CultureGram: Afghanistan 2013
Land and Climate Located in central Asia, Afghanistan is roughly half the size of Peru and a little smaller than the
U.S. state of Texas. Afghanistan is a landlocked country of rugged mountains. The most prominent mountain range is
the Hindu Kush, which extends about 600 miles (966 kilometers) from the far northeast to the southwest, effectively
bisecting the country. Mount Noshaq is the highest peak and reaches 24,550 feet (7,483 meters).
The Wakhan Corridor (the extreme northeasterly part of Afghanistan, which borders China, Tajikistan, and Pakistan)
sits at the junction of the highest mountain systems in the world (including the Himalayas, Hindu Kush, Karakoram,
and others), which together are sometimes called the "roof of the world." North of the Hindu Kush, the Turkestan
Plains run down to the Amu Darya (River) on the northern border. After broadening into the Hazarajat central plateau,
the mountains disappear into western deserts such as the Registan. Northern Afghanistan is subject to major earthquake
activity.
For water, Afghanistan relies on four major river systems: the Amu Darya, the Kabul, the Helmand, and the Hari Rud.
Many villages in Afghanistan use a qanat well system (a string of connected wells) to irrigate more arid parts of the
country.
The climate varies according to elevation and location. Generally, the capital city of Kabul (6,000 feet, or 1,829 meters)
has cold winters and temperate summers; Jalalabad (1,800 feet, or 549 meters) has a subtropical climate; and Kandahar
(3,500 feet, or 1,067 meters) is mild year-round. Central and north-eastern Afghanistan experiences heavy snowfall
during winter.
History
Ancient Empire and Early Dynasties
Located along the Silk Road (a trade route extending from China to Europe), Afghanistan has been the Crossroads of
Asia since ancient times and thus subject to repeated invasion. Emperors and conquerors (Persians, Greeks, central
Asians, and others) throughout history have attempted to control or pacify the region's inhabitants, always finding them
fiercely independent and formidable military opponents aided by the country's natural defense—mountains.
Islam was introduced in the seventh century and flourished in the Ghaznavid Empire (977–1186). Great destruction
occurred in the 13th century with the Mongol invasions of Genghis Khan. His Turko-Mongol descendant Tamerlane
(also known as Timur) established the Timurid Dynasty (1370–1506), famed for its arts and architecture. The Mughal
Dynasty (1526–1707) rose to control eastern Afghanistan and the Indian subcontinent, while the Persian Safavid
Dynasty (1501–1732) held western Afghanistan. Afghanistan's modern roots are in the Durrani Dynasty, founded in
1747 by Ahmed Shah Durrani.
The Great Game and Independence
During Durrani's reign, Afghanistan was caught in the 19th-century struggle for territory and influence between the
Russian and British empires (called the Great Game); Afghanistan was used by the British as a buffer between Russia
and India, Britain's colony. While Afghanistan was never ruled by a European power, Britain had nominal control over
the country's foreign policy. Afghanistan achieved full independence from Britain after the Third Anglo-Afghan war in
1919.
Despite the efforts of Shah Amanullah (leader of Afghanistan at independence) to modernize and Westernize the
country, his reforms were largely rejected by the conservative religious leaders (for his progressive attitudes, including
those toward women) and tribal leaders (who were afraid of a strong centralized government). In 1929, Amanullah
abdicated and his elder brother Habibullah II assumed power, only to be overthrown soon after by Nadir Shah, who
tried to pacify the concerns of the religiously conservative while still implementing reform. In 1973, Muhammad Zahir
Shah, successor and son of Nadir Shah, was ousted by his cousin Prince Muhammad Daoud Khan. With the support of
the army and the Communist Party, Prince Muhammad Daoud established the Republic of Afghanistan and made
himself prime minister.
Soviet Era
Although Prince Muhammad Daoud was supported by the national Communist Party, regional powers (including Saudi
Arabia, Pakistan, and Iran) were concerned about Soviet influence in Afghanistan. For its part, the Soviet Union was
concerned about Afghanistan's connection with these Islamic states, and five years after Muhammad Daoud came to
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power, the Soviets, in coordination with sympathetic elements in the army, aided in a military coup. Once in power, the
Soviet-backed communists instituted a number of reforms that were strongly opposed by many of Afghanistan's
devoutly Muslim citizens. Soon, an anti-communist rebellion, which was supported by the U.S., broke out in
Afghanistan.
Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan in 1979 to prevent the communist government's collapse. The resulting SovietAfghan War caused widespread destruction, killed 1.5 million people, and drove more than 6 million refugees into
Pakistan and Iran. When Soviet troops withdrew in February 1989, civil war continued between the communist
government and Muslim mujahidin (holy warriors) from several political parties.
Rise of the Taliban
By 1992, different factions in Kabul began fighting each other for control of the country. One group, known as the
Taliban ("Students," referring to Muslim youth studying Islam), began punishing mujahidin commanders from other
groups for atrocities they had committed against civilians. These Taliban fighters received direct support from Pakistan
and many war-weary Afghans. Militia factions who had been fighting for control of Kabul were defeated by Ahmad
Shah Massoud, leader of Shora-Nezar (Northern Alliance), an alliance of militias opposed to the Taliban. Massoud
sought to build a national dialogue including the Taliban but was rejected in his offers of incorporation.
In 1996, the Taliban captured Kabul, and by 2000, the group controlled 90 percent of the country. Support for the
Taliban slipped after it imposed strict laws based on its interpretation of shariʿah (Islamic law). A terrorist attack on the
World Trade Center in New York City in September 2001 caused the United States to join with the Northern Alliance
in ousting the Taliban, who were sheltering al-Qaeda terrorists accused of masterminding the attack. U.S. forces and
the Northern Alliance won control of Kabul and other key cities in November 2001.
Transitional State
Locally elected and tribal officials met in June 2002 to create a two-year transitional government. They chose Hamid
Karzai as president. A constitution was approved in January 2004, and Karzai won presidential elections in October
2004. His administration is working to reconstruct a devastated infrastructure, bridge longstanding differences among
the nation's tribes, and combat a lucrative drug trade. Troops from the United States and other nations continue
operations to establish security and fight Taliban and al-Qaeda militants. Although Karzai won a second term in 2009,
the elections were fraught with allegations of fraud, which undermined confidence in the results. Karzai went on to
issue a decree that gave him complete control over the Electoral Complaints Commission, which had helped to expose
the fraud in the 2009 elections. He also blamed foreign observers for the election fraud and accused UN and EU
officials of plotting against him.
U.S. Troop Withdrawal and an Increase in Violence
In 2009, President Obama bolstered U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan by 30,000 but confirmed that troops would begin
withdrawal in two years. In mid-2010, the website WikiLeaks released thousands of classified documents regarding the
war in Afghanistan that damaged diplomatic relations between countries. NATO agreed in late 2010 to hand over
control of Afghanistan's security forces by 2014. U.S. troop withdrawal began in mid-2011 and continued through
2012.
‘Recent Events and Trends
• Tenuous Afghan-American relations: In February 2012, protests broke out after copies of the Qurʾan were
discarded by U.S. troops and ended up in a nearby burn pit. Violence surrounding the protests resulted in the deaths of
more than 30 Afghan civilians and coincided with increased attacks against U.S. troops. Relations between the U.S.
military and Afghans were further complicated when a U.S. soldier killed 17 civilians in a rogue attack, and the use of
drone strikes by the U.S. military continues to be controversial.
• Afghan peace talks: In June 2013, the Taliban opened a political office in Qatar, demonstrating the group’s
diplomatic readiness to begin peace talks with the Afghan and U.S. governments. However, disagreements over the
building’s display of the Taliban’s flag and a plaque with the inscription of group’s 1990 official name for Afghanistan
have stalled talks. The Taliban wants to be recognized as a strong political force, but President Karzai is concerned they
will try to undermine the central government.
Source: http://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country.php?contid=3&wmn=Asia&cid=1&cn=Afghanistan
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Analysis: Who are the Taleban? The world first became aware of the Taleban in 1994 when they were appointed by Islamabad to
protect a convoy trying to open up a trade route between Pakistan and Central Asia.
The group - comprised of Afghans trained in religious schools in Pakistan along with former Islamic
fighters or mujahedin - proved effective bodyguards, driving off other mujahedin groups who
attacked and looted the convoy.
They went on to take the nearby city of Kandahar, beginning a remarkable advance which led to
their capture of the capital, Kabul, in September 1996.
Anti-corruption
The Taleban's popularity with many Afghans initially surprised
the country's warring mujahedin factions.
As ethnic Pashtuns, a large part of their support came from
Afghanistan's Pashtun community, disillusioned with existing
ethnic Tajik and Uzbek leaders.
But it was not purely a question of ethnicity. Ordinary Afghans, weary of the prevailing lawlessness
in many parts of the country, were often delighted by Taleban successes in stamping out
corruption, restoring peace and allowing commerce to flourish again.
Their refusal to deal with the existing warlords whose rivalries had caused so much killing and
destruction also earned them respect.
Islamic state
The Taleban said their aim was to set up the world's most pure Islamic state, banning frivolities like
television, music and cinema.
Their attempts to eradicate crime have been reinforced by the introduction of Islamic law including
public executions and amputations.
A flurry of regulations forbidding girls from going to school and women from working quickly
brought them into conflict with the international community.
Such issues, along with restrictions on women's access to health care, have also caused some
resentment among ordinary Afghans.
Extending control
The Taleban now control all but the far north of the country, which is the last stronghold of the
ethnic Tajik commander Ahmed Shah Masood.
With 90% of the country under their control, the Taleban have continued to press claims for
international recognition.
But the Afghan seat at the United Nations continues to be held by former President Burhanuddin
Rabbani.
The UN sanctions which have now been imposed on the country make it even less likely that the
Taleban will gain that recognition.
The sanctions are intended to force the Taleban to hand over the Saudi-born militant Osama Bin
Laden, who is accused by the United States of plotting the 1998 bombings of US embassies in
Kenya and Tanzania, which killed more than 250 people.
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The Taleban say that Osama Bin Laden is a guest in their country, and they will not take action
against him.
Afghanistan has suffered 20 years of war, and this year has brought the worst drought in decades.
There is little sign that sanctions will change the Taleban's policies, or weaken their position within
the country.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/144382.stm
Buried Alive: Afghan Women Under the Taliban
by Jan Goodwin
February 27, 1998 --Thirty-thousand men and boys poured into the dilapidated Olympic sports stadium
in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. Street hawkers peddled nuts, biscuits and tea to the waiting crowd. The
scheduled entertainment? They were there to see a young woman, Sohaila, receive 100 lashes, and to
watch two thieves have their right hands amputated. Sohaila had been arrested walking with a man who
was not a relative, a sufficient crime for her to be found guilty of adultery. Since she was single, it was
punishable by flogging; had she been married, she would have been publicly stoned to death.
Afraid of the Taliban's long reach, these Afghan schoolgirls
cover their faces to avoid recognition, even in a refugee camp
in Pakistan.
As Sohaila, completely covered in the shroud-like burqa veil, was forced to kneel and then flogged,
Taliban "cheerleaders" had the stadium ringing with the chants of onlookers. Among those present there
were just three women: the young Afghan, and two female relatives who had accompanied her. The
crowd fell silent only when the luckless thieves were driven into the arena and pushed to the ground.
Physicians using surgical scalpels promptly carried out the amputations. Holding the severed hands aloft
by the index fingers, a grinning Taliban fighter warned the huge crowd, "These are the chopped-off
hands of thieves, the punishment for any of you caught stealing." Then, to restore the party atmosphere,
the thieves were driven in a jeep once around the stadium, a flourish that brought the crowd to their feet,
as was intended.
Source: http://members.shaw.ca/pdg/buried-alive.html
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