prohibited, though defaming individuals or producing material that is prohibited in breach of the principles of Islam. There are at least 400 publications, 15 local Afghan TV stations and 60 radio stations. Foreign radio stations such as Voice of America, BBC World Service and Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE / RL) broadcast in the country.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The city of Kabul in the past was home to many musicians who were masters of both traditional and modern Afghan music, especially during Nowruz (New Year) and the National Independence Festival Day. Ahmad Zahir , Nashenas , Ustad Sara Hang , Sarban , Ubaidullah Jan , Farhad Darya and Naghma are some of the remarkable Afghan musicians, but there are many others. Most Afghans are accustomed to watching Bollywood movies from India and listening to the movie hits. Many of the Bollywood movie stars have their roots in Afghanistan, including Madhubala ,Feroz Khan , Shahrukh Khan , Aamir Khan , Salman Khan , Naseeruddin Shah , Fardeen Khan , Sohail Khan , Celina Jaitley and many others. In addition, several Bollywood films likeDharmatma , Khuda Gawah , Escape from Taliban and Kabul Express shot in Afghanistan.

Clothing
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The traditional male attire usually includes a salwar kameez (dress), lungee (turban), karakul , pakol , topi , kufi (hat) and a chapan (jacket). Some men wear occasional keffiyeh (wrap) on their heads. Traditional Afghan clothing varies by region, and sometimes also by ethnicity or by tribe. Most traditional Afghan attire for women consists of a long colorful dress with circular skirt. Girls start at a very young age to cover their hair with a very light, colorful piece of cloth. Many even do this at home with their own family.

Sport
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The Afghan national football team plays in international football since 1941. The national team plays its home games at the Ghazi Stadium in Kabul. The national team has never participated in or qualified for the World Cup. The country also has a national futsal team . Some other popular sports in Afghanistan cricket , volleyball , basketball , taekwondo , boxing , wrestling , weightliftingand bodybuilding .

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Buzkashi is a traditional sport, especially among the northern Afghans. It is similar to polo, played by horsemen in two teams, each trying to gain possession of a goat carcass.

Kitchen
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Afghan cuisine is based largely on grains such as wheat , corn , barley and rice, which are the main crops of the country.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Popular Afghan dishes are:

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Afghan popular desserts are:
 * Palao (traditional rice dish)
 * Mosh Palao
 * Shorba (Afghan soup)
 * Do Pyaza
 * Mantu (meat dumplings)
 * Kofta (meatballs)
 * Kichiri
 * Qorma Sabzi
 * Baunjan (eggplant cooked with potatoes and tomatoes)
 * Bendee / Baumya (okra cooked with potatoes and tomatoes)
 * Heeknusb (hummus)
 * Ashak
 * Aush (handmade noodles)
 * Bagh Lava (baklava)
 * Bolani (Afghan flat bread or pancakes)
 * Chapli Kabab
 * Shor-Nakhod (chickpeas with special toppings)
 * Naan (Afghan bread)


 * Gosh Feel (pastry)
 * Halwa
 * Shir Berinj (rice pudding)
 * Ferni
 * Kadu Bouranee (sweet pumpkins)
 * Jelabi
 * Maleeda or Khajoor
 * Spice Rub

Known Afghans
Former President Hamid Karzai*Jalal ad-Din Rumi
 * Jamal al-Din al-Afghani
 * Hafizullah Amin
 * Farshad Bashir
 * Ahmad Shah Durrani
 * Abdul Hakim Munib
 * Khaled Hosseini
 * Mirwais Hotaki
 * Malang Jan
 * Hamid Karzai
 * Akbar Khan
 * Amanoellah Khan
 * Khoshal Khan Khattak
 * Dost Mohammed
 * Nur Muhammad Taraki
 * Ahmad Zahir
 * Mohammed Zahir Shah

Sights in Afghanistan

 * Buddhas of Bamyan
 * National park Band-e Amir
 * Blue mosque of Mazar-i-Sharif
 * Friday Mosque of Herat
 * Afghan National Museum
 * Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam
 * Gardens of Babur

Miscellaneous

 * Country Code vehicles: AFG
 * The domain .af was requested in October 1997 by Abdul Razeeq, but was initially not in use.
 * On Tuesday, March 31, 2009 took place in The Hague, an international conference on Afghanistan's future location, The Afghanistan Conference 2009: A Comprehensive Strategy in a Regional Context '