Are You From Afghanistan? The Country's Rich Cultural Heritage And Its People

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia, with Iran to the west and Pakistan to the east. The country is made up of various ethnicities, with Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras and Uzbeks being the largest. The official languages of Afghanistan are Dari (Afghan Persian) and Pashto. The country is rich in culture and history, with the sport of kite flying being a favourite pastime. The country has been in transition for most of its history, with the most recent upheaval being the Taliban's return to power in 2021.

Afghanistan's geography and topography

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia, bordering six countries: Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, China, and Pakistan. It is the 40th largest country in the world, covering an area of 652,230 square kilometres (251,830 square miles) and is divided into 34 provinces. The capital, Kabul, is the largest city and is located in the east-central part of the country in a narrow valley of the Hindu Kush Mountains. With an altitude of 1,790 metres, Kabul is one of the highest capitals in the world.

Afghanistan is known for its mountainous terrain. The huge Hindu Kush mountains, which reach a height of 7,492 metres, form a barrier between the Northern provinces and the rest of the country. The country also contains the Paropamisus mountain range, and the mountain ranges of the Central Highlands are home to the famous Khyber Pass, an important route to the Indian subcontinent. The Hindu Kush and the mountains' snowmelt irrigate crops and replenish the country's rivers, including the Amu Darya, Arghandab, Farah, Hari, Helmand, Kabul, Kokcha, and Kunar. The rivers drain to the southwest into the Helmand and Arghandab Valleys and then into a desolate, marshy area on the Afghan-Iranian border called Seistan.

The country's landscape is mostly rugged mountains, with plains in the north and southwest. The Central Highlands, covering about 160,000 square miles, have deep, narrow valleys and high mountains that have been important to the country's defence. The Southern Plateau, covering 50,000 square miles, is made up of high plateaus and sandy deserts with very infertile soil. The Northern Plains, covering about 40,000 square miles, are extremely fertile foothills and plains with an average elevation of about 2,000 feet.

The altitude, climate, and soil conditions vary greatly across Afghanistan. The country experiences hot, dry summers and cold winters, with extreme temperature changes from night to day and season to season. The combination of hot summers and bitterly cold winters has been compared to the US state of Wyoming. Rainfall is scarce, mainly affecting the northern highlands, and drought has impaired agricultural production in some areas.

Afghanistan's ethnic groups

Afghanistan is a multiethnic and mostly tribal society. The population of the country consists of numerous ethnolinguistic groups, with the largest being the Pashtun, who make up an estimated 38-44% of the population. The term "Afghan" is synonymous with the ethnonym "Pashtun", but in modern times the term became the national identity of the people, who live in Afghanistan. The Pashtun are predominantly Sunni Muslims and are traditionally nomadic pastoralists who move from place to place in search of grazing land.

The second-largest ethnic group in Afghanistan is the Tajiks, who make up an estimated 25-27% of the population. They are native Persian speakers and are predominantly Sunni Muslims, with some Imami Shi'a and Ismaili communities. The Tajiks are famous for their elaborate embroideries on fabric, as well as decorative carvings on stone that can be seen in their homes.

The Hazaras are one of the largest ethnic groups in Afghanistan and reside in all parts of the country, mainly in the rugged central highlands regions known as the Hazarajat. They are said to be descendants of Genghis Khan and belong to the Shia sect of Islam, which makes them a minority in a predominantly Sunni Muslim country. This has resulted in them often being viewed as outsiders and facing discrimination and violent repression throughout Afghanistan's history.

The Uzbeks form the largest Turkic ethnic group in Afghanistan and constitute around 6-9% of the total population. They are predominantly Sunni Muslims and occupy the northern region of the country, where they speak Uzbek, a Turkic language.

Other major ethnic groups in Afghanistan include the Aimaq, Turkmen, Baloch, and smaller groups such as the Pashai, Nuristani, Gujjar, Qizilbash, Pamiri, Kyrgyz, Sadat, Mongol, and others. Together, all these groups make up the contemporary Afghan people.

Afghanistan's languages

Afghanistan is a linguistically diverse nation, with estimates of the number of distinct languages spoken ranging from over 30 to nearly 60. The country's two official languages, Dari and Pashto, are spoken by almost every Afghan. Dari, also known as Farsi or Dari Persian, is the most widely spoken language in Afghanistan, with 77-78% of the population speaking it as a first or second language. It is the native tongue of several ethnic groups, including the Tajiks, Hazaras, and Aimaqs, and serves as a lingua franca for the country. Pashto, the native language of the Pashtuns—Afghanistan's dominant ethnic group—is spoken by about half of the population.

Dari and Pashto are part of the Iranian subfamily of Indo-European languages. They are "relatives" in a linguistic sense, but differ significantly. Dari is considered “disarmingly approachable,” with a streamlined and less complex structure, while Pashto is "deliciously intimidating," with complex plural endings and verb conjugations. Both languages are written using Arabic letters.

In addition to the two main languages, several other languages are spoken by smaller groups across Afghanistan. These include Turkic languages such as Uzbek (spoken by 10% of the population), Turkmen (2-3%), Kyrgyz, and Uzbek; Indo-European languages like Western Dardic (Nuristani or Kafiri), Balochi, and Indic and Pamiri languages spoken in the northeast; and Dravidian languages spoken by very small ethnic groups like the Brahuis in the extreme south. English is the most common foreign language, with an estimated 5-6% of Afghans speaking it.

Afghanistan's linguistic diversity is further enhanced by the presence of numerous dialects and bilingualism among its population. The Tajik, Hazara, Chahar Aimak, and Kizilbash peoples, for instance, speak dialects of Persian that are closer to Farsi (Persian spoken in Iran) or Tajik (Persian spoken in Tajikistan). The Hazara and Chahar Aimak peoples, while speaking Indo-European languages, exhibit physical and cultural traits associated with the Turkic and Mongol peoples. Furthermore, a sizeable population, especially in Kabul, understands and speaks Hindustani due to the influence of Bollywood.

Afghanistan's history

Ancient History

Human habitation in Afghanistan dates back to the Middle Paleolithic era, and the country has been a witness to numerous military campaigns throughout its history. The land has been home to various peoples, including the Persians, Alexander the Great, the Maurya Empire, Arab Muslims, the Mongols, the British, the Soviet Union, and most recently, a US-led coalition. Afghanistan's location along the historic Silk Road has made it a centre for Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, and later, Islam.

The Durrani Empire and the Founding of Modern Afghanistan

The Durrani Empire, founded by Ahmad Shah Durrani, is considered the foundational polity of modern Afghanistan. However, Dost Mohammad Khan is sometimes regarded as the founder of the first modern Afghan state. After the decline of the Durrani Empire, Afghanistan was divided into multiple smaller kingdoms until Dost Mohammad Khan's wars of unification in the 19th century. Afghanistan became a buffer state between the British Raj and the Russian Empire during this period, known as the "Great Game."

Foreign Influence and the Fight for Independence

The First Anglo-Afghan War saw the British attempt to subjugate Afghanistan, but they were repelled. However, the Second Anglo-Afghan War resulted in a British victory and the establishment of British political influence. Following the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919, Afghanistan gained independence from foreign rule and emerged as the Kingdom of Afghanistan under Amanullah Khan in 1926.

Extensive Warfare and Civil Wars

Rise of the Taliban and US Invasion

The Islamic fundamentalist Taliban controlled most of the country by 1996, establishing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. However, their rule received little international recognition before being overthrown in the 2001 US invasion of Afghanistan. The Taliban returned to power in 2021, capturing Kabul and overthrowing the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, marking the end of the 2001-2021 war. Despite initially claiming to form an inclusive government, the Taliban re-established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan with an interim government composed entirely of Taliban members.

Afghanistan's neighbours

Afghanistan's immediate neighbours include Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China. Pakistan, Iran, and China are the most influential of these countries, and all have a vested interest in a stable Afghanistan.

Pakistan

Pakistan has a 2,670km-long border with Afghanistan and has historically had deep links with the country. It has also been accused of covertly aiding the Taliban—a charge it denies. Pakistan's powerful security establishment has long played a double game, publicly aiding America in its "war on terror" while secretly harbouring Osama bin Laden and quietly sustaining Afghanistan's Islamist radicals. Pakistan's main goal has been to deny India influence in Afghanistan, even if that meant using the Taliban as a cat's paw. Pakistan's relationship with the Taliban has become more complicated since the emergence of the anti-state Pakistani Taliban, and the growing independence of the Afghan Taliban. Despite this, Pakistan is still in a position to exert influence over the Taliban, and stands to benefit from a friendly government in Kabul.

Iran

Iran shares a 921km border with Afghanistan and has a tortured relationship with the country. It initially backed the Northern Alliance of anti-Taliban forces and did not recognise Taliban rule in the 1990s. Worried by the vast US military presence in the region, Iran established ties with the Taliban and tried to undermine US interests. Iran was pleased with the US withdrawal, which it termed a military "failure", but it is also worried about security and political developments in the country. Iran is concerned about the treatment of the Hazara Shia community, who faced severe persecution during the last Taliban rule, and it will also strive to maintain its access to the Afghan market. Iran will likely cooperate with other regional powers to ensure a stable Afghanistan.

China

China shares a 92km border with Afghanistan in the Wakhan Corridor. It has largely kept aloof from its unruly neighbour, but as a close ally of Pakistan, it has drawn closer to the Taliban in recent years. China fears that a chaotic Afghanistan could cause a spillover of violence into its Xinjiang province and hurt its strategic regional investments. It also wants to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a rear base for Uyghur separatists. China has courted the Taliban leadership and offered economic support in exchange for assurances that Afghan soil will not be used for attacks against China.

Other Neighbours

Afghanistan's other neighbours, including India, Russia, and Turkey, also have interests in the country. They will likely cooperate with regional powers to ensure a stable Afghanistan that does not export radical Islam or sustain ethnic minorities intolerant of their home countries.

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