The Surprising Stories From The Afghanistan War: A Historical Perspective

Afghanistan is a country with a rich history and diverse culture, but it is often associated with war and terrorism. The country has been under the military influence of many powers, including the Soviet Union, Britain, Mongols, Muslim Arabs, and Western powers. It gained independence from Britain in 1919 and has been a war-torn country for decades, with the Taliban controlling the country for almost 5 years between 1996 and 2001.

Despite its tumultuous history, Afghanistan has a lot to offer. Here are some interesting facts about the country:

- The official name of Afghanistan is the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, and its native inhabitants are called Afghans or Afghanis.

- It is the 36th most populous country in the world, with a population of about 40 million people.

- The country is landlocked and shares borders with six countries: Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Pakistan, and China.

- The capital and largest city is Kabul, which lies along the historic silk road.

- Afghanistan has had 26 different flags throughout its history, with the current flag featuring three colours: red, green, and black, along with the national emblem at the centre.

- The official languages are Dari and Pashto, with about 50% of the population speaking Dari and 35% speaking Pashto.

- Islam is the dominant religion, with about 99% of the population practising Islam.

- Poetry plays an important role in Afghan culture, with Thursday nights dedicated to sharing ancient and modern poetry in the western city of Herat.

- Afghanistan's national sport is Buzkashi or goat-grabbing, where riders on horseback compete to grab a goat carcass.

- The country is rich in natural resources, including gold, natural gas, marble, and coal.

- Opium is the largest and fastest-growing produce, with Afghanistan being the world's top cultivator of poppies.

- Afghans greet each other with a handshake, but men and women do not usually shake hands or make eye contact.

Afghanistan's national game, buzkashi, or goat-grabbing, is considered the world's wildest game

Afghanistan's national game, buzkashi, is a traditional sport that involves horse-mounted players attempting to place a goat or calf carcass in a goal. The game is often described as the "world's wildest game" due to its fast-paced, physically demanding, and sometimes violent nature.

Buzkashi, which translates to "goat pulling" or "goat grabbing" in Persian, has been played in Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries for centuries. The game originated among nomadic Turkic-Mongol tribes who migrated westward from China and Mongolia between the 10th and 15th centuries. Over time, it spread across Central Asia and was adopted by various ethnic groups, including the Kyrgyz, Turkmens, Kazakhs, Uzbeks, and Tajiks.

In buzkashi, riders compete to grab and control the carcass, riding it away from the other players or carrying it around a flag or marker before dropping it into a designated scoring area, often referred to as the "Circle of Justice." The game requires significant skill, agility, and horsemanship, and riders typically wear protective gear, including heavy clothing and helmets, to shield themselves from whips and boots.

The sport holds cultural and historical significance for Afghans, with some likening it to a metaphor for Afghanistan's history of conflict and political power struggles. Additionally, buzkashi matches are often sponsored by wealthy individuals or groups, reflecting the social and economic status of the sponsor. While the sport faced a decline during the Taliban regime, which deemed it immoral, buzkashi has regained popularity since the Taliban's ousting, drawing thousands of spectators to matches.

Kandahar airfield in southern Afghanistan is the world's busiest single-runway airstrip

The Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport, also known as Kandahar International Airport, is located in the Daman District of Kandahar Province in Afghanistan. It is about 17 kilometres southeast of the city of Kandahar.

Kandahar Airfield, as it is also called, is the nation's second main international airport and one of its largest main operating bases, capable of housing up to 250 aircraft of different sizes. The airfield was built by the Americans in the early 1960s and was used as a refuelling stop for long-range piston-engined aircraft travelling between Europe and Southeast Asia.

In 2009, NATO operations in southern Afghanistan increased air traffic at Kandahar, making it the busiest single-runway airstrip in the world. The number of aircraft operations at the base rose from 1,700 to 5,000 flights a week. This number is higher than some of the busiest airports in the world per runway. For example, London Heathrow Airport averages 4,600 flights per runway per week, while Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris averages 2,700 flights per runway per week.

The high volume of air traffic at Kandahar is managed by Midwest Air Traffic Control, a contracted company from Kansas City, Missouri. Col. Bill Buckey, the airfield's operations officer, expressed his admiration for the cooperation among the NATO forces: "It's really amazing how everyone is cooperating. I'm pretty impressed."

The country has had 26 different flags in its history

Afghanistan has had 26 different flags throughout its history, with frequent changes often reflecting the country's political instability. The country gained independence from Britain in 1919, and in that year alone, the flag was changed six times.

The colours black, red, and green have been used in most Afghan flags during the 20th century. The black represents the country's troubled history, the red represents the blood of those who fought for independence, and the green symbolises hope and prosperity for the future.

The flag has also often featured a white coat of arms, which includes a mosque with a mihrab facing Mecca, two flags, and sheaves of wheat. The coat of arms also sometimes includes the year 1298 in the Solar Hijri calendar, which corresponds to 1919 in the Gregorian calendar—the year Afghanistan gained independence.

The Taliban, which controlled most of the country from 1996 to 2001 and then again from 2021 onwards, has used a plain white flag with black Arabic script, the Shahada, which is the Islamic declaration of faith.

Afghanistan is the world's largest producer of opium

Afghanistan has long been the world's largest producer of opium. In 2010, the country accounted for nearly 80% of the world's opium, according to UN estimates. Opium production in Afghanistan has been a significant issue for decades, with various efforts to curb its cultivation and production. Despite these attempts, Afghanistan's opium output is greater than all other opium-producing countries combined.

The country's southern regions, including Helmand, Kandahar, and Uruzgan, are the main areas of opium cultivation, with over 80% of the country's opium produced in these areas. Helmand province alone cultivated 66% of the country's opium poppy in 2008. The central and eastern regions have also seen significant increases in opium yields.

The production and trade of opium in Afghanistan have had far-reaching impacts. It is a significant source of income for impoverished farmers and labourers, who rely on the proceeds to survive. The trade has also been a source of revenue for the Taliban, who have imposed taxes on farmers and traffickers. Additionally, opium production fuels corruption and undermines the rule of law, with government officials often benefiting financially from the drug trade.

Efforts to eradicate opium production in Afghanistan have faced numerous challenges. The country's difficult security, political, and economic environment limit the government's ability to counter drug production and trafficking. Additionally, the lack of viable alternative crops and livelihoods for farmers has hindered the success of eradication programs. The complex dynamics between counternarcotics and counterinsurgency efforts have also created contradictions in policy and strategy.

Overall, Afghanistan's position as the world's largest producer of opium has had significant economic, social, and political implications for the country and the wider region. The issue remains a challenging and complex problem, requiring a coordinated and comprehensive response from the Afghan government and the international community.

The country is home to the second-tallest minaret in the world

Afghanistan is a country of many superlatives, and one of them is that it is home to the second-tallest minaret in the world. The minaret of Jam, as it is called, stands at a height of 213 feet (65 metres) and is located in the western part of the country. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was built in the 12th century.

The minaret is an impressive structure, with a unique design that sets it apart from other minarets in the region. It has a cylindrical shape and is made of baked bricks, which give it a distinctive reddish colour. The minaret is also decorated with intricate geometric patterns and inscriptions from the Quran, adding to its visual appeal.

The minaret of Jam is an important landmark for the local community and holds religious significance. It serves as a call to prayer for the nearby mosque and is also used to make announcements to the people in the surrounding area. The minaret's height allows the call to prayer to carry over long distances, reaching even those who live far away from the mosque.

Being the second-tallest minaret in the world, it attracts visitors and tourists who come to admire its beauty and learn about its history. The minaret is a symbol of Afghanistan's rich cultural and architectural heritage, showcasing the skills and craftsmanship of the country's ancient builders.

While the minaret of Jam holds the distinction of being the second-tallest in the world, the tallest minaret is found in a different country. The tallest minaret is located in Algeria and is known as the Djamaa el Djazaïr or the Great Mosque of Algiers. It stands at a remarkable height of 867 feet (264.3 metres) and was constructed between 2012 and 2019.

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