Afghanistan, a land-lacked country in south-western Asia, covers an area of 652, 225 km2, and almost 75% of the land is mountainous. The highest peak is Istora Nol at 24, 458 feet a.s.l.
The climate is best described as generally semi-arid steppe, with very wide regional variations; the climate varies distinctly between lowlands and highlands. In the mountainous north-east there are dry extremely cold winters with temperatures falling to as low as –14.8°F in the Hindu Kush. In the desert in the south-west, there is less than 3 inches of rainfall annually and summer temperatures can exceed 95°F in that area.
The major cities and towns in Afghanistan include Kabul, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif. More than 50% of the population are Pashtun, about 20% are Tadzhik, 9% Uzbek, approximately 8.7% Hajara, 2.9% Chahar Aimak and 2% Turkmen. Pashta and Deri (Persian) are the official languages of Afghanistan. The total population is about 26 million and the life expectancy at birth is currently only 45 years. Agriculture is economically the key sector of the economy. It supports around 80% of the population and supplies more than 30% of exports. Major crops cultivated encompass wheat, maize, barley and rice whilst livestock, especially sheep, chickens, goats, cattle, horses, donkeys and mules, are of vital importance to about 70% of the Afghan population. Substantial amounts of opium poppy and cannabis are cultivated and are shipped to the international drugs market.
The principal industries in Afghanistan include cotton textiles and hand-woven carpets, woollen fabrics, coal mining, cement, soap, furniture, footwear manufacturing, sugar manufacture and the canning and processing of fruit. Major exports comprise natural gas, fruits and nuts, hand-woven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts. Imports include petroleum products, textiles, motor vehicles and spores.
As is well known there has been substantial migration out of Afghanistan and the displacement of people from south-western Afghanistan has caused considerable damage to the pattern of cultivation practised there. So many Afghans migrated out of the area that the population fell below the levels needed to maintain the country’s basic agricultural infrastructure.
The future challenges facing Afghanistan are many: poverty, hunger, ill-health, lack of adequate housing, the need for political stability and overcoming illiteracy to name just a few! Perhaps once the current US led military campaign is over some of these pressing problems will be tackled. Let us hope so!