Nestled at Asia’s crossroads, Afghanistan blends ancient Silk Road legacy with rugged Hindu Kush peaks and vibrant Pashtun traditions. Home to 40 million, it speaks Dari and Pashto from Kabul’s bustling bazaars to remote Wakhan valleys.

Despite decades of conflict, its turquoise lakes, lapis mines, and Kabuli pulao endure. From Babur’s gardens to buzkashi fields, resilience defines this landlocked nation. Explore its history, safety insights, cuisine, and myths like 420 or 39 in this essential guide.

Country information

ISO Code AF
Native Names افغانستان, افغانستان, Owganystan
Alt Spellings AF, Afġānistān
Capital Kabul
Region Asia
Subregion Southern Asia
Population 40218234
Area 652230
Currency AFN
Languages Dari, Pashto, Turkmen
Demonym Afghan
Timezones UTC+04:30
Calling Codes 93
TLDs .af
Independent TRUE
UN Member TRUE
Start of Week monday

Neighboring countries

Location on the map

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About the country

Afghanistan is located in Asia, subregion: Southern Asia. The capital is Kabul. Population: 40218234. Currency: AFN. Languages: Dari, Pashto, Turkmen. Borders: IRN, PAK, TKM, UZB, TJK, CHN. Calling codes: +93.

History of Afghanistan 🕰️

• 🇦🇫 Ancient crossroads of the Silk Road, linking China, India, and the Mediterranean since 2000 BCE.
• 🏛️ Conquered by Alexander the Great in 330 BCE, later ruled by Kushans and Greco-Bactrians.
• ☪️ Islamic conquest in the 7th century introduced Arabic script and Persian culture.
• 🏰 Founded the Durrani Empire in 1747, considered the birth of modern Afghanistan.
• ⚔️ Fought three Anglo-Afghan wars (1839–1919), earning the nickname “Graveyard of Empires.”
• 🌹 1973 coup ended monarchy; Soviet invasion (1979–1989) sparked a decade-long war.

Geography and Landscape 🏔️

• 🗺️ Landlocked country with the Hindu Kush mountains covering 75% of the terrain.
• ❄️ Highest peak: Noshaq at 7,492 m (24,580 ft) on the Pakistan border.
• 🏜️ Includes the Registan Desert in the south and fertile plains in the north.
• 🌊 No coastline but fed by the Amu Darya, Helmand, and Kabul rivers.
• 🌋 Tectonic activity causes frequent earthquakes, especially in the northeast.
• 🌿 Home to the Wakhan Corridor, a narrow strip touching China.

Culture and Traditions 🎎

• 👳 Pashtunwali code governs Pashtun life: hospitality, honor, and revenge.
• 🎶 Traditional music features the rubab lute and dhol drum; poetry is central to daily life.
• 👗 Women often wear the blue burqa in conservative areas; men wear perahan tunban.
• 🍲 National dish: Kabuli pulao with rice, raisins, carrots, and lamb.
• ☀️ Nowruz (Persian New Year) celebrated on March 21 with picnics and kite flying.
• 🕌 Calligraphy and miniature painting are revered art forms.

Famous Landmarks 🗼

• 🕌 Blue Mosque in Mazar-i-Sharif, tiled in stunning turquoise.
• 🌳 Gardens of Babur in Kabul, laid out by Mughal emperor Babur in 1528.
• 🏯 Minaret of Jam, a 65 m UNESCO tower from 1194 in a remote valley.
• 🗿 Buddhas of Bamiyan (destroyed 2001), once 55 m tall carved into cliffs.
• 🏰 Citadel of Herat, a massive fortress dating to Alexander the Great.
• 🌄 Band-e-Amir, six turquoise lakes formed by natural dams.

Economy and Resources 💰

• 💎 Lapis lazuli mined for 6,000 years; major deposits near Badakhshan.
• 🌾 Agriculture employs 60% of workforce: wheat, fruits, nuts, and opium poppy.
• ⛽ Estimated $1–3 trillion in untapped minerals including copper and rare earths.
• 🛡️ Remittances from diaspora and foreign aid are key income sources.
• 🛒 Carpets and rugs are world-famous handmade exports.
• 💸 Afghan afghani (AFN) subdivided into 100 pul; inflation remains high.

Wildlife and Nature 🦒

• 🐆 Snow leopards prowl the high Wakhan Corridor; fewer than 200 remain.
• 🐐 Marco Polo sheep with spiral horns roam Pamir Mountains.
• 🦅 Over 460 bird species, including the Afghan snowfinch found only here.
• 🌲 Nuristan forests host Markhor, the national animal with corkscrew horns.
• 🐻 Asiatic black bears and wolves inhabit remote valleys.
• 🌸 Wild almonds and pistachios originated in Afghan hills.

Cuisine of Afghanistan 🍴

• 🥘 Qorma sabzi: spinach stew with lamb and dried limes.
• 🍢 Bolani: flatbread stuffed with leeks, potatoes, or pumpkin.
• ☕ Chai sabz (green tea) with cardamom, served with sheer khurma dessert.
• 🥩 Mantu: steamed dumplings filled with spiced beef and yogurt.
• 🍇 Fresh pomegranates, mulberries, and apricots from Kandahar orchards.
• 🥖 Non (naan) baked in tandoor ovens, often topped with nigella seeds.

Sports and Recreation ⚽

• 🏏 Cricket is the most popular sport, introduced by refugees in the 1990s.
• 🐴 Buzkashi: chaotic game where horsemen drag a goat carcass to a goal.
• 🏃 Traditional wrestling (Pahlawani) practiced in zurkhaneh gyms.
• 🪁 Kite fighting (gudiparan bazi) banned under Taliban but still popular.
• ⛰️ Mountaineering in Hindu Kush attracts climbers to Noshaq.
• 🎿 Skiing possible in Bamiyan during winter months.

Education and Literacy 📚

• 🎓 Kabul University founded in 1932; co-educational until recent restrictions.
• 📖 Literacy rate around 43% (2021); higher in urban areas.
• 🏫 Community-based schools expanded access in rural regions.
• ✍️ Persian literature tradition includes Rumi, born in nearby Balkh.
• 💻 Growing tech hubs in Kabul train youth in coding and startups.
• 🌍 Many students study abroad in Iran, Pakistan, and India.

Is it safe to visit Afghanistan? 🚨

• ⚠️ U.S., UK, and most governments advise against all travel due to terrorism, kidnapping, and civil unrest.
• 🛡️ Taliban control since 2021 has reduced open warfare but introduced strict rules, especially for women.
• 🧳 Female travelers face severe dress codes and movement restrictions; solo travel is not recommended.
• 🌐 Internet and mobile networks are unreliable; power outages are common.
• 🏥 Medical facilities are limited outside Kabul; evacuation insurance is essential.
• ✈️ Kabul Airport operates limited commercial flights; overland borders can close suddenly.

What does 420 mean in Afghanistan? 🌿

• 🚭 420 is not associated with cannabis culture in Afghanistan; the term has no local meaning.
• 🌱 Afghanistan is the world’s largest opium producer, but slang like 420 is unknown.
• 🚔 Drug laws are extremely strict; possession can lead to long prison terms.
• 🕵️ The number 420 in neighboring India refers to a cheating law, but not used here.
• 📱 In local Pashto or Dari, numbers are simply “chahar-sad bist.”
• ⚖️ Taliban ban all recreational drugs, including hashish (chars).

Is Afghanistan currently at war? ⚔️

• ✌️ No large-scale international war since U.S. withdrawal in August 2021.
• 🛡️ Taliban face ISIS-K attacks, especially in Kabul and the east.
• 🪖 Resistance groups like NRF operate in Panjshir but lack broad control.
• 💥 Suicide bombings and targeted killings occur monthly but are localized.
• 🌍 UN reports 2024 as the least violent year in decades for civilians.
• 🛑 Border clashes with Pakistan over Durand Line continue sporadically.

What does 39 mean in Afghanistan? 📞

• 📱 39 is not a slang term; it’s simply the country code prefix for some mobile networks (e.g., 039).
• 🚫 No connection to “39” as in neighboring Pakistan’s truck art or memes.
• 🛂 In penal code, Article 39 relates to legal procedures, not slang.
• 🎰 Unlike 420, the number has no pop culture or drug reference.
• ☎️ Local phone numbers start with 0, then 2 digits for operator (e.g., 079 for Roshan).
• 🔢 In Pashto, 39 is “dwa dersh.”

Useful links

Wikipedia — Afghanistan
Google Maps — Afghanistan