The Complex Geopolitical Identity Of Afghanistan: Exploring Its Place In The Indian Subcontinent

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in the heart of south-central Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, and the Central Asian states of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to the north. Afghanistan is often considered a part of South Asia, but it is not typically included in the Indian subcontinent. The Indian subcontinent is a physiographical region in Southern Asia, situated mostly on the Indian Plate, extending southwards into the Indian Ocean from the Himalayas. While the terms Indian subcontinent and South Asia are sometimes used interchangeably, the geopolitical term South Asia frequently includes Afghanistan, which is not considered part of the Indian subcontinent.

Afghanistan is geographically closer to the Middle East than the Indian subcontinent

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in Central-South Asia. It is bordered by Iran to the west, Pakistan to the east and south, China to the northeast, and Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to the north. Afghanistan is often considered part of South Asia, but it is not typically included in the Indian subcontinent. The Indian subcontinent is a physographical region in Southern Asia, mostly situated on the Indian Plate, projecting southwards into the Indian Ocean from the Himalayas. The geopolitical term of South Asia frequently includes Afghanistan, but the Indian subcontinent does not.

Afghanistan's geographic position has made it a crossroads of Asia, and it has been referred to as the "Heart of Asia." The country's landscape is varied, but it is mostly mountainous and rugged, with some unusual mountain ridges accompanied by plateaus and river basins. The Hindu Kush mountain range, a western extension of the Himalayas, stretches across the country from northeast to southwest. The Hindu Kush ends in the west-central highlands, creating plains in the north and southwest, namely the Turkestan Plains and the Sistan Basin.

Afghanistan's proximity to the Middle East is also reflected in its cultural and religious practices. Islam is the dominant religion in Afghanistan, with the majority of the population adhering to the Sunni Hanafi school. Afghan cuisine is largely based on the nation's chief crops, such as wheat, maize, barley, and rice, as well as dairy products. Tea is a favorite drink among Afghans.

Afghanistan is not part of the Indian Plate

Afghanistan is a landlocked country located 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 to the north, Tajikistan to the northeast, and China to the northeast and east. The country is predominantly mountainous, with plains in the north and southwest, separated by the Hindu Kush mountain range.

Afghanistan is a tectonically complex zone developed as a result of the collision between the Eurasian Plate and the Indian Plate to the southeast and the Arabian Plate to the south. The active tectonics of the country is distinguished by a wide zone of crustal deformation. The Hindu Kush mountain range, in and around the Badakhshan Province of Afghanistan, is in a geologically active area where earthquakes may occur almost every year.

The Indian Plate includes most of South Asia, forming a land mass that extends from the Himalayas into a portion of the basin under the Indian Ocean, including parts of South China and Eastern Indonesia, as well as Kunlun and Karakoram ranges, and extending up to but not including Ladakh, Kohistan, the Hindu Kush range, and Balochistan.

The Indian subcontinent is a physiographical region in Southern Asia, mostly situated on the Indian Plate, projecting southwards into the Indian Ocean from the Himalayas. Geopolitically, it spans major landmasses from the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Although the terms "Indian subcontinent" and "South Asia" are often used interchangeably to denote the region, the geopolitical term of South Asia frequently includes Afghanistan, which is not considered part of the subcontinent.

Afghanistan is a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and a founding member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Afghanistan is not considered part of the Indian subcontinent but is often included in South Asia

The Indian subcontinent is a physiographical region in Southern Asia, situated mostly on the Indian Plate, and extending southwards into the Indian Ocean from the Himalayas. Geopolitically, it includes the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The terms "Indian subcontinent" and "South Asia" are often used interchangeably to refer to the region, but they are not the same. The geopolitical term "South Asia" frequently includes Afghanistan, which is not considered part of the Indian subcontinent.

The Indian subcontinent is a distinct geographical, political, or cultural entity with a smaller landmass than a continent. It is bounded by the Himalayas in the north, the Hindu Kush in the west, and the Indo-Burman Ranges in the east. The region has a diverse geography, including soaring mountains, fertile plains, and mighty rivers. The Indian subcontinent is named after the country of India, as India dominates the region in terms of landmass and population.

Afghanistan, on the other hand, is a landlocked country located in south-central Asia. It is bounded by Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, and the Central Asian states of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to the north. Afghanistan is part of the Iranian Plateau and is considered part of West Asia or the Middle East. It is not included in the Indian subcontinent due to its distinct geographical location and cultural differences.

However, Afghanistan is often included in the region of South Asia, which is a broader geopolitical term. South Asia includes all the countries of the Indian subcontinent, with the addition of Afghanistan and the Maldives. This grouping is based on shared cultural, historical, and socio-political characteristics. The inclusion of Afghanistan in South Asia highlights the region's diverse ethnic, linguistic, and religious makeup.

In summary, Afghanistan is not considered part of the Indian subcontinent due to its distinct geographical location and cultural differences. However, it is often included in the broader region of South Asia, which encompasses a wider range of countries and reflects the complex interplay of geography, history, and culture in the area.

Afghanistan is landlocked and does not border the Indian Ocean like the Indian subcontinent

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in the heart of south-central Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, and Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to the north. Its nearest coastline is along the Arabian Sea, about 300 miles south of its border.

The Indian subcontinent is a physiographical region in Southern Asia, situated on the Indian Plate and projecting southwards into the Indian Ocean from the Himalayas. Geopolitically, it spans the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. While the terms "Indian subcontinent" and "South Asia" are often used interchangeably, the geopolitical term of South Asia frequently includes Afghanistan, which is not considered part of the Indian subcontinent.

Afghanistan's geographic location and its strong ties with Pakistan, which is considered part of the Indian subcontinent, often lead to confusion about whether it is part of the Indian subcontinent or not. However, Afghanistan is generally not considered part of the Indian subcontinent from a geographical perspective due to its distance from the Indian Ocean and its location on the Iranian Plateau.

Afghanistan has a shared history with the Indian subcontinent, particularly with Pakistan. The Sadozai monarchy ruled the Afghan Durrani Empire, which is considered the founding state of modern Afghanistan. The Durrani Empire is also credited with uniting the various independent kingdoms that had formed in Afghanistan after the decline of the Mughal Empire.

Additionally, Afghanistan has been influenced by the spread of religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam from the Indian subcontinent. The country has also witnessed numerous military campaigns led by empires and kingdoms from the region, including the Maurya Empire and the Mughal Empire.

Despite these historical and cultural connections, Afghanistan is typically not included in the definition of the Indian subcontinent due to its distinct geographic location and political boundaries.

The Indian subcontinent is also referred to as Greater India in the classical and pre-modern sense

The term "Greater India" is a socio-cultural concept that refers to the Indian subcontinent and the surrounding countries that have been historically influenced by Indian culture. This includes regions in South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia. The spread of Indian culture beyond the subcontinent is often referred to as "Indianisation", a term coined by historian George Cœdès.

The concept of "Greater India" or the "Indian cultural sphere" was popularised in the 1920s by a group of Bengali scholars who were members of the Calcutta-based Greater India Society. They postulated that ancient India had a benevolent cultural influence on Southeast Asia, in contrast to the Western colonialism of the early 20th century. This view of an expansionist India was particularly prevalent in pre-industrial Europe and is still used today to invoke images of soft power.

The spread of Indian culture beyond the subcontinent began as early as 500 BCE when Austronesian sailors from Island Southeast Asia established trade routes with Southern India and Sri Lanka. This resulted in the introduction of Southeast Asian material culture to South Asia and vice versa. The sustained contact between the two regions led to cultural exchange, in addition to the exchange of commodities.

Indianisation was largely facilitated by Hindu and Buddhist merchants who travelled to Southeast Asia and eventually settled there. The spread of Hinduism and Buddhism had a profound impact on the civilisations of Southeast Asia, leading to the adoption of Indian cosmology, rituals, and the caste system. The concept of "divine god-kingship", for example, was introduced through the Hindu concept of Harihara, and Sanskrit became the official language in many principalities.

The Indianised kingdoms of Southeast Asia included Funan, Chenla, Langkasuka, Champa, the Khmer Empire, the Mon kingdoms, Sukhothai, Salakanagara, Tarumanagara, Kalingga, Malayu, Srivijaya, Tambralinga, Mataram, Kadiri, Singhasari, Majapahit, Galuh, Sunda, and others. These kingdoms were characterised by resilience, political integrity, and administrative stability. The influence of Indian culture also extended beyond Southeast Asia, reaching Central Asia, China, South Korea, Japan, and the Himalayas.

In the classical and pre-modern sense, the term "Greater India" or "India Major" was used to refer to the southern part of South Asia, with "Lesser India" referring to the northern part, and "Middle India" referring to the region near the Middle East. The term "Greater India" has also been used in geology to refer to the Indian Plate and its northern extension, formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian Plates.

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