Difference between revisions of "Afghanistan"
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|flag=Flag of Afghanistan.jpg | |flag=Flag of Afghanistan.jpg | ||
|capital=Kabul | |capital=Kabul | ||
| + | |pop=28,500,000 | ||
| + | |pop-basis=2004 estimate | ||
| + | |gdp=$20 Billion | ||
| + | |gdp-year=2003 | ||
|president=Hamid Karzai | |president=Hamid Karzai | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | '''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. One in three people believes that the Taliban would return if foreign troops pulled out before the army and police were better trained. <ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/afghanistan/afghan-survey2007.html Environics 2007 Poll of Afghanistan]</ref> |
| − | + | ||
| + | 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> 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> | 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> | ||
Revision as of 00:28, October 25, 2007
| Afghanistan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Flag | |
| Capital | Kabul
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| President | Hamid Karzai |
| Population 2004 estimate | 28,500,000 |
| GDP 2003 | $20 Billion |
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 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. One in three people believes that the Taliban would return if foreign troops pulled out before the army and police were better trained. [1]
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. [2] 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.[3] 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.[4]
An oil-pipeline built by Bechtel, Haliburton and other big American firms, running from from the Caspian Sea to Pakistan, crosses through Afghanistan.
French soldiers, part of the International Security Assistance Force, photograph as they investigate an Afghan police bus after it was targeted by a suicide bomber in Kabul, Afghanistan on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007.