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'''Afghanistan''' is a landlocked country in southern [[Asia]] which borders [[Pakistan]] to the south and east and [[Iran]] to the west. Afghanistan is known in the modern world for the decade-long influence of the [[Islamism|Islamist]] [[Taliban]] government, which was overthrown by American-led forces in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, but still retains strong influence and is currently conducting a campaign of guerrilla warfare. Most Afghans are [[Sunni]] [[Muslims]]. The current President of Afghanistan is [[Hamid Karzai]]. Afghanistan has two Vice Presidents, Ahmad Zia Masood and Abdul Karim Khalili.  <ref>[https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html CIA World Factbook]</ref> Afghanistan's capital is Kabul.

'''Afghanistan''' is a landlocked country in southern [[Asia]] which borders [[Pakistan]] to the south and east and [[Iran]] to the west. Afghanistan is known in the modern world for the decade-long influence of the [[Islamism|Islamist]] [[Taliban]] government, which was overthrown by American-led forces in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, but still retains strong influence and is currently conducting a campaign of guerrilla warfare. Most Afghans are [[Sunni]] [[Muslims]]. The current President of Afghanistan is [[Hamid Karzai]]. Afghanistan has two Vice Presidents, Ahmad Zia Masood and Abdul Karim Khalili.  <ref>[https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html CIA World Factbook]</ref> Afghanistan's capital is Kabul.

   

   

Afghanistan is the world's leading producer of [[opium]]. The fact that the opium trade is a funding source for terrorist organizations has led to attempts to curtail the Afghan opium trade, but this has been difficult due to the lack of profitability of growing other crops. About a third of Afghanistan's economy is dependent upon the drug trade. <ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5308180.stm</ref>

Afghanistan is the world's leading producer of [[opium]]. The fact that the opium trade is a funding source for terrorist organizations has led to attempts to curtail the Afghan opium trade, but this has been difficult due to the lack of profitability of growing other crops. About a third of Afghanistan's economy is dependent upon the drug trade.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5308180.stm</ref> Since the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, the country's non-opium economy has grown significantly and has allowed approximately 3 million people to return home.<ref>http://www.control-risks.com/default.aspx?page=605</ref>

An oil-pipeline  built by Bechtel, Haliburton and other big [[American (USA)|American]] firms, running from from the Caspian Sea to Pakistan, crosses through Afghanistan.

An oil-pipeline  built by Bechtel, Haliburton and other big [[American (USA)|American]] firms, running from from the Caspian Sea to Pakistan, crosses through Afghanistan.