Afghanistan's profile

Afghanistan has suffered long years of perpetual conflicts, infighting and foreign invasions over the last three decades.

Situated between the Middle East, Indian sub-continent and Central Asia, the landlocked and mountaineous land has always been the centre of attention and fought over by world superpowers as well as neighbours.

Afghanistan served as a battlefield between the Imperial Russia and the British Empire in India in the 19th century, and subsequently between the Soviet Union and the USA in 1980s.

The last decades of devastating wars and anarchy have left the country's infrastructure, economy and political and social apparatus in ruins - a daunting challenge for the newly elected administration to rebuild them.

Karzai's adminstration, with extensive support of the west, is at pains to expand its rule all across the country, establish the rule of law and bring nationwide stability, while the Taliban and Al-Qa'idah insurgents have recently stepped up insurgency in an attempt to hamper the smooth implementation of reconstruction and development drive.


FACTS:

Population: 26 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Kabul
Area: 650,000 sq km
Major languages: Pashto, Dari (Persian)
Major religion: Islam (Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%)
Independence: August, 1919

Life expectancy: 46 years (men), 46 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Afghani = 100 puls (50 Afghani = 1 US dollar)
Main exports: Fruit and nuts, carpets, wool, opium


Chronological events at a glance:

50,000 BC - 20,000 BC: Archaeologists have discovered evidence of stone age technology in Afghanistan.

2000 BC - 1500 BC: The city of Kabul is believed to have been established during this era.

600 BC: Zoroaster introduces a new religion in Bactria (north of Afghanistan), which worships fire.

50 AD: Under King Kanishka Graeco-Buddhist Gandharan culture reaches its peak.

652 AD: Arab conquerors introduce Islam to Afghanistan.

962 - 1030: Under the Ghaznavid Dynasty (962-1140), Afghanistan becomes the centre of Islamic power and civilisation.

1219 - 1221: Genghis Khan invades Afghanistan and turns the highly civlised land of the time into a desert.

1747 - 1773 : Rule of Ahmad Shah Abdali (Durrani). Ahmad Shah consolidates and enlarges Afghanistan. Durrani's empire extended from Central Asia to Delhi, from Kashmir to the Arabian sea. It became the greatest Muslim empire in the second half of the 18th century. He was the first to demarcate the Afghan borders.

1839 - 1842: First Anglo-Afghan War. Afghans kills Shah Shuja, a puppet king installed by the British. Afghans rise against the British, and in January 1842, only one Britih soldier, out of 16,500, survives and returns to British-controlled India.

1893: The Durand Line Treaty is signed between Afghan leader and British India, splitting Afghan tribal areas, leaving half of these Afghans in what is now Pakistan. The treaty expired in 1993, but due to choas and anarchy in Afghanistan, the territory still remains with Pakistan.

1919 - 1929: Afghans defeat the British in the final deadly battle and gain full independence. Amanullah Khan, titled as the hero of the battle, comes to the throne.

1973: Daud Khan abolishes King Zahir's monarchy and declares himself as the president. Thereafter, the Russian influence speeds up and permeates every state department.

1978: Communist coup: Daud is killed, and a Russian-backed administration takes over. Tension, murder, arrest, torture and choas reach epidemic proportions. Afghan mujahedin groups are formed and they rise against the leadership.

1992: Mujahedin topple Dr Najibullah's regime and take over Kabul. Infighting starts and millions of Afghans leave country and take asylum in neighbouring countries and the West.

1995 - 2001: The Taliban are formed by the Pakistani harline religious groups. They take over major parts of Afghanistan and finally get to the throne. Afghanistan suffers the most brutal era of fundamentalism and attrocity.

October, 2001: US attacks Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban, accused of harbouring terrorists responsible for the 9/11 attack on USA.

2002: A transitional administration led by Hamid Karzai is appointed to lead the country until the 2004 presidential election.

2004: Incumbent Hamid Karzai wins the first Afghan democratic election with a landslide majority of 54%.

2005: The first democratically parliament in 30 years is formed.