Afghanistan

As of 2024, Afghanistan—a landlocked country at the junction of Central and South Asia—has a population of around 43 million, according to the World Population Review. With plains found in the northern and southern areas, this nation, marked by its long history and complex geopolitical relevance, comprises 652,864 square kilometers of essentially hilly terrain. With Kabul the capital and the biggest metropolitan area of the nation, the Hindu Kush mountain range serves as a natural barrier separating these diverse environments.

Afghanistan’s history and cultural identity have been much shaped by its geographical location. Afghanistan is a historical junction of civilizations surrounded 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. Known as “graveyard of empires,” this strategic location has positioned it as a focal point in many military operations over history.

Human presence in Afghanistan dates back to the Middle Paleolithic age, marking the beginning of a long and convoluted history. Many conquerors and empires—including the Persians, Alexander the Great, the Mauryan Empire, Arab Muslims, Mongols, British, Soviet Union, and most recently a US-led coalition—have come and gone from this ground. Afghanistan, despite constant invasions and many difficulties, has been the origin of several famous empires such the Mughals and the Greco-Bactrians.

Afghanistan’s cultural mosaic is deftly spun from several strands, highlighting its special location at the junction of Iranian and Indian worlds. This area has been the center of several religious and intellectual traditions including Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam over the millennia. The unique identity of modern Afghanistan has been formed by the blending of ideas from several civilizations and belief systems, therefore reflecting the different cultural legacy.

Originating in the 18th century with the founding of the Durrani Afghan Empire, the modern Afghan state has Some historians, nevertheless, attribute the founding of the first really modern Afghan state to Dost Mohammad Khan. Afghanistan developed as a significant buffer state in the Great Game, a period of strategic rivalry and conflict between the British Empire and the Russian Empire, in the 19th century. Three Anglo-Afghan Wars defined this era and finally helped Afghanistan to become an independent country.

Founded in 1926, the Kingdom of Afghanistan went through almost fifty years of quite steady existence. Zahir Shah’s overthrow marked the end of the monarchy in 1973 and helped the Republic of Afghanistan to grow out of it. Still, the late 1970s signaled the start of a new age of strife and instability that would profoundly affect Afghanistan’s current development.

A socialist state was born out of the communist revolution of 1978; nonetheless, internal strife resulted in the Soviet Union’s 1979 invasion of Afghanistan. Starting the Soviet-Afghan War, the battle in which the Mujahideen fought Soviet forces, the invasion set off As several groups fought for supremacy, the fighting continued even after the Soviet departure in 1989. Having seized most of the nation by 1996, the Taliban established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Still, this government attracted little recognition from other countries and was finally overthrown by US invasion in 2001.

Supported by international forces under a new government, efforts to restore and stabilize Afghanistan aimed from 2001 to 2021 aimed Still, internal strife and ongoing insurgency stayed roadblocks to the country’s growth. The two-decade-long struggle came to an end when the Taliban took over Kabul in 2021, in a major turn-about. The international community does not now recognize the Taliban regime, which leaves Afghanistan in political flux.

Despite the challenges resulting from years of strife, Afghanistan has significant natural resources that can act as a spur on economic growth. The country is rather rich in minerals, including copper, iron, zinc, and lithium. Moreover, Afghanistan is also a major producer of certain agricultural goods. Third in the world’s output of both saffron and cashmere, it ranks as the second-largest producer of cannabis resin.

Still, Afghanistan’s economy suffers several challenges. The country’s nominal GDP in 2020 was recorded at $20.1 billion, which, when adjusted for buying power parity (PPP), comes to $81 billion. Among all the countries, the GDP per person is $2,459 (PPP), or $611 in nominal terms, which ranks lowest worldwide. With a 180th place on the Human Development Index, Afghanistan ranks among the least developed nations on earth.

With 55.9% of the GDP coming from the service sector, Afghanistan’s economic structure is mostly defined by that sector. Industry makes about 21.1%; agriculture adds 23%. Afghanistan suffers major difficulties properly using its mineral resources despite having over $1 trillion worth of minerals because of ongoing security concerns, political unrest, and poor infrastructure.

Afghanistan’s tough physical topography and landlocked character have been found as factors impeding its economic development. The nation’s trade balance shows these difficulties since imports top $7 billion, much more than exports—just $784 million—which mostly consists of fruits and nuts. This imbalance has resulted in the $2.8 billion external debt total.

Security issues have seriously hampered the possible contribution of tourism to the economy. Still, the sector has shown resiliency and even signs of expansion recently. Around 20,000 foreign visitors to Afghanistan annually in 2016 Enjoying its rather safe location away from areas of insurgent activity, the breathtaking Bamyan Valley—which features lakes, canyons, and historical sites—has been a preferred destination for visitors from both inside the country and outside.

Other areas, including the remote Wakhan Valley, attract less daring hikers seeking unique experiences. Attracting many visitors from Europe and America, Afghanistan was once a preferred stop on the famous “hippie trail” during the late 1960s and 1970s. Traveling peaked in 1977 at this period, just before political unrest and armed war started.

Notwithstanding its difficulties, Afghanistan boasts a lot of historical and cultural places with great tourism value. Ghazni and Bamyan have been named respectively the Islamic Cultural Capital and the South Asia Cultural Capital. Rich cultural experiences abound from ancient cities including Herat, Kandahar, Balkh, and Zaranj. Architecturally and historically significant buildings from the nation abound in UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Minaret of Jam in the Hari River valley.

In the cultural scene of Afghanistan, religious sites are rather important. Two important pilgrimage sites are the Shrine of Ali in the north and the Shrine of the cloak in Kandahar, purported to be worn by the Prophet Muhammad. Though it has suffered during years of strife, the National Museum of Afghanistan in Kabul has been gradually restoring its collection of Buddhist, Bactrian Greek, and early Islamic relics.

Under Taliban control, Afghanistan’s tourism industry has surprisingly changed in recent years. With some estimates suggesting numbers between 7,000 and 10,000, the vigorous efforts of the current government have resulted in an amazing increase in tourist numbers—from 691 in 2021 to approximately 5,200 in 2023. Extremist organizations like ISIS-K, however, provide difficulties for this expansion, as seen by incidents like the 2024 Bamyan massacre.