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Country Guide > Asia > Afghanistan | |
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General Information Note Very little reliable information is available relating to some of the following sections; much of the infrastructure and services were destroyed or ceased to function in the months of fighting in 2001, and are still in the process of being rebuilt and repaired. Those that were there before were severely limited and old-fashioned due to the years of civil war and occupation that had gone before. Area 652,225 sq km (251,773 sq miles). Population 22,930,000 (UN estimate 2002, including nomads). Population Density 35.2 per sq km. Capital Kabul. Population: 2,766,800 (official estimate 2000). Geography Afghanistan is a landlocked country, sharing its borders with Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikstan to the north, China to the northeast, Pakistan to the east and south and Iran to the west. On the eastern tip of the Iranian plateau, central Afghanistan is made up of a tangled mass of mountain chains. The Hindu Kush is the highest range, rising to more than 7500m (24,600ft). The Bamian Valley separates the Hindu Kush from Koh-i-Baba, the central mountain range and source of the Helmand River. To the north and southwest of these mountains, alluvial plains provide fertile agricultural soil. To the northeast is Kabul, the capital. The other major cities are Jalalabad, Kandahar, Mazar-i-Sharif and Herat. Government Republic. Civil war since 1992. Head of State: President Hamid Karzai since December 2001 (officially elected as president in October 2004). Parliamentary elections are to be held September 18 2005. Language The principal languages are Pashto and Dari Persian. Some English and Russian may also be spoken. Religion Islamic majority (mostly Sunni), with Shi’ite, Hindu and Sikh minorities. Time GMT + 4.5. Electricity 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Supplies may be seriously affected and powercuts frequent for the foreseeable future. Communications At the time of writing, no telephone, fax, telex, telegram or postal services are generally available. Telephone/Fax No IDD. In general, there is normally a severe shortage of lines for operator-connected international calls. Mobile telephone Afghan Wireless (website: www.afghanwireless.com) operates a GSM 900/1800 network covering cities like Kabul and Herat. ROSHAN (Telecom Development Company) offers coverage in Kabul and other small pockets throughout the country. Internet The first public Internet service opened in Kabul in late 2003, and several post offices have since been outfitted with Internet connections. Telegram Under normal circumstances, these could be sent from the Central Post Office, Kabul (closes at 2100). Post Prior to military action, airmail used to take one week to reach Europe. Press The Kabul New Times is the main English-language newspaper. Radio BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. |