April 27, 2010April 27, 2010

Objectives: To develop an Objectives: To develop an understanding of the History of understanding of the History of AfghanistanAfghanistan

Question: What Indian country is Question: What Indian country is next to Afghanistan?next to Afghanistan?

Agenda: Lecture/NotesAgenda: Lecture/Notes

AFGHANISTANAFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan: GeographyAfghanistan: GeographyLocated in Central

AsiaBordered by six countries:● China● Iran● Pakistan● Tajikistan● Turkmenistan● Uzbekistan

Afghanistan: GeographyAfghanistan: Geography

Landlocked nation (slightly smaller than Texas)Total Population: 31 millionCapital: Kabul

Afghanistan: GeographyAfghanistan: Geography➢ Rugged mountains

➢ Hindu Kush: main mountain range across Afghanistan and into Pakistan

➢ Climate: cold winters and hot, dry summers

Afghans: A Diverse Afghans: A Diverse PeoplePeople

Major Ethnic Major Ethnic Groups: Groups:

Pashtuns 42%Pashtuns 42% Takiks 27%Takiks 27% Uzbeks 9%Uzbeks 9% Hazaras 9%Hazaras 9% Others 13%Others 13%

Afghans: A Diverse Afghans: A Diverse PeoplePeople

LanguagesLanguages

Many Afghans are bilingualMany Afghans are bilingual The main languages spoken The main languages spoken

by Afghans are:by Afghans are:Dari (official language) 50% Dari (official language) 50% Pashtu (official language) 35%Pashtu (official language) 35%Turkic languages 11%Turkic languages 11%

ReligionReligion

IIslamslam is the is the religion practiced religion practiced by most Afghans; by most Afghans; it is central to it is central to Afghans' identity Afghans' identity

99% of Afghans 99% of Afghans are are MuslimMuslim

Rural LifeRural Life Most Afghans live in Most Afghans live in

rural areasrural areas About ¾ of the About ¾ of the

population consists population consists of farmers and of farmers and nomadsnomads

Only 12% of the land, Only 12% of the land, however, is arablehowever, is arable

What problems might What problems might this lead to?this lead to?

Sport/PastimeSport/Pastime Bazkashi, Bazkashi, the the

national sport of national sport of Afghanistan, is a Afghanistan, is a team game played team game played on horsebackon horseback

Kite-fightingKite-fighting is is also a popular also a popular pastime among pastime among Afghan youth Afghan youth where participants where participants try to cut through try to cut through the strings of their the strings of their opponents' kitesopponents' kites

Afghan HistoryAfghan History

Afghanistan's Afghanistan's location along location along the Silk/Spice the Silk/Spice Road has allowed Road has allowed the country to the country to serve as an serve as an important link important link between east and between east and west throughout west throughout historyhistory

600 BCE – 652 BCE600 BCE – 652 BCE

• Zoroaster introduces religion of Zoroastrianism.

• Darius of Persia conquers part of Afghanistan.

• Many wars between Persians andtribal groups for control.

Alexander the Great invades. Many tribal revolts against his empire.

Various other invasions and tribal wars for control of Afghanistan, such as, Parthians, Kushans, White Huns and Yaftalee.

Each invader brought new religious beliefs to be forced on the Afghanistan tribes.

Zoroaster

Alexander

652 - 1774652 - 1774

Arabs introduce religion to Afghanistan and Afghanistan became the center of Islamic power and civilization.

Genghis Khan invades Afghanistan, he destroyed the irrigation systems turning the fertile soils into permanent deserts.

Marco Polo crosses Afghanistan on his way to China.

Various dynasties control Afghanistan with frequent wars for political control.

Many wars between Afghanistan and Persia as each takes a turn controlling this region.

Afghans retake Kandahar from the Persians and establish modern Afghanistan, 1774.

Marco Polo

1774 - 19211774 - 1921

Capital of Afghanistan transferred from Kandahar to Kabul because of tribal fighting.

Constant internal fighting inside Afghanistan.

First Anglo-Afghan War. The British in India try to control Afghanistan, this war ended with the British force of 16,500 wiped out with only one survivor making it alive to a British fort in Jalalabad.

Afghanistan is independent but the British take Baluchistan making Afghanistan a landlocked country.

Second Anglo-Afghan War. The British take some territories from Afghanistan and allows them to run their internal affairs but Britain handled Afghan Foreign Affairs.

Russia takes Afghan territory in the north.

Third Anglo-Afghan War. Afghanistan wins and gains full control of her Foreign Affairs.

1921 -1921 - 19501950

• Many power struggles as tribes try to obtain political power.

• 1929 Muhammad Khan became King and tried to reform the country but was assassinated.

• United States formally recognizes Afghanistan, 1934.

• Many tribal leaders tried to unite Afghanistan but violence prevailed.

• Attempts at democracy failed.

• Britain withdraws from India, Pakistan is carved out of Indian and Afghan lands.

1950 - 19791950 - 1979

Pakistan and Afghanistan come close to war over disputed lands.

Government instability leads to frequent riots and overthrows.

Daoud Khan and the Communist Afghan Party seize power and the Republic of Afghanistan is born in 1973. Internal problems with this party cause Daoud to be killed.

Mass arrests, tortures and violence become common place in Afghanistan.

The Afghan guerrilla group (Mujahideen) formed to fight and resist government that was backed by Communist Russia.

Mass killings and the murder of the U.S. Ambassador. Many human rights violations.

Mujahideen Freedom Fighters

Afghan HistoryAfghan HistoryThis location, however, has meant This location, however, has meant

significant intervention from outsiderssignificant intervention from outsiders

Great Britain & Russia fought over Great Britain & Russia fought over Afghanistan as far back as the 18Afghanistan as far back as the 18thth & 19 & 19thth centuriescenturies

Soviet Union invaded in 1979 and Soviet Union invaded in 1979 and installed a Communist governmentinstalled a Communist government

From 1979-1989, Afghanistan became a From 1979-1989, Afghanistan became a battleground of the Cold War between battleground of the Cold War between the US-USSR (with the U.S. supporting the US-USSR (with the U.S. supporting Afghans who resisted the Soviets)Afghans who resisted the Soviets)

1980 - 19941980 - 1994

Soviet Union invades Afghanistan with thousands of troops to support the government in its struggle with the holy warriors called Mujahideen.

Five million Afghan refugees flee to Pakistan and Iran.

The Soviets with superior weapons could not defeat the guerrilla tactics of the rebels.

In 1988 the Soviets began withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan.

Fighting between the government and the Mujahideen continued until 1992 when the rebels overthrew the government.

Fighting among the factions prevented the formation of a stable government.

By the late 1990’s a Islamic group known as the Taliban had taken control of most of Afghanistan and set up a Council of Ministers to rule the country.

Afghan HistoryAfghan History Soviet Union withdrew in Soviet Union withdrew in

1989, but civil war erupted 1989, but civil war erupted among factions of guerilla among factions of guerilla fighters known as fighters known as 'mujahedin' 'mujahedin'

Civil war continued until Civil war continued until 1996, when hard-line group 1996, when hard-line group known as the Taliban seized known as the Taliban seized powerpower

Taliban imposed a strict Taliban imposed a strict interpretation of Islaminterpretation of Islam

1994 - 19991994 - 1999

The Taliban movement was formed in Kandahar in 1994 by Islamic students who take a radical approach to interpreting Islam.The Taliban captured Kabul in September 1996 from Mujaheedin regime. The government of Burhan-ul Din Rabani ousted. The Taliban government in Kabul has been recognized only by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Republic.The Taliban regime strongly have been supported by Pakistani military regime.Anti-Taliban factions still hold about 15 percent of the country in the northern parts of Afghanistan. The United Nations and other international communities condemn the Taliban regime because of its violation of human rights, particularly restrictions of women from outside work and freedom.On October 10, 1999, the United States government declare political and economical sanctions against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan because of holding and supporting Saudi billionaire Bin Laden.October 25, 1999, Taliban offer talks between Afghanistan and the US Government including the future of Osma Bin Laden.October 28, 1999. Saudi Millionaire declared his desire to leave AfghanistanNovember, 5, 1999: Bin Laden likely stay in Afghanistan

TalibanTaliban➢ Limited women's ability Limited women's ability

to work in public placesto work in public places➢ Banned girls from Banned girls from

attending schoolattending school➢ Required women to Required women to

wear burqas in public wear burqas in public (photos)(photos)

➢ Required men to wear Required men to wear beardsbeards

➢ Banned music, sportsBanned music, sports➢ Allowed al-Qaeda & Allowed al-Qaeda &

Osama bin Laden to Osama bin Laden to operate within the operate within the country country

Refugee CrisisRefugee Crisis During the 23 years of During the 23 years of

conflict, roughly 4 conflict, roughly 4 million Afghans million Afghans became refugeesbecame refugees

Most refugees fled to Most refugees fled to two main countries:two main countries:➢ IranIran➢ PakistanPakistan

There are also an There are also an estimated 200,000 estimated 200,000 Afghans living in the Afghans living in the U.S. U.S.

The link between The link between September 11 and AfghanistanSeptember 11 and Afghanistan

Afghans did Afghans did NOTNOT carry out the terrorist carry out the terrorist attacks on the U.S.attacks on the U.S.

Al-Qaeda, a terrorist network operating within Al-Qaeda, a terrorist network operating within Afghanistan and other places, didAfghanistan and other places, did

Many Afghans expressed their solidarity with Many Afghans expressed their solidarity with the people of the U.S. after Sept. 11the people of the U.S. after Sept. 11

After September 11, the U.S. invaded After September 11, the U.S. invaded Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban for Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban for sheltering Osama bin Ladensheltering Osama bin Laden

U.S. and NATO forces remain in Afghanistan U.S. and NATO forces remain in Afghanistan todaytoday

Afghanistan TodayAfghanistan Today

Afghanistan now faces a number of Afghanistan now faces a number of challenges as it tries to rebuild challenges as it tries to rebuild after years of war. Some of these after years of war. Some of these challenges include:challenges include:

PovertyPovertyEducationEducationHealthHealthGender equityGender equityGovernance Governance

PovertyPoverty

At least 2/3 of At least 2/3 of Afghans live on less Afghans live on less than $2 a daythan $2 a day

Only 23% of Afghans Only 23% of Afghans have access to safe have access to safe waterwater

Only 12% of Afghans Only 12% of Afghans have access to have access to sanitationsanitation

Only 6% of Afghans Only 6% of Afghans have access to have access to electricityelectricity

EducationEducation 67% of boys go to 67% of boys go to

school, while only school, while only 37% of girls do 37% of girls do (US Dept (US Dept of State)of State)

Constraints to school Constraints to school attendance:attendance: Lack of teachersLack of teachers Distance between Distance between

home and schoolhome and school Cultural Cultural

constraints for girlsconstraints for girls Not enough school Not enough school

buildings (esp. for buildings (esp. for girls)girls)

HealthHealth

Average life Average life expectancy for Afghans expectancy for Afghans is 42, more than 25 is 42, more than 25 years younger than the years younger than the average American average American (World (World Health Organization)Health Organization)

One in four children One in four children dies before the age of 5 dies before the age of 5 (USAID)(USAID)

Many Afghans lack Many Afghans lack access to basic medical access to basic medical carecare

Gender EquityGender Equity

Women have been a marginalized group in Women have been a marginalized group in AfghanistanAfghanistan

Cultural restrictions lead to difficulty accessing Cultural restrictions lead to difficulty accessing education and health serviceseducation and health services

Only 10% of Afghan women can read and writeOnly 10% of Afghan women can read and write Yet, Afghan women are important contributors to Yet, Afghan women are important contributors to

household income, especially in rural areashousehold income, especially in rural areas

GovernmentGovernment

In October 2004, In October 2004, Hamid Hamid KarzaiKarzai was elected was elected President of Afghanistan. President of Afghanistan.

Parliamentray elections Parliamentray elections were held in 2005.were held in 2005.

Local warlords, however, Local warlords, however, still hold power in many still hold power in many parts of the country. This parts of the country. This contributes to the contributes to the insecurity in Afghanistan.insecurity in Afghanistan.

Despite these Despite these challenges, Afghans challenges, Afghans

remain hopeful remain hopeful about the futureabout the future

THE ENDTHE END

What have you What have you learned about learned about Afghanistan?Afghanistan?