April 27, 2010
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Objectives: To develop an understanding of the
History of Afghanistan
Question: What Indian country is next to
Afghanistan?
Agenda: Lecture/Notes
AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan: Geography
Located in Central
Asia
Bordered by six
countries:
● China
● Iran
● Pakistan
● Tajikistan
● Turkmenistan
● Uzbekistan
Afghanistan: Geography
Landlocked nation
(slightly smaller
than Texas)
Total Population:
31 million
Capital: Kabul
Afghanistan: Geography
➢
Rugged mountains
➢
Hindu Kush: main
mountain range
across Afghanistan
and into Pakistan
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Climate: cold
winters and hot,
dry summers
Afghans: A Diverse People
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Major Ethnic Groups:
Pashtuns 42%
Takiks 27%
Uzbeks 9%
Hazaras 9%
Others 13%
Afghans: A Diverse People
Languages
 Many
Afghans are bilingual
 The main languages spoken by Afghans
are:
Dari (official language) 50%
Pashtu (official language) 35%
Turkic languages 11%
Religion
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Islam is the religion
practiced by most
Afghans; it is central to
Afghans' identity
99% of Afghans are
Muslim
Rural Life
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Most Afghans live in rural
areas
About ¾ of the
population consists of
farmers and nomads
Only 12% of the land,
however, is arable
What problems might this
lead to?
Sport/Pastime
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Bazkashi, the national
sport of Afghanistan,
is a team game played
on horseback
Kite-fighting is also a
popular pastime
among Afghan youth
where participants try
to cut through the
strings of their
opponents' kites
Afghan History
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Afghanistan's location
along the Silk/Spice
Road has allowed the
country to serve as an
important link between
east and west
throughout history
600 BCE – 652 BCE
• Zoroaster introduces religion of
Zoroastrianism.
• Darius of Persia conquers part of
Afghanistan.
• Many wars between Persians and
tribal groups for control.
 Alexander the Great invades. Many
tribal revolts against his empire.
 Various other invasions and tribal
wars for control of Afghanistan,
such as, Parthians, Kushans, White
Huns and Yaftalee.
 Each invader brought new religious
beliefs to be forced on the
Afghanistan tribes.
Zoroaster
Alexander
652 - 1774
Arabs introduce religion to Afghanistan and Afghanistan became the center of Islamic
power and civilization.
Genghis Khan invades Afghanistan, he destroyed the irrigation systems turning the
fertile soils into permanent deserts.
Marco Polo crosses Afghanistan on his way to China.
Various dynasties control Afghanistan with frequent wars for political control.
Many wars between Afghanistan and Persia as each takes a turn controlling this region.
Afghans retake Kandahar from the Persians and establish modern Afghanistan, 1774.
Marco
Polo
1774 - 1921
Capital of Afghanistan transferred from Kandahar to Kabul because of tribal fighting.
Constant internal fighting inside Afghanistan.
First Anglo-Afghan War. The British in India try to control Afghanistan, this war ended
with the British force of 16,500 wiped out with only one survivor making it alive to a
British fort in Jalalabad.
Afghanistan is independent but the British take Baluchistan making Afghanistan a
landlocked country.
Second Anglo-Afghan War. The British take some territories from Afghanistan and
allows them to run their internal affairs but Britain handled Afghan Foreign Affairs.
Russia takes Afghan territory in the north.
Third Anglo-Afghan War. Afghanistan wins and gains full control of her Foreign
Affairs.
1921 - 1950
• Many power struggles as tribes try
to obtain political power.
• 1929 Muhammad Khan became
King and tried to reform the
country but was assassinated.
• United States formally recognizes
Afghanistan, 1934.
• Many tribal leaders tried to unite
Afghanistan but violence prevailed.
• Attempts at democracy failed.
• Britain withdraws from India,
Pakistan is carved out of Indian and
Afghan lands.
1950 - 1979
Pakistan and Afghanistan come close to war over disputed lands.
Government instability leads to frequent riots and overthrows.
Daoud Khan and the Communist Afghan Party seize power and the Republic of
Afghanistan is born in 1973. Internal problems with this party cause Daoud to be killed.
Mass arrests, tortures and violence become common place in Afghanistan.
The Afghan guerrilla group (Mujahideen) formed to fight and resist government that
was backed by Communist Russia.
Mass killings and the murder of the U.S. Ambassador. Many human rights violations.
Mujahideen Freedom Fighters
Afghan History
This location, however, has meant significant
intervention from outsiders
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Great Britain & Russia fought over Afghanistan
as far back as the 18th & 19th centuries
Soviet Union invaded in 1979 and installed a
Communist government
From 1979-1989, Afghanistan became a
battleground of the Cold War between the USUSSR (with the U.S. supporting Afghans who
resisted the Soviets)
1980 - 1994
Soviet Union invades Afghanistan with thousands of troops to support the
government in its struggle with the holy warriors called Mujahideen.
Five million Afghan refugees flee to Pakistan and Iran.
The Soviets with superior weapons could not defeat the guerrilla tactics of the rebels.
In 1988 the Soviets began withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan.
Fighting between the government and the Mujahideen continued until 1992 when the
rebels overthrew the government.
Fighting among the factions prevented the formation of a stable government.
By the late 1990’s a Islamic group known as the Taliban had taken control of most of
Afghanistan and set up a Council of Ministers to rule the country.
Afghan History
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Soviet Union withdrew in 1989, but
civil war erupted among factions of
guerilla fighters known as
'mujahedin'
Civil war continued until 1996,
when hard-line group known as the
Taliban seized power
Taliban imposed a strict
interpretation of Islam
1994 - 1999
The Taliban movement was formed in Kandahar in 1994 by Islamic students who take a
radical approach to interpreting Islam.
The Taliban captured Kabul in September 1996 from Mujaheedin regime. The
government of Burhan-ul Din Rabani ousted. The Taliban government in Kabul has been
recognized only by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Republic.
The Taliban regime strongly have been supported by Pakistani military regime.
Anti-Taliban factions still hold about 15 percent of the country in the northern parts of
Afghanistan.
The United Nations and other international communities condemn the Taliban regime
because of its violation of human rights, particularly restrictions of women from outside
work and freedom.
On October 10, 1999, the United States government declare political and economical
sanctions against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan because of holding and supporting
Saudi billionaire Bin Laden.
October 25, 1999, Taliban offer talks between Afghanistan and the US Government
including the future of Osma Bin Laden.
October 28, 1999. Saudi Millionaire declared his desire to leave Afghanistan
November, 5, 1999: Bin Laden likely stay in Afghanistan
Taliban
Limited women's ability to
work in public places
➢ Banned girls from attending
school
➢ Required women to wear
burqas in public (photos)
➢ Required men to wear
beards
➢ Banned music, sports
➢ Allowed al-Qaeda & Osama
bin Laden to operate within
the country
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Refugee Crisis
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During the 23 years of
conflict, roughly 4 million
Afghans became refugees
Most refugees fled to two
main countries:
➢ Iran
➢ Pakistan
There are also an estimated
200,000 Afghans living in the
U.S.
The link between
September 11 and Afghanistan
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Afghans did NOT carry out the terrorist attacks on the
U.S.
Al-Qaeda, a terrorist network operating within
Afghanistan and other places, did
Many Afghans expressed their solidarity with the people
of the U.S. after Sept. 11
After September 11, the U.S. invaded Afghanistan and
toppled the Taliban for sheltering Osama bin Laden
U.S. and NATO forces remain in Afghanistan today
Afghanistan Today
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Afghanistan now faces a number of
challenges as it tries to rebuild after years of
war. Some of these challenges include:
Poverty
Education
Health
Gender equity
Governance
Poverty
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At least 2/3 of Afghans
live on less than $2 a day
Only 23% of Afghans
have access to safe water
Only 12% of Afghans
have access to sanitation
Only 6% of Afghans have
access to electricity
Education
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67% of boys go to school,
while only 37% of girls do
(US Dept of State)
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Constraints to school
attendance:
 Lack of teachers
 Distance between home
and school
 Cultural constraints for
girls
 Not enough school
buildings (esp. for girls)
Health
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Average life expectancy for
Afghans is 42, more than 25
years younger than the
average American (World Health
Organization)
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One in four children dies
before the age of 5 (USAID)
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Many Afghans lack access to
basic medical care
Gender Equity
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Women have been a marginalized group in Afghanistan
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Cultural restrictions lead to difficulty accessing education and
health services
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Only 10% of Afghan women can read and write
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Yet, Afghan women are important contributors to household
income, especially in rural areas
Government
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In October 2004, Hamid
Karzai was elected President of
Afghanistan.
Parliamentray elections were
held in 2005.
Local warlords, however, still
hold power in many parts of the
country. This contributes to the
insecurity in Afghanistan.
Despite these challenges,
Afghans remain hopeful
about the future
THE END
What
have you
learned about
Afghanistan?