Afghanistan, a nation in southwest Asia, has towering mountains, scorching deserts, fertile valleys, and rolling plains. Afghanistan is completely surrounded by six other countries and has no seacoast. It is bordered by Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan on the north, China on the far northeast, Pakistan on the east and south, and Iran on the west.
Afghanistan is one of the world's least developed countries. Decades of war have devastated the country. Many Afghan workers farm small plots of land. Since the beginning of the 2000’s, there has been a large migration of people to the cities, especially to Kabul, the country’s capital and largest city.
Almost all the people of Afghanistan are Muslims. The population of Afghanistan consists of numerous ethnic groups. Many of the ethnic groups have distinct languages and cultures.
Afghanistan has a long and complicated history. It has been invaded and conquered by numerous peoples and powers, including Persians, Greeks, andMongols. From 1979 to 1989, the Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan. Nevertheless, the country also has a rich history of trade and peaceful interactions with its neighbors.
In the 1990's, a conservative Islamic group called the Taliban came to power. The Taliban allowed international terrorist organizations to run training camps in Afghanistan. After terrorist attacks against the United States in 2001, the United States and anti-Taliban forces within Afghanistan drove the Taliban from power. Afghans, with assistance from the United States, the United Nations, and other international agencies then worked to establish a new democratic government for the country.
Continue reading HERE
Related articles HERE
Source: Hopkins, Benjamin D. "Afghanistan." World Book Student. World Book, 2016. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.
Public Domain Image: Public Transportation in Kabul 1960
In the Google Map below, click through the layers to explore the settings of The Kite Runner.
The Kite Runner by 
Khaled Hosseini's the Kite Runner by 
Kids of Kabul by 