Afghanistan: The Friendliest Country in the World, Possibly the Universe.

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Created by the Embassy of Afghanistan, Washington
D.C.

• Afghanistan The Friendliest Country in the
  World, Possibly the Universe.

-- Afghanistan Online
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(No Transcript)
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Fast Facts
Neighbors China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, and UzbekistanCapital
KabulPopulation Approximately 29,928,987
(estimated for July 2005).Life expectancy
Males 46.62 years and females 45.1
yearsNatural Resources Natural gas, petroleum,
coal, copper, chrome, talc barites sulfur, lead,
zinc, iron, ore, salt, precious and semiprecious
stone Natural hazards Damaging earthquakes in
the mountains, floodingEnvironment Declining
soil quality, overgrazing, deforestation for fuel
and building materials, desertification
Climate Arid to semi-arid cold winters and
hot summersEthnic Groups Pashtun, Tajik,
Hazara, Aimaks, Uzbek, Turkmen, Baloch, and
others.
Language There are some 32 language and dialects
spoken. Some of these languages include Dari, a
form of Persian, Pashto, Uzbeki and Turkic
languages. Religions Over 99 of Afghans follow
Islam. National Holiday August 19 is
Independence Day, celebrating freedom from the
control of United Kingdom in 1919. Agriculture
Crops are raised mostly for domestic use. Afghan
carpets, natural gas and textiles are exported.
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Argali(Marco Polo Sheep)
A N I M A L S
Ibex
Bactrian Deer
Markor Goat
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Other famous animals
Afghan Hound
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The Historical Perspective
Afghanistan (which literally means Land of the
Afghan) is a mountainous landlocked country
located in central Asia north and west of
Pakistan, east of Iran. Slightly smaller than the
size of Texas, Afghanistan has had a rich past
that dates back to the 6th century B.C. Once the
meeting point of Chinese, Indian and European
civilizations, the region attracted conquerors
such as Alexander the Great in 330 B.C. and the
great Mongol leader Genghis Khan in 1220 A.D. In
the past 30 years, Afghanistan has made headlines
worldwide as they have struggled towards the
creation of their own national identity.
From WWI onwards, Afghanistans trade mostly
involved the Soviet Union. Additionally, Soviet
foreign aid to Afghanistan was far more prevalent
than assistance from the West. Afghanistan was a
constitutional monarchy until 1973, and was a
republic thereafter. In 1979, the Soviets invaded
Afghanistan and set up a government in Kabul
protected with Soviet troops. Outraged, an
Islamic jihad (holy war) was called. In order to
support the installation and success of an
anti-communist regime, the United States helped
the Afghan resistance overthrow the Soviets. By
the end of the struggle in 1989, more than a
million Afghans had died and over 6.2 million
people had fled the country.
Afghanistans tumultuous and extensive history
can be witnessed today in the magnificent ancient
ruins throughout the country.
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The Afghan Flag Today(adopted 2003)
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A Closer Look at the Great Seal
The ShahadahThis is the holiest prayer in Islam
it translates There is no god but Allah and
Mohammad is the Prophet of Allah.
MosqueThe central feature of the seal is a
mosque, with its characteristic dome and
minarets. The flags on either side represent
Afghanistans national sovereignty. Within the
mosque are two important structures which can be
found in every real mosque 1) the mihrab, the
archway indicating the direction of Mecca and
2) the minbar, the stepped pulpit from which
sermons are delivered
Wheat GarlandThe wheat wreath symbolizes
Afghanistans prosperous future.
1398This is the Muslim year 1398 written in
Arabic numerals. On the Western calendar this is
the year 1919, which is the year of Afghanistans
indpendence.
AfghanistanThis is simply the name of the
country written in the local (Persian) alphabet
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Historic Afghanistan Stamps

• Stamps celebrating Afghanistans sporting prowess.

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Political stamps
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In 1996, a group of Islamic fighters called the
Taliban (talib meaning religious student) took
control of Afghanistans capital Kabul.
Following terrorist attacks in New York
City and Washington D.C. in September 2001, the
United States began military operations in
Afghanistan to find lead terrorist Osama bin
Laden and overturn the terrorist network
connected to the Taliban.
Afghans wait in line for their turn to vote in
the 2004 elections.
President Karzai comes to Washington and meets
with President Bush in May 2005
Above The first female woman to run for
President of Afghanistan, Messouda Jalal earned
1 of votes and made history in the 2004
elections. She now serves as the Minister of
Womens Affairs.
Afghan election staff count ballots to determine
the results for the 2004 elections.
After 20 years of war, Afghans went to the polls
for the first time in October 2004. In the weeks
and months leading up to the polls, voters were
intimidated and the Taliban threatened to disrupt
the voting. Yet, Election Day passed with few
reports of serious violence. Hamid Karzai
received 55.4 of the vote to win the election
and become President.
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Education Afghanistan has a long history of
educating its citizens. In 1932, the first
college of Medicine opened in Kabul. Education
was declared universal, compulsory and free in
1935. In 1946, Kabul University was founded and
14 years later women were admitted as students.
Since the end of Taliban rule, the number of
Afghan kids enrolled in schools tripled to 5.6
million (the most in the countrys history) of
which 40 are girls. The new Constitution,
signed into law by President Karzai in January
2004, states that education is the right of all
Afghan citizens, and it is provided free of
charge by the state up to the level of a
bachelors degree.
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Alefbe - The Alphabet
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Numerals
Sample Text
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Afghanistan has a rich and long cultural
heritage. Its location on the old Silk Route
between China and the Middle East means that
Afghanistans cultural life has been subject to
many influences. It was at one time or another
occupied by many great civilizations such as the
Greeks, Persians and Indians. This mix of
cultures produced a number of ethnic groups
Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks, Turkmens,
Baluch, Turkmen, Aimaq, Nuristani, Pamiri,
Pashai, Kirghiz and Kazakh all call Afghanistan
their home.
Society
Above A poem written in Pashtu. Left This
dictionary provides a means for both Pashto and
Dari speakers to learn English.
After the death of the Prophet Muhammed, a
disagreement over the legitimacy of the first
four caliphs (spiritual head and ruler of the
Islamic state) created a religious divide amongst
Muslims. Those who rejected the first three
rulers became known as Shiite Muslims, and those
who embraced them became known as Sunni Muslims.
Over two-thirds of the population are Sunni
Muslims, but over 99 of Afghans follow one form
of Islam. Pashto and Dari are the official
languages of Afghanistan. Dari is actually a
dialect of Farsi, called Persian in English.
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Afghan Holidays
The religious holidays in Afghanistan are
celebrated according to the traditional lunar
calendar. Other more modern holidays, such as
Independence Day and New Years Day, are
celebrated based on the solar calendar used by
western societies. Holidays are a time for
friends and families to get together and prepare
lavish meals.
EID AL-FITR Day The day after a month of
fasting for Ramadan (the 9th month of the Muslim
calendar). During Ramadan, Muslims fast during
daylight hours and only eat small meals in the
evenings. It is a time of worship and
contemplation, and a time for strengthening
family and community ties. The day after Ramadan
ends, Eid Al-Fitr, is often began by wearing new
clothes and going to prayer. Afterwards, people
visit or entertain their friends and families.
Children usually receive gifts or money called
Eidi".
EID AL-ADHA Day The 10th day of the twelfth
month of the Islamic (Hijra) calendar. Eid
Al-Adha commemorates the Prophet Abraham's
devotion to God. As the story goes, God asked
Abraham for him to sacrifice his son Ismael as a
test of his dedication. As soon as he saw that
Abraham was going to
go through with the deed, Allah provided a lamb
for the sacrifice instead. On this holiday,
Muslims performing the Haj (pilgrimage to Mecca)
sacrifice a lamb, and the meat is given out to
the poor.
NOWROZE Day March 21st This is the first day
of spring (New Year's Day in the solar
calendar). JESHEN Day August 19th August
19th marks Afghan Independence Day. Even though,
Afghanistan was never a British colony, the
British did have control of its foreign policy
due to an agreement signed by a former Afghan
King. The Third Anglo-Afghan War ended this
agreement.
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Sports Kite Fighting and Buzkashi
Afghanis participate in many of the typical kinds
of sports, such as soccer and wrestling
(palwani). They also continue to compete in
athletic events, such as buzkashi and kite
fighting, which have been played throughout
history as an important part of Afghan culture.
Kite Fighting Although this sport is usually
played by children and young teenagers, it is
fiercely competitive. There are no rules.
Everyone puts up their kite and tries to cut
other kites down by rubbing the strings together
and eventually breaking them. There can be over
25 kites in the air at any given time, all
fighting each other and attempting to outmaneuver
one another. When a kite falls down, kids on the
ground try to capture the cut kites and assemble
a collection of them. The last kite flying is
the winner.
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A kite shop and kite flyers

• Afghan kites are usually made of paper and bamboo
  and are always flown on a glass coated cutting
  line, called tar. Most of the flyers make their
  own tar, each with their own secret recipe of
  glue, flour and ground glass. The wing span of
  the kite is usually about 3.5 feet long, but can
  range up to 5 feet in length.

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For girls and boys! In the city and in the
country!

• Charka gar holds the wooden spool.
• Tar is the glass-covered string.
• Gudiparan baz is the kite flyer, responsible
  for controlling the movement of the kite during
  the fight tournaments.
• Jang is the fight.

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Buzkashi
Buzkashi, or goat grabbing, is the national
sport of Afghanistan. Many historians believe
that Buzkashi dates back to the Turkic-Mongol
people, and that it was derived from hunting
mountain goats on horseback. In Buzkashi, a
headless carcass is placed in the center of a
circle and surrounded by the players of two
opposing teams. The object of the game is to get
control of the calf carcass and be the first to
pitch it across the goal line in the scoring
area. Games can last a day, or an entire week.
Only the most masterful players, (called
chapandaz) even are able to get close to the
carcass. The competition is fierce, and the
winner of a match receives prizes that have been
donated by a sponsor. These prizes range from
money to fine turbans and clothes. In order for
someone to become a chapandaz, one must undergo a
tremendous amount of difficult training. In fact,
the best chapandaz, are usually over the age of
forty. The horses that participate in buzkashi
undergo five years of heavy training before even
making it to the playing field.
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Buzkashi

• The rider in red is wearing a traditional
  costume, but the men on the other team are
  wearing Russian tank helmets.
• The "ball" is the body of a decapitated goat or
  calf that has had weights or sand stuffed down
  its throat and the neck sewn together.
• Only the most masterful players, (called
  chapandaz) even are able to get close to the
  carcass.

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Competition is typically fierce, as other players
may use any force short of tripping the horse in
order to thwart scoring attempts (though the use
of knives or guns is discouraged). Riders usually
wear heavy clothing and head protection to
protect themselves from players' whips and boots.
Games can last for several days.

• Players take the goat out across the field and
  around a post in the distance. Then it must be
  dropped in a circle marked on the ground. The
  rules are few, and the number of players varies.
  The horses are very valuable, well cared for,
  highly trained, and they are obviously as
  enthusiastic about the game as the men are.

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Afghan Cuisine
Afghan-style cuisine is a blend of specialties
from all over Asia. Its position in-between the
former Soviet Union, China, Pakistan and Iran,
has allowed trade to flourish within its borders
for thousands of years. As a result, Afghan
cuisine offers a variety of tastes and spices
reminiscent of Greek, Turkish, Middle Eastern,
Persian, Central Asian, Indian and even Far
Eastern foods and dishes. The prominence of
cattle and sheep as livestock in Afghanistan
ensure that dairy products remain a traditionally
important part of their diet. Cheese, buttermilk
or yogurts are used in most dishes. Usually meats
such as beef or chicken are served, but Muslim
dietary rules prevent most Afghans from eating
pork. Fresh vegetables and fruit are also an
important part of the Afghan diet. In rural
areas, regular afternoon meals are not eaten, so
people carry around nuts
and dried fruit to snack on throughout the day.
The usual beverage in Afghanistan is tea, and
its popularity makes it one of their major
imports. Usually, black tea is drunk southeast of
the Hindu Kush Mountains while green tea prevails
in the northwestern areas.
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Appetizers
For appetizers, Afghans often enjoy an assortment
of tastes. There is a popular noodle and
vegetable soup called aush, the famous sambosa
goshti (stuffed and deep-fried pastries of ground
beef, chick peas, and spices), and bolanee, which
is fried dough with a vegetable filling.
Everything is topped with a variety of yogurt and
spicy cilantro sauces (chutney).
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the Main Course
Most Afghan dishes consist of specially spiced
rice accompanied by a side dish of vegetables,
meat, salad, and bread. The most famous dish is
qabuli palow, rice darkened with spices and
topped with pieces of lamb,
carrots and raisins.
Kebabs are a staple of the Afghan diet. The
Afghan equivalent to fast food, kebabs consist of
cubes of lamb, beef, or chicken meat skewered
with onions and tomatoes and grilled over a
charcoal broiler.
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Afghan Bread (naan)
Afghan bread, or naan, comes in slabs, or round
flat loaves that have been baked on the inner
sides of large clay ovens called tandoors. Naan
can be served with all types of Afghan dishes,
including soups, rice and kebabs.
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and Most Importantly Dessert!
There are many popular desserts in Afghanistan.
The most commonly served, however, are baklava
and rice pudding. Baklava is a pastry with layers
of crushed nuts in between and topped with syrup,
while rice pudding is a sweet and milky dessert
cooked with rice to give it some texture.
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Mullah Nasruddin Stories
The ancient art of storytelling continues to
flourish in Afghanistan. A favorite Afghan
character is Mullah Nasruddin, who plays the part
of a learned fool, or Wiseman. A figure that
dates back to the 13th century, tales of Mullah
Nasruddin can be found throughout the Middle
Eastern world. On the surface, the stories are
simple and funny. However, their deeper meanings
usually offering a life lesson or piece of
advice.
DEDUCTIVE REASONING How old are you,
Mullah? someone asked. Three years older than
my brother. was his reply. How do you know
that? they asked. Mullah responded, Reasoning.
Last year I heard my brother tell someone that I
was two years older than him. A year has passed.
That means that I am older by one year. I shall
soon be old enough to be his grandfather. TIT
FOR TAT Mullah Nasruddin went into a shop to buy
a pair of trousers. He changed his mind, and
chose a cloak instead for the same price. Picking
up the cloak, he left the shop. You havent
paid! shouted the merchant. I left you the
trousers, which were of the same value as the
cloak. Mullah replied. But you didnt pay for
the trousers, either! said the merchant. Of
course not, said Mullah. Why should I pay for
something that I didnt want to buy? MORE
USEFUL One day Mullah Nasruddin entered his
favorite teahouse and said, The moon is more
useful than the sun. An old man asked, Why
Mullah? Nasruddin replied, We need the light
more during the night than during the day.
PROMISES KEPT A friend asked the Mullah how old
he was. Forty. the Mullah replied. But you
said the same thing two years ago! cried the
friend. Yes, said the Mullah, I always stand
by what I have said. WHEN YOU FACE THINGS ALONE
The villagers said, You may have lost your
donkey, Nasruddin, but you dont have to grieve
over it more than you did the loss of your first
wife! Mullah thought about this, then replied,
Ah, but if you remember when I lost my wife, all
you villagers said Well find you someone else.
So far, nobody has offered to replace my donkey.
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The Story of the Afghan Girl
The thirteen year-old Afghan girl first appeared
on the cover of a National Geographic magazine in
1985. Her haunting green eyes, which seemed to
express pain and resilience as well as strength
and beauty, struck a cord with audiences
nationwide making
her one of the worlds most famous faces as well
as a symbol of the Afghan people. Her image
appeared on the front of magazines and books,
posters, lapel pins, and even rugs, but she
didn't know it. For 17 years, Steve McCurry, the
photographer who took that picture, searched for
clues as to what had happened to the young girl
with the unforgettable green eyes. He revisited
the place where he had discovered her over ten
times before finally tracking her down in
2002. Now thirty years old, her name is Sharbat
Gula and she lives in a remote region of
Afghanistan with her husband and three daughters.
She had no idea her face had become an icon, and
had never even seen her famous portrait before it
was shown to her in January 2002. She recalled
the experience of being photographed as a child,
she told McCurry, because she remembered how her
head covering was full of holes after being
scorched by a cooking fire. She didn't even
like the picture, because of the hole in the
shawl, said Don Halcombe, the magazine's
publicity manager. She remembered the day she
burned it on a stove. To make certain they had
the right woman, the researchers used FBI
iris-scanning technology and face-recognition
techniques to prove her identity. No two people
have the same iris pattern and the technology was
able to verify that Sharbat Gula was indeed the
girl in the photograph. The National Geographic
Society created the Afghan Girls Fund in
response to the discovery of Sharbats location,
which raises money for the education of Afghan
girls.
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Sharbat Gula, age 30, and her family, and the
doctor examining her eyes.
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Our ambition is to give hope to each and every
Afghan. - President Hamid Karzai