After withdrawal Soviet troops in 1989, various mujahideen groups continued to fight each other for power in the country. Representatives of the Taliban movement (“seekers of knowledge”), consisting of students, won – in 1996 they established an authoritarian regime of government in Afghanistan, the main instrument of which was Sharia law. Television was banned in the country, and drinking alcohol was punishable by the death penalty.
While in the USSR the Mujahideen were considered cruel and treacherous killers, in Western countries admired their courage: in the eyes of Americans and Europeans they appeared as fearless heroes, rushing on horseback to meet Soviet tanks. After the entry of Soviet troops into Afghanistan, the Americans presented the Mujahideen, according to various estimates, from 500 to 2,000 Stinger man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems. It is fundamentally important that Soviet troops entered Afghanistan at the invitation. There were about two dozen invitations. And after the Soviet troops left there, American government began buying rockets for $183,000 apiece. At the same time, the usual cost of a stinger is $38,000.
Non, a flat unleavened flatbread, translated as “bread,” is the staple food in Afghanistan.
In ancient times, the famous caravan road, the Great Silk Road, ran through Kabul. Representatives of a wide variety of religions and cultures passed through Kabul, many of whom remained here.
The national game of Afghanistan is called Buzkashi, which means “to grab the goat by the tail.” This is a game in which two teams on horseback catch a goat using different strategies. Afghans have been playing this game for centuries.
Losses Soviet Union V Afghan war there were much fewer losses USA during vietnam war. In terms of the ratio of losses in killed during the same period of war, the USSR and the USA differed in killed and wounded by 4 and 3 times big side respectively.
When Taliban troops captured ex-President Najibullah in Kabul in 1997, they, without hesitation, hanged him from a nearby lamppost.
In Afghanistan, there is a tradition of raising girls like boys - such children are called “bacha posh”. Families in which only girls are born resort to this method, which, according to local customs, is considered almost a disgrace for the family. Bacha posh give male name, dressed in boyish clothes and cut short, she has more possibilities appearing in public, going to school and playing sports. However, upon the onset of puberty, the bacha posh has to return to the life of a girl again, losing all male rights, and then get married. They often become bad spouses because they have not learned properly. cooking, sewing and other work considered feminine.
Afghanistan is one of the most ancient countries in the world.
On the border with the Pakistani city of Peshawar, during civil war, the arms trade flourished.
Afghanistan is one of the largest centers growing opium poppy in the world. Afghanistan is the main supplier of raw opium, used in the production of heroin, to Russia and many European countries.
There are more than one million people in Afghanistan who are disabled and have suffered from nearly 40 years of war.
Afghan drug traffickers use pigeons to smuggle illegal substances across the border.
After the terrorist attacks in New York in 2001, at the initiative of the United States, a military operation in Afghanistan, as a result of which the Taliban regime was overthrown.
During Taliban rule, women in Kabul were prohibited from practicing professional activity. Women did not have the opportunity to get an education, work outside the home, or move to another city. The main occupation of women was caring for children.
The Taliban government was the only government in the world that officially recognized the existence of the independent Republic of Ichkeria on the territory of Chechnya. In 2000, an embassy of Ichkeria was even opened in Kabul.
Afghanistan (Pashto افغانستان, Dari افغانستان), official name- Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. State in Central Asia. The first part of the name is “Afghan”, a Persian word translated as “silence” or “silence”; With Turkic languages the word - Augan (Afghan) is translated as gone, hidden. This is also an alternative name for Pashtuns - the largest ethnic group in the country. the last part names, the suffix “-stan”, goes back to the Indo-European root “*stā-” (“to stand”) and to Persian language means "place, country."
It borders with Iran in the west, Pakistan in the south and east, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north, China in the easternmost part of the country, and India (more precisely, the territory of Jammu and Kashmir disputed by India, China and Pakistan) in the east. Landlocked.
Territory - 652,864 km² (41st place in the world).
Population – 35 million people (40th place in the world).
The official languages are Pashto and Dari.
The capital is Kabul.
Large cities: Kabul, Herat, Kandahar, Mazar-i-Sharif, Jalalabad, Kunduz, Baghlan.
Afghani (Pashto and Dari افغانۍ) - currency unit Afghanistan, equal to 100 pula. Currently in circulation are banknotes in denominations of 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10 afghani and coins in denominations of 5, 2 and 1 afghani.
State authorities use a flag with a black coat of arms in the middle, but along with it there are flags with a white and yellow flowers. There are three vertical stripes on the flag, where black is the color of historical and religious banners, red is the color supreme power king and a symbol of the struggle for freedom, and green is the color of hope and success in business. In the center of the coat of arms is a mosque with a mihrab and a minbar, above which the Shahada is written.
The coat of arms of Afghanistan is placed on the Flag of Afghanistan and has existed practically since the appearance and formation of the country itself. IN latest version emblem there is the addition of a shahada on Arabic upstairs. Below this is an image of a mosque with a mihrab that faces Mecca with a prayer mat inside. The two flags attached to the mosque are the flags of Afghanistan. Below the mosque is an inscription that means the name of the nation. There is a garland around the mosque.
- Blue Mosque (Mazar-i-Sharif) - the mosque was built in the 15th century. on the site of the tomb of Caliph Ali (XII century), cousin Prophet Muhammad. It got its name due to large quantity turquoise tiles covering the walls and domes.
- The Blue Lakes of Bande-Amir are a network of reservoirs surrounded by mountains and steppes. Included in the list natural heritage UNESCO.
- The Palace in Busta (Lashkari Bazar) is the residence of the dynasties of the Ghaznavid and Ghurid sultans. The complex dates back to the 11th century and consists of three palaces.
- Jam Minaret – located in the mountains in the north-west of the country, built in the 12th century. V ancient city Firusuchus.
- Juma Mosque in Herat - the building has been restored and covered with rich paintings, courtyard accommodates 5,000 believers.
- The Kabul Museum is a collection of ancient artifacts, restored and opened to the public in 2004.
- The Bala Hissar fortress is a 5th century structure in Kabul that served as a shelter for the rulers of Afghanistan. It is now used as a base for the Afghan military.
- Abdul Rahman Mosque – built in 2001 – 2009. year in Kabul. The largest Muslim temple in Afghanistan, can accommodate up to 10,000 people. The library has 150,000 books.
- The Id Gah Mosque is the most great mosque Kabul, where Afghan independence was declared in 1919. The name translates as festive; major Muslim holidays are held here.
- The Panjshir Gorge is a picturesque valley in the Panjshir province; on its territory there are convenient passes leading from the northern to the southern provinces.
- The Babur Gardens park complex is a Kabul park, the location of the tomb of the founder of the Mughal dynasty, Babur. It consists of 15 cascading terraces, designed in the style of Mughal architecture.
- Cave monastery in the Bamiyan Valley - a city in the rocks located 200 km from Kabul, only in this place can you cross mountain range Hindu Kush. In the 2nd century the first buildings were built in this area Buddhist monasteries. Residential complexes, carved into the rocks, served as a refuge for traders and permanent place habitat of the monks. Ancient settlement decorated with two giant Buddha monuments, but in 2001 they were destroyed by the Taliban.
- The Khyber Pass is a 53 km long mountain road on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Along the aisle laid Railway and the Kabul-Peshawar highway.
- Herat Citadel - built during conquests Alexander the Great.
Interesting Facts about Afghanistan
- Afghanistan holds the record for the frequency of flag changes. Since 1880, the country has already changed twenty-three flags, and among them were a single-color black one (under the Shahs in late XIX century), and a single-color white banner (under the Taliban).
- The capital of Afghanistan, Kabul is one of the most dangerous cities peace, but not because of robbers and bandits, but because of terrorists.
- After the withdrawal of Soviet troops, the war between various Mujahideen groups continued. The winners were representatives of the Taliban movement (“seekers of knowledge”), who came to power in 1996 and established an authoritarian regime of government. Television was banned in the country, the death penalty was imposed for drinking alcohol, and Sharia law was the basis. After the terrorist attack in New York in 2001, a military operation was launched at the initiative of the United States, as a result of which the Taliban regime was overthrown.
- The largest copper deposit in Eurasia was discovered near Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. The largest iron ore deposit in South Asia is located in the same area.
- The most high point Afghanistan - Mount Noshak, the peak of which rises to 7492 meters.
- Scientists believe that one of the ancient religions, Zoroastrianism, originated in Afghanistan several thousand years BC, and Zarathustra himself allegedly lived and died in local city Balkh.
- The national game is Buzkashi (“grab a goat by the tail”). Two teams on horseback catch a goat or a goat skin by the tail.
- On the territory of this country there is no very concept official language- V different regions in use different languages and adverbs.
- The most popular art in Afghanistan is poetry.
- Afghans celebrate New Year (Navruz) on March 21st. This number is the first day of spring.
- Seasonal temperature changes in Afghanistan are very significant - winters here are harsh and cold, and summers are unbearably hot.
- The national dance of the Afghans is attan, which is usually performed by men. This is a circular dance in which from two to several hundred people participate. The circling to the accompaniment of booming drums and flutes lasts on average from 5 to 30 minutes, but can last up to 5 hours.
- In Afghanistan, 47% of men and only 15% of women are literate. Despite this, Afghans are very fond of poetry, and every home has at least one volume of poetry. Closed poetry competitions are held even among illiterate workers and peasants.
- The age of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, is over three and a half thousand years.
- Afghanistan is the largest producer of opiates on the planet. According to UN statistics, about 90% of drugs entering Europe are smuggled across the Afghan border.
- Predominant in Afghanistan rural population, urban population makes up 25% and mainly lives in Kabul.
In 1979, Soviet troops entered Afghanistan. For 10 years, the USSR was drawn into a conflict that finally undermined its former power. “Echo of Afghanistan” can still be heard.
Contingent
There was no Afghan war. There was a deployment of a limited contingent of Soviet troops to Afghanistan. It is fundamentally important that Soviet troops entered Afghanistan at the invitation. There were about two dozen invitations. The decision to send troops was not easy, but it was nevertheless made by members of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee on December 12, 1979. In fact, the USSR was drawn into this conflict. A short search for “who benefits from this” clearly points, first of all, to the United States. Today they are not even trying to hide the Anglo-Saxon trace of the Afghan conflict. According to memoirs former director CIA Robert Gates, July 3, 1979 American President Jimmy Carter signed a secret presidential order authorizing funding for anti-government forces in Afghanistan, and Zbigniew Brzezinski bluntly said: “We did not push the Russians to interfere, but we deliberately increased the likelihood that they would do so.”
Afghan axis
Afghanistan is geopolitically axial point. It is not in vain that wars have been waged over Afghanistan throughout its history. Both open and diplomatic. Since the 19th century between Russian and British Empire There is a struggle for control over Afghanistan, called " Big game" The Afghan conflict of 1979-1989 is part of this “game”. Mutinies and uprisings in the “underbelly” of the USSR could not go unnoticed. It was impossible to lose the Afghan axis. In addition, Leonid Brezhnev really wanted to act as a peacemaker. He spoke.
Oh sport, you are the world
The Afghan conflict “quite by accident” caused a serious wave of protest in the world, which was fueled in every possible way by “friendly” media. Voice of America radio broadcasts began daily with military reports. By all means, people were not allowed to forget that the Soviet Union was waging a “war of conquest” on territory that was foreign to itself. The 1980 Olympics were boycotted by many countries (including the USA). The Anglo-Saxon propaganda machine worked at full capacity, creating the image of an aggressor from the USSR. The Afghan conflict greatly helped with the change of poles: by the end of the 70s, the popularity of the USSR in the world was enormous. The US boycott did not go unanswered. Our athletes did not go to the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
The whole world
The Afghan conflict was Afghan in name only. In essence, the favorite Anglo-Saxon combination was carried out: the enemies were forced to fight each other. The US has authorized economic assistance» the Afghan opposition in the amount of $15 million, as well as the military - supplying them with heavy weapons and training military training groups Afghan Mujahideen. The United States did not even hide its interest in the conflict. In 1988, the third part of the Rambo epic was filmed. Sylvester Stallone's hero this time fought in Afghanistan. The absurdly tailored, openly propaganda film even received the Golden Raspberry Award and was included in the Guinness Book of Records as a film with maximum number violence: the film contains 221 scenes of violence and a total of more than 108 people die. At the end of the film there are credits “The film is dedicated to the valiant people of Afghanistan.”
The role of the Afghan conflict is difficult to overestimate. Every year the USSR spent about 2-3 billion US dollars on it. The Soviet Union could afford this at the peak of oil prices, which was observed in 1979-1980. However, between November 1980 and June 1986, oil prices fell almost 6 times! Of course, it was not by chance that they fell. A special “thank you” to Gorbachev’s anti-alcohol campaign. There was no longer a “financial cushion” in the form of income from the sale of vodka on the domestic market. The USSR, by inertia, continued to spend money on creating a positive image, but funds were running out within the country. The USSR found itself in economic collapse.
Dissonance
During the Afghan conflict, the country was in some kind of cognitive dissonance. On the one hand, everyone knew about “Afghanistan,” on the other, the USSR painfully tried to “live better and more fun.” Olympics-80, XII World Festival of Youth and Students - The Soviet Union celebrated and rejoiced. Meanwhile, KGB General Philip Bobkov subsequently testified: “Long before the opening of the festival, Afghan militants were specially selected in Pakistan, who underwent serious training under the guidance of CIA specialists and were brought into the country a year before the festival. They settled in the city, especially since they were provided with money, and began to expect to receive explosives, plastic bombs and weapons, preparing to carry out explosions in crowded places (Luzhniki, Manezhnaya Square and other places). The protests were disrupted thanks to the operational measures taken.”
When Soviet troops entered Afghanistan in December 1979 to support the friendly communist regime, no one could have imagined that the war would stretch out for ten long years and ultimately “drive” the last nail “in the coffin” of the USSR. Today, some are trying to present this war as the villainy of the “Kremlin elders” or the result of a worldwide conspiracy. However, we will try to rely only on the facts.
According to modern data, losses Soviet army in the Afghan war there were 14,427 people killed and missing. In addition, 180 advisers and 584 specialists from other departments were killed. More than 53 thousand people were shell-shocked, wounded or injured.
Cargo "200"
The exact number of Afghans killed in the war is unknown. The most common figure is 1 million dead; Available estimates range from 670 thousand civilians to 2 million in total. According to Harvard professor M. Kramer, an American researcher of the Afghan war: “During the nine years of war, more than 2.7 million Afghans (mostly civilians), several million more became refugees, many of whom fled the country.” A clear division of victims into soldiers of the government army, Mujahideen and civilians, apparently, does not exist.
For the courage and heroism shown during the war in Afghanistan, more than 200 thousand military personnel were awarded orders and medals (11 thousand were awarded posthumously), 86 people were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (28 posthumously). Among the awarded – 110 thousand soldiers and sergeants, about 20 thousand warrant officers, more than 65 thousand officers and generals, more than 2.5 thousand SA employees, including – 1350 women.
A group of Soviet military personnel awarded government awards
During the entire period of hostilities, 417 military personnel were in Afghan captivity, 130 of whom were released during the war and were able to return to their homeland. As of January 1, 1999, 287 people remained among those who had not returned from captivity and had not been found.
Captured Soviet soldier
During nine years of war P The losses of equipment and weapons amounted to: airplaneecomrade - 118 (in the Air Force– 107); helicopters - 333 (in the Air Force – 324); tanks - 147; BMP, armored personnel carrier, BMD, BRDM – 1314; guns and mortars - 433; radio stations and KShM – 1138; engineering vehicles – 510; flatbed vehicles and tank trucks – 11,369.
Burnt Soviet tank
The government in Kabul was dependent on the USSR throughout the war, which provided it with military assistance in the amount of about $40 billion. Meanwhile, the rebels established contacts with Pakistan and the United States, and also received widespread support from Saudi Arabia, China and a number of other states, which together provided the Mujahideen with weapons and other military equipment worth about $10 billion.
Afghan Mujahideen
On January 7, 1988, in Afghanistan, at an altitude of 3234 m above the road to the city of Khost in the Afghan-Pakistan border zone, a fierce battle took place. It was one of the most famous military clashes between units Limited contingent Soviet troops in Afghanistan with armed formations of the Afghan Mujahideen. Based on these events, the film “The Ninth Company” was shot in the Russian Federation in 2005. The height of 3234 m was defended by the 9th parachute company of the 345th Guards separate parachute regiment total number 39 people supported by regimental artillery. Soviet fighters were attacked by units of Mujahideen numbering from 200 to 400 people who were trained in Pakistan. The battle lasted 12 hours. The Mujahideen never managed to capture the heights. After suffering heavy losses, they retreated. In the ninth company, six paratroopers were killed, 28 were injured, nine of them – heavy. All paratroopers for this battle were awarded the Order of the Red Banner and the Red Star. Lance Sergeant V. A. Alexandrov and Private A. A. Melnikov were posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Still from the film “9th Company”
The most famous battle of Soviet border guards during the war in Afghanistan took place on November 22, 1985 near the village of Afrij in the Zardevsky Gorge mountain range Darayi-Kalat in northeastern Afghanistan. Battle Group The border guards of the Panfilov outpost of a motorized maneuver group (21 people) were ambushed as a result of an incorrect crossing of the river. During the battle, 19 border guards were killed. These were the most numerous losses of border guards in the Afghan war. According to some reports, the number of Mujahideen participating in the ambush was 150 people.
Border guards after the battle
There is a well-established opinion in the post-Soviet period that the USSR was defeated and expelled from Afghanistan. It is not true. When Soviet troops left Afghanistan in 1989, they did so as a result of a well-planned operation. Moreover, the operation was carried out in several directions at once: diplomatic, economic and military. This not only saved lives Soviet soldiers, but also to preserve the Afghan government. Communist Afghanistan held out even after the fall of the USSR in 1991 and only then, with the loss of support from the USSR and increasing attempts from the Mujahideen and Pakistan, did the DRA begin to slide towards defeat in 1992.
Withdrawal of Soviet troops, February 1989
In November 1989 The Supreme Council The USSR declared an amnesty for all crimes committed by Soviet military personnel in Afghanistan. According to military prosecutor's office, from December 1979 to February 1989, 4,307 people were brought to criminal responsibility as part of the 40th Army in the DRA; at the time the decision of the USSR Armed Forces on amnesty came into force, more than 420 former internationalist soldiers were in prison.
We have returned…
2. Literally translated from Persian, “Afghanistan” means “Silent Country.” At the same time, from tongues Turkic group the word "Afghan" is translated as "hidden". Both of these interpretations are perfect for describing Afghanistan - a mountainous, inaccessible country where all the tribes who wanted to maintain independence hid.
3. The state of Afghanistan is located in South-West Asia. Bordered by Pakistan in the south and east, Iran in the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north, China and India in the extreme northeast, Afghanistan is located in the center surrounded by these large countries.
4. Afghanistan is one of the most ancient countries in the world. People inhabited modern Afghan lands at least 5 thousand years ago. The rural communities that arose in this area were the first on the planet.
5. Afghanistan is considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world, along with Somalia.
The capital of Afghanistan is Kabul
6. The capital of Afghanistan, Kabul is one of the most dangerous cities in the world, but not because of robbers and bandits, but because of terrorists. A similar situation prevailed in another hot spot in the world - the city of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
7. The age of Kabul is over three and a half thousand years.
8. Afghanistan - very ancient country, it was first mentioned in the chronicles of the 6th century BC. e., when it was included in Persian Empire Achaemenids.
9. Around 330 BC e. Afghanistan was conquered by Alexander the Great. After Alexander's death, the country was ruled by Greek, Indian, Iranian, Arab and Mongol rulers, and then the first Afghan state emerged, led by Emir Ahmad Shah.
10. Therefore, the number of various historical monuments that this land preserves is simply enormous. But due to the extremely reactionary political system and strict religious norms, most of them are inaccessible to visitors, and some monuments are even ruthlessly destroyed.
11. The largest copper deposit in Eurasia was discovered near Kabul, the Afghan capital. The largest iron ore deposit in South Asia is located in the same area.
12. In Afghanistan, 99% of whose population is Muslim, there is only one pig, and it is kept in the Kabul Zoo.
13. Islamic conquerors came to the country in the 7th century, Genghis Khan and Tamerlane - in the 13th and 14th centuries.
14. On the territory of this country there is no very concept of an official language - different languages and dialects are used in different regions.
15. In 1220, the Mongol warriors of Genghis Khan conquered Afghanistan, and the descendants of the Mongols ruled for the most part region until 1747.
Kandahar city
16. The city of Kandahar has been famous for its oriental bazaars throughout the centuries; there are several beautiful mosques and the tomb of the first emir of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah.
17. Scientists believe that one of the ancient religions, Zoroastrianism, originated in Afghanistan several thousand years BC, and Zarathustra himself allegedly lived and died in the local city of Balkh.
18. Dates of many important events and the country's holidays are very arbitrary, because... Afghan calendar differs significantly from the European one and is based on the traditional Islamic lunar calendar.
19.Depending on the region, many National holidays can last from two to ten days and have no clearly defined duration.
20. Afghan athletes took part in 13 Summer Olympics, and during this time they won two bronze medals in taekwondo competitions. The same wrestler became victorious both times.
Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif
21. Mazar-i-Sharif is famous for its 15th-century mosque, which houses the tomb of Caliph Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad.
22. In Afghanistan, railway lines other than the recently built Mazar-i-Sharif - Hairatan line are limited to short lines across the Amu Darya from Termez in Uzbekistan and Jeiretan in Afghanistan, and a short line between the city of Kushka in Turkmenistan and Turagundi in Afghanistan.
23. Afghan drug traffickers use pigeons to smuggle illegal substances across the border.
24. Afghanistan became the first state to recognize the RSFSR after the revolution.
25. Darius I and Alexander the Great were the first to use Afghanistan as a gateway to India.
Amu Darya River
26. The Amu Darya River is part of the natural border with Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and barge traffic is open along it.
27. Afghan cuisine is as unique as its music, as Afghanistan lies at the crossroads of Persian, Indian and Turkic civilizations.
28. Afghan cuisine is one of the most ancient on the planet. IN Everyday life Afghans make do with a very meager set of dishes - various options pilaf and shish kebab, all kinds of thick soups, rice and pasta, accompanied by the inevitable naan flatbread, cheese and tea.
29.Non – flat unleavened flatbread, translated as “bread” – is the staple food in Afghanistan.
Afghan Hound
31. Afghan hounds are graceful hunting dogs that, as their breed name suggests, originate from Afghanistan. Scientists have found that these are one of the most difficult dogs to train, but at the same time, Afghans are friendly, playful and love communication with people.
32. The national dance of the Afghans is attan, usually performed by men. This is a circular dance in which from two to several hundred people participate. The circling to the accompaniment of booming drums and flutes lasts on average from 5 to 30 minutes, but can last up to 5 hours.
33. Poetry has been a significant part of Afghan culture for centuries. People still gather on Thursdays to read poetry to each other.
34. In Afghanistan, 47% of men and only 15% of women are literate. Despite this, Afghans are very fond of poetry, and every home has at least one volume of poetry. Closed poetry competitions are held even among illiterate workers and peasants.
35. Independence Day in Afghanistan coincides with Independence Day in Great Britain, and is celebrated at the same time - August 19th.
Mount Noshak
37. Among the few temptations in Afghanistan for tourists, the first place is the Babur Garden, founded by the Mughals, and then developed and decorated by all the dynasties of Afghan rulers.
38. This country is the largest producer of opiates on the planet. According to UN statistics, about 90% of drugs entering Europe are smuggled across the Afghan border.
39. Seasonal temperature changes in Afghanistan are very significant - winters here are harsh and cold, and summers are unbearably hot.
40. The birthplace of carrots is Afghanistan, but they are grown in all countries of the world.
Afghan national pastime"buzkashi"
41. The Afghan national pastime “buzkashi” is a game in which the participant must catch a goat while riding a horse.
42. Football is officially banned in six countries, including Afghanistan.
43. In the Taliban tradition, women do not have the opportunity to receive an education, work outside the home, or go to another city. The main occupation of women is caring for children.
44. Afghanistan ranks fourth in the world in the number of children born by local women - on average, each woman in this country gives birth 6-7 times.
45. This state ranks sadly first among countries in the world in terms of infant mortality rate - 226 babies under the age of 5 die out of 1000 births.
Hindu Kush - mountain system in Afghanistan
46. Consisting of two huge mountain ranges The Hindu Kush is one of the most majestic and beautiful mountain systems peace. These mountains have retained a completely pristine appearance and would be an excellent area for hiking and mountaineering.
47. Afghanistan is landlocked and therefore has no maritime transport.
48. Traffic on the roads of Afghanistan is on the right.
49. The highway connecting the main cities of Herat, Kandahar, Ghazni and Kabul with a branch to neighboring Pakistan is the basis road system Afghanistan.
50. In Afghanistan, beautiful mountains, valleys and lakes create an absolutely stunning landscape that remains inaccessible to most tourists.
Aul in Afghanistan
photo from the Internet