A colonial algomation of Pashto-Persian, Turkic, and Mongol ethnic groups into one great buffer state durring the "Great Game" for influence between Britain (British India) and Imperial Russia durring the nineteenth century. Afghans are warriors if nothing else, they were the only actual resistance to the Mongol hordes, out-lasting Persian armies from the west and scaring off the British and Russians (later demolishing the Soviets).

Before the Soviet invasion, Afghanistan was a stop-over on the great Asian back-packing trails, from Istanbul to Katmandhu or Bangkok. It was known for fascinating music, awsome food, and even better hashish. How things change.

After the Soviet invasion, the great powers used Afghanistan as a much-larger version of Lebanon: to fight an international war using third party proxies. The Mujahhadddin were the fighting for America with Chinese-supplied weapons and based out of Pakistan, while the Soviets rained down hell from their jets flying out of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Every major power armed someone basically.

Today, Afghanistan is at the center of a corporate power-play to set up for a new century of Central Asian gas from the Caspian basin, evident in the selection of a former Unical employee (Mohammed Karzai) as "President". Taliban elements remain in the mountains, but Bin Laden's long gone.

Also a song by Farhad Darya.

A beautiful country in the heart of Asia. It has long history of over 5000 years. (short history at http://www.lonelyplanet.com). The location of Afghanistan spanning the land routes between the Indian subcontinent, Iran, and central Asia has attracted conquerors throughout history. Its high mountains helped the afghans to defend the country successfully against invaders, though. Afghan territory were vast during different afghan empires, for example during the Sultan Mahmoud Ghaznawi Empire in 11th century or during the Durrani Empire in 18th century which extended from Arabian Sea to Persia and India. Afghanistan has fought three wars against Britain which were in control of India. The 1st Anglo-Afghan War took place in 1839-42, the second one in 1878-80 and the final one in 1919. All three times British forces suffered crushing defeats and great casualty. Afghanistan also lost vast parts, for example, Pashtunistan and Baluchistan were cut off by Britain who wanted to use them as a buffer zone for a 100 years (already expired) but they were never given back instead Britain created another country from these two parts and another two parts cut off from India and called it Pakistan.
In 1978 the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan which were defeated. It left Afghanistan after great distraction and loss of lives. There were two millions Afghans killed and as many disabled. The infrastructure were at ruins. Afterward a civil war raged for 10 more years Afghanistan were forgotten, it was of no use for the West. Meanwhile, the two neighbouring countries of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, armed and supported different warring factions who fought over power and destroyed the remaining. There was yet to come another disaster: The Taleban. Armed, trained and supported by Pakistani Intelligence. Their rule lasted 5 years and were overthrown by American and Afghan Forces. An interim government headed by Mr. Karzai took charge. Subsequently, there was a democratic election and Mr. Karzai was elected as the president. Since then Afghanistan has made a lot of progress in every field.
Afghanistan is a country that is really interested in peace and progress but circumstances and the interference of its neighbouring countries who are very keen to have a weak and unstable country by their sides (because of territorial, ethnic, religious etc. interests) never gave Afghanistan the chance to become prosperous.
Afghanistan is a truly beautiful country with breathtaking sceneries: high and snow covered mountains, deep canyons, nice grasslands, a lot of historical sites, delicious food, mellow fruits, warm-hearted and courageous people… (http://www.afghana.com/Photographs/Photos.htm nice sceneries from Afghanistan).
I think it is very unfair to forget all the sacrifices that Afghans have given in war against the Communism in the 80`s. Afghanistan deserves a greater respect. This beautiful country in the heart of Asia!

1. Afghanistan is a country which has defeated alot of Super Powers such as Alexander the Great, Gangez Khan, Persian forces, Moghual Forces, British Forces and Soviets.

2. A country that has been never defeated or conquered by any nation.

3. All of these wars and battles were not won by a regular Army, Almost all of those battles were fought by normal people.

4. (2004) a country that is currently under contruction , because of its many wars.

5. a cool country located in Central Asia.

6. A country that has hot summers and cold winters.

7. Official languages are pashtuh ,persian .but they do know a little english.

"the graveyard of empires"
Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, the UK, the USSR & the Taliban/al-Qaeda all failed to conquer the notoriously rough mountainous terrain and all those empires crumbled as a result.

"may the gods save us from the tooth of the tiger, the venom of the cobra & the vengeance of the Afghan" --- Alexander the Great, King of Asia

A country that supposedly went democratic for a while back, but is currently slipping back to a similar regime that was in place before America bombed the fuck out of it. Can anyone guess why?

A country in the middle east.

1. Afghanistan = Afghanland in english
2. The People are called Afghan(s)
3. Population around 30 million (2005)
4. Afghanistan's money is called Afgani(s)
5. Located in Central Asia
6. This country is also refer to as THE SUPER-POWERS' GRAVEYARD. since alot of the worlds super powers were defeated there.

7. The only country in Asia to stick up for them selves.

1. A Central Asian Country

2. An incredibly poor central Asian country

3. An incredibly poor and corrupt central Asian country

4. An incredibly poor, corrupt and dysfunctional central Asian country

5. An incredibly poor, corrupt, dysfunctional and CURSED central Asian country

6. Land of the Afghans: Although there is no such thing as an Afghan, they’re either Pastuns, Tajiks or whatever and the only thing they agree on is that they don’t like each other. Occasionally they’ll reach a consensus on topics such as repealing infidels and the difference between sex with goats, donkeys and Tea Boys

7. Afghans like to make reference to repealing previous invaders, Alexander the Great, the British, the Russians. Truth be told none of the invaders saw any merit in staying in the country long enough to impart their modern ways and principles on the land and people, so left at the first possible convenience leaving the locals to their own corrupt and dysfunctional devices.

8. CURSED: Yes Afghanistan is cursed. While blaming the infidel for all their (many) troubles, they fail to see that their own stupidity and greed has put them into the exact position they find themselves. Proof: Who overthrew the Shah in 1973? An Afghan. Whats happened non stop since said overthrow? War, war and more war… Cursed I tell you. CURSED

Country in Central or South- West Asia that is inhabited by Afghans. Persian and Pashto are the two most widely spoken languages of Afghanistan, but Persian seems to serve as the lingua franca.

Most Afghans belong to the Iranic people like for example Pashtuns and Tajiks but there are also many Turkic and Mongolian Afghans(Hazara) living in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan is an islamic country. About 80% are sunni muslims, while the rest belong to the shia sect.

Other names for Afghanistan are : Khorasan, Aryana or Pashtunistan.