Afghanistan

Introduction

Afghanistan is located in the heart of south-central Asia. The country is officially named the Republic of Afghanistan (Dari Persian: Jomhuri-ye Afghanestan; Pashto: Da Afghanestan Jamhawriyat). It has an area of some 251,825 square miles (652,225 square kilometres) and is completely landlocked, the nearest coast lying along the Arabian Sea, about 300 miles to the south. Its longest border, of 1,125 miles (1,810 kilometres), is with Pakistan, to the east and south. The 510-mile border in the west separates Afghanistan from Iran, and there is a 200-mile border with the part of Jammu and Kashmir claimed by Pakistan. The combined length of Afghanistan's northern borders with Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan is 1,050 miles. The shortest border--of 50 miles--is with the Uighur Autonomous Region of Sinkiang of the People's Republic of China, at the end of the long, narrow Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor), in the extreme northeast. The capital of Afghanistan is its largest city, Kabul, which is located in the east-central part of the country at an altitude of about 5,900 feet (l,800 metres). The city is connected by road to most Afghan provinces and neighbouring countries to the north and east.

The boundaries of Afghanistan were established in the late 19th century in the context of rivalry between Britain and Russia. Modern Afghanistan became a pawn in struggles over political ideology and commercial influence. In the late 20th century Afghanistan suffered ruinous effects of prolonged civil war, invasion by the Soviet Union (1979), and Soviet military presence (1979-89).

Afghanistan

Introduction

Copyright (c) 1995 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. All Rights Reserved