Afghanistan is a landlocked country located in Central Asia, at the crossroads of South Asia and East Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, Tajikistan to the northeast, and China to the northeast and east. Afghanistan is not in Africa.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Continent | Asia |
Region | South-Central Asia |
Borders | Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, China |
Capital | Kabul |
Population | 32.9 million (2020) |
Official Languages | Dari, Pashto |
Government | Islamic Emirate |
Currency | Afghani |
What You'll Learn
- Afghanistan is located in Central Asia and is landlocked
- The country is bordered by Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China
- Afghanistan is nicknamed the Heart of Asia
- The country has a rich history, with human habitation dating back to the Middle Paleolithic era
- Afghanistan is known for its treacherous mountain peaks, which are snow-covered for most of the year
Afghanistan is located in Central Asia and is landlocked
Afghanistan is a landlocked country located in Central Asia, at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan to the northwest, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to the north, and China to the northeast. Afghanistan is the world's 41st largest country, covering an area of 652,864 square kilometres (252,072 square miles). The country is predominantly mountainous, with plains in the north and southwest, separated by the Hindu Kush mountain range. The capital of Afghanistan is Kabul, which is also the country's largest city.
Afghanistan's location along important trade routes connecting southern and eastern Asia to Europe and the Middle East has made it a desirable prize for empire builders throughout history. The country's forbidding landscape of mountains and deserts, along with the fierce independence of its people, has made it difficult to conquer and control. Afghanistan's modern boundaries were established in the late 19th century during the "Great Game", a period of rivalry between imperial Britain and tsarist Russia.
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The country is bordered by Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China
Afghanistan is bordered by several countries in Asia. To the east and south, Afghanistan shares a border with Pakistan. To the west, it is bordered by Iran. To the northwest, it is bordered by Turkmenistan. To the north, it is bordered by Uzbekistan. To the northeast, it is bordered by Tajikistan. Finally, to the far northeast, it shares a border with China.
Afghanistan's location at the crossroads of Central and South Asia has made it a strategically important region throughout history. The country's borders have shifted over time, particularly during the 19th century, when the Durand Line was established to divide the ethnic Pashtun territories between British-controlled India and Afghanistan.
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Afghanistan is nicknamed the Heart of Asia
Afghanistan is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East. It is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, Tajikistan to the northeast, and China to the northeast and east. Due to its strategic location, Afghanistan is often referred to as the "Heart of Asia".
Afghanistan's central location has made it an important trade hub for centuries. The country was a busy section of the Silk Road, a route that merchants have travelled over land between China, India, and Europe for over 2,000 years. Afghanistan's location has also made it an influential but volatile geopolitical site, connecting Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East.
Afghanistan's rich and diverse heritage is reflected in its art, poetry, and architecture. The country is home to lush green valleys, icy-cold rivers, bustling bazaars, and snow-capped mountains. The country's diverse landscape includes treacherous, snow-covered mountain peaks, and dry deserts.
The Heart of Asia–Istanbul Process promotes regional security, economic, and political cooperation centered on Afghanistan. Through dialogues and a set of confidence-building measures, the initiative brings together fourteen countries, including immediate and extended neighbours of Afghanistan.
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The country has a rich history, with human habitation dating back to the Middle Paleolithic era
Afghanistan has a rich and complex history, with human habitation dating back to the Middle Paleolithic era. The country's strategic location along the historic Silk Road has connected it to the cultures of the Middle East and other parts of Asia. The land has been home to various peoples and has witnessed numerous military campaigns, including those by Alexander the Great, the Maurya Empire, Arab Muslims, the Mongols, the British, the Soviet Union, and a US-led coalition.
The various conquests and periods in both the Iranian and Indian cultural spheres made the area a centre for Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and later Islam. The modern state of Afghanistan began with the Durrani Afghan Empire in the 18th century, although Dost Mohammad Khan is sometimes considered to be the founder of the first modern Afghan state.
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Afghanistan is known for its treacherous mountain peaks, which are snow-covered for most of the year
Afghanistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia, neighbouring Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China. The country is predominantly mountainous, with plains in the north and southwest. The Hindu Kush mountain range is the most important range in the country, with the highest peak in Afghanistan being Mount Noshaq, which rises to 7,492m. The Hindu Kush is considered a logical extension of the Himalayan Mountains, and is characterised by treacherous, snow-covered peaks for most of the year.
The Hindu Kush is a formidable range that creates the major pitch of Afghanistan from northeast to southwest. The range includes Mount Noshaq, which, at 7,492m, is the highest peak in the country. The mountain is located on the border with Pakistan, with the north and west sides in Afghanistan, and the south and east sides in Pakistan. The first people to summit the mountain were two Japanese climbers, Toshiaki Sakai and Goro Iwatsubo, in 1960. The first Afghan to climb Mount Noshaq did so in 2009.
The Hindu Kush is a Persian name meaning "an Indian Mountain". The range is made up of parallel ridges that spread over 800km in length and about 350km in width. The main ridges include the Baba Ridge, the Hindu Kush (Central, Eastern and Western), and the Paghman. The glaciers of the system include the Chiantar, Artak, Tirich, and Kotgats, among others. Most of the Hindu Kush mountain system is located in Afghanistan, with its eastern part belonging to Pakistan.
The Hindu Kush is not the only mountain range in Afghanistan. The eastern regions of the country are crossed by the Wakhan Ridge, which reaches over 6,000m above sea level, and the Hindu Kush Range, which rises over 4,000-5,000m. To the west of the Hindu Kush Range is the Hazarajat Plateau, which exceeds 3,000m above sea level, with some peaks reaching 4,000m. In the northeast of Afghanistan, there are the Paropamisus Mountains, and in the southeast, there is a plateau less than 2,000m high.
Afghanistan's landscape is covered by tall, forbidding mountains and dry deserts. The jagged mountain peaks are treacherous, and many Afghans live in the fertile valleys between the mountains, where they grow crops and tend to their animals. The mountain passes in the country have served as passageways across Asia for centuries, forming a section of the Silk Road.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Afghanistan is located in Central Asia.
The capital of Afghanistan is Kabul.
The population of Afghanistan is around 35 million people.
The official languages of Afghanistan are Dari and Pashto.
The majority of Afghanistan's population is Muslim.