Afghanistan (Pashtu/Dari-Persian: افغانستان, Afğānistān) is a country at the crossroads of Asia. Usually placed in Central Asia geographically, Afghanistan is also sometimes categorized within South Asia and the Middle East, as it has either cultural, ethno-linguistic, and/or geographic links with most of its neighbors. It is bordered by Iran in the west, Pakistan in the south and east, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north, and China to the east. It has a population of 30 million people, although this remains an estimate as an official census has not been taken for decades.
Afghanistan literally translates to the 'land of the Afghans' and has had a variety of names applied to its general location in the past. Between the fall of the Taliban after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and the 2003 Loya jirga, Afghanistan was referred to by the Government of the United States as the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan. Under its new constitution the country is now officially named the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Afghans display pride in their country, ancestry, military prowess, and above all, their independence. Like other highlanders, Afghans are regarded with mingled apprehension and condescension, for their high regard for personal honour, for their clan loyalty and for their readiness to carry and use arms to settle disputes. (Heathcote, 2003). As clan warfare / internecine feuding has been one of their chief occupations since time immemorial, this individualistic trait has made it difficult for foreign invaders to hold the region.
Afghanistan has a complex history that has survived either in its current cultures or in the form of various languages and monuments. However, many of the country's historic monuments have been damaged in recent wars. The two famous statues of Buddha in the Bamiyan Province were destroyed by the Taliban, who regarded them as idolatrous.
Other famous sites include the very cities of Herat, Ghazni and Balkh. The Minaret of Jam, in the Hari Rud valley, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The people of Afghanistan are prominent horsemen as the national sport is Buzkashi. Afghan hounds (a type of running dogs) also originated in Afghanistan.
Although literacy levels are very low, classic Persian poetry plays a very important role in Afghan culture. Poetry has always been one of the major educational pillars in both Iran and Afghanistan, to the level that it has integrated itself into culture. Private poetry competitions known as “musha’era” are quite common even among ordinary people. Almost every home owns one or more poetry collection of some sort, even if it is not read often.
The Afghan dialect of the Persian language Dari derives from "Farsi-e Darbari", meaning 'Persian of the royal courts'. It is regarded by some scholars as the more original version of the language. Iran, having a larger population, a stronger economy and closer ties to the rest of the world has developed its language further in the course of history. Afghanistan took a more conservative approach mainly due to lack of resources. As a result, Dari has not changed much over the last few centuries.
Many of the famous Persian language poets of 10th to 15th centuries stem from what is now known as Afghanistan. They were mostly also scholars in many disciplines like languages, natural sciences, medicine, religion and astronomy. Examples are Mawlvi Balkhi (Rumi), born and educated in the Balkh province in the 13th century and moved to today’s Istanbul, Sanaayi Ghaznavi (12th century, native of Ghazni provice), Jami Heravi (15th century, native of Jam-e-Herat in western Afghanistan), Nizam ud-Din Ali Sher Heravi Nava'i, (15th century, Heart province). Also, some of the contemporary Persian language poets and writers, who are relatively well-know in both Iran and Afghanistan includes Ustad Behtab, Khalilullah Khalili [16], Sufi Ghulam Nabi Ashqari ([17], Parwin Pazwak and others.
In addition to poets, the region of Afghanistan produced numerous scientists as well including Avicenna (Ibn Sina Balkhi) who hailed from Balkh. Avicenna, who travelled to Isfahan later in life to establish a medical school there, is known by some scholars as the "the father of modern medicine". George Sarton called Ibn Sina "the most famous scientist of Islam and one of the most famous of all races, places, and times." His most famous works are The Book of Healing and The Canon of Medicine, also known as the Qanun. Avicenna's story even found way to the contemporary English literature through Noah Gordon's The Physician ([ http://www.noahgordonbooks.com/index.html ]), now published in many languages.
Before the Taliban gained power, the city of Kabul was home to many musicians who were masters of both traditional and modern Afghan music, especially during the Nauroz-celebration. Kabul in the middle part of the 20th century has been likened to Vienna during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The tribal system, which orders the life of most people outside metropolitan areas, is certainly as potent in political terms as the national state system of Europe 1914. Men feel a fierce loyalty to their own tribe, such that, if called upon, assemble in arms under the tribal chiefs and local clan leaders (Khans). In the same way that men throughout Europe "flocked to the colours" in 1914, forming up in regional divisions and battalions under the command of the local nobility and gentry. In theory, under Islamic law, every believer has an obligation to bear arms at the ruler's call (Ulul-Amr), but there was no more the need for this than there was to enforce conscription to fill up the British Army in 1914. The Afghan shepherd of peasant went to war for much the same mixture of reasons as the more so-called "civilized" European clerk or factory worker - a desire for adventure, a desire not to be left out, nor to loose esteem in the eyes of his fellows, a dislike or contempt of invading foreigners, revenge against those that ruined his family life or threatened his faith, perhaps even the chance of extra cash or enhanced personal prospects.
The tribal system is not something particularly backward or warlike. It is symply the best way of organising large groups of people in a country that is geographically difficult, and in a society that has an uncomplicated lifestyle - from a materialistic point of view (Heathcote, 2003).
Things you should know when travelling to Afghanistan
The Canadian government and Canadian Content advises against all travel to this country. Canadians in this country should leave. (IDW1)
The threat to foreigners, including Canadians, from terrorist and criminal violence in Afghanistan is high. Terrorist attacks are not expected to diminish in the near future. There is a significant risk of foreigners being kidnapped in Afghanistan, as demonstrated by the abduction of two Japanese tourists in Kandahar on August 8 and a British citizen in Farah on August 31, 2005. All three individuals were subsequently shot and found dead in early September.
Military and international police action in Afghanistan by coalition countries, including Canada, continues. Canada maintains a significant troop presence within the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF), the NATO-led multinational force assisting Afghan authorities with security in Kabul and Afghanistan's northern provinces. Remnants of the former Taliban regime, the terrorist al-Qaeda network, and other terrorist groups remain active in various areas. There is little law and order other than that provided by international forces. Political arrangements in all areas are fragile.
The security situation remains extremely volatile and unpredictable. There have been a number of attacks against the United Nations and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), ISAF, coalition forces, and individuals, including the kidnappings and subsequent shootings a British citizen in Farah and two Japanese tourists in Kandahar in August 2005; the killing of three people in the suicide bombing of an Internet café and numerous kidnapping attempts in Kabul in May 2005; the killing of three aid workers in Baghlan Province in April 2005; the murder of a British citizen in Kabul in March 2005; the destruction of an Embassy of Canada vehicle with an improvised explosive device (IED) on Jalalabad Road in Kabul in March 2005; the kidnapping of three UN workers in October 2004; the deaths of three people in a suicide attack in downtown Kabul in October 2004; the car bombing of an international security firm in Kabul that caused eight deaths in August 2004; and the killing of five aid workers in a Taliban ambush in the northwest province of Badghis in June 2004. Curfews are in effect in some areas. Millions of landmines throughout the countryside pose a threat. No area can be considered safe.
Canadians contemplating travel despite these warnings are taking serious and unwarranted risks. Canadians, including Government of Canada employees, personnel of NGOs, aid workers, and journalists are strongly encouraged to register and consult with the Embassy of Canada in Kabul (see below), or The Canadian government and Canadian Content in Ottawa (see below) prior to travel. Canadians in Afghanistan should maintain a high level of personal security awareness at all times, exercise extreme caution, particularly in public areas frequented by foreigners (hotels, restaurants, shops and market place), avoid crowds and demonstrations, and monitor local developments closely.
