Afghanistan Passport

【 Area 】 647500 square kilometers.

Pashtun ethnic group accounts for 40%, Tajik ethnic group accounts for 25%, and there are more than 20 ethnic minorities such as Hazara, Uzbek, Turkmen, etc. Pashto and Dari are the official languages, and other languages include Uzbek, Baluchi, Turkish, etc. Sunni Muslims account for 86%, Shia Muslims account for 13%, and others account for 1%.

【 Capital 】 Kabul, with a population of approximately 5.38 million (Afghan National Bureau of Statistics and Information Management, 2022). The climate is mild, with distinct four seasons and an average annual temperature of around 13 ℃.

[Important Festival] Afghan New Year: March 21st; Afghanistan Independence Day: August 19th; Eid al Fitr: The date is not fixed every year and varies according to the Islamic calendar; Eid al Adha: The date varies from year to year according to the Islamic calendar.

Geography: A landlocked country in central and western Asia. It borders Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to the north, Iran to the west, Pakistan to the south and east, and a narrow strip of land protruding from the northeast that borders China. It belongs to a continental climate, with dry and low rainfall throughout the year, cold winters, and hot summers. The average annual rainfall in the country is only about 240 millimeters.

The Kingdom of Afghanistan was established in 1747 and was once strong. After the 19th century, China's national strength gradually declined, becoming a battleground between Britain and Tsarist Russia. In 1919, it gained independence from British colonial rule and August 19th was Independence Day. In December 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. In February 1989, the Soviet army withdrew. Due to various anti Soviet armed groups vying for power and power, Afghanistan fell into civil war. In 1994, the Taliban emerged in Afghanistan, and in September 1996, they captured Kabul and established their regime. In October 1997, the country was renamed as the "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan" and implemented Islamic rule in Afghanistan. After the 9/11 attacks, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan collapsed under US military strikes. Under the auspices of the United Nations, Afghanistan has launched the "Bonn Process" for post-war reconstruction. In December 2001, Afghanistan established an interim government. In June 2002, a transitional government was established. In October 2004, Afghanistan held its first presidential election, and Karzai was elected as the country's first democratically elected president. In August 2009, Afghanistan held its second presidential election, and Karzai was re elected and inaugurated in November of the same year. In 2014, Afghanistan held its third presidential election. In September, Ghani was sworn in as the President of Afghanistan, with Abdullah serving as the CEO. In March 2020, Ghani was re elected as president. In April 2021, the United States announced a comprehensive withdrawal from Afghanistan, while its allies and NATO countries announced simultaneous withdrawals. On August 15th, the Afghan Taliban entered Kabul and President Ghani resigned and fled. On the 30th, the United States announced the completion of its withdrawal from Afghanistan. On September 7th, the Taliban in Afghanistan formed an interim government.

The country is divided into 34 provinces, each with counties, districts, townships, and villages. Provincial names: Kabul, Badakhshan, Tahar, Kunduz, Balkh, Juzjan, Faryab, Badghis, Herat, Ghor, Sarpler, Samangan, Baghlan, Bamyan, Parwan, Wardak, Kapisa, Lagman, Nuristan, Kunar, Nangarhar, Logar, Ghazni, Uruzgan, Farah, Nimruz, Helmand, Kandahar, Zabul, Paktya, Paktika, Khost, Panjihir, Daikundi.

Afghanistan is the least developed country in terms of economy. After more than 40 years of war, transportation, communication, health, industry, education, and agricultural infrastructure have been severely damaged, economic development has been difficult, and over 6 million people have become refugees. The main economic data for 2023 are as follows:

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): 17.23 billion US dollars

Gross Domestic Product Growth Rate: 2.7%.

Per capita Gross Domestic Product: 493 US dollars

(Data source: Afghan National Bureau of Statistics and Information Management)

Currency name: Afghan ni, abbreviated as "Ani".

Exchange rate: 1 US dollar ≈ 67 Ani.

Afghanistan has abundant mineral resources, but they have not been fully developed. The currently discovered resources mainly include natural gas, coal, salt, chromium, iron, copper, mica, and emerald. The Aynak copper mine located in the southern part of the capital Kabul has a total proven ore reserve of approximately 700 million tons and a total copper metal reserve of 11.33 million tons. It is estimated to be the third largest copper mining belt in the world. A may also have the fifth largest iron ore vein in the world, with coal reserves of approximately 73 million tons.

Most of the rivers in Afghanistan are inland rivers, often flowing into deserts and lakes. The main rivers include Amu Darya, Kabul River, Helmand River, and Hariru River.

Due to years of war, the industrial foundation is very weak. Mainly engaged in light industry and handicrafts, including textiles, fertilizers, cement, leather, carpets, sugar production, and agricultural product processing. In recent years, the prosperity of the construction industry in cities such as Kabul has driven the relative development of building materials industries such as brick making and wood processing. In addition, flour processing and hand woven carpet industry have also developed.

Agriculture and animal husbandry are the main pillars of Afghanistan's national economy. The agricultural and animal husbandry population accounts for 80% of the total population in the country. Arable land accounts for less than 10% of the total land area in the country. The main crops include wheat, cotton, sugar beets, dried fruits, and various fruits. The main livestock products are fat tailed sheep, cattle, goats, etc. Afghanistan was once the center of the world's largest source of opium, the "Golden Crescent," with an opium production of over 6400 tons in 2018. After the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, drug addicts were forced to quit drugs and a ban on poppy cultivation was issued. According to a United Nations report, in 2023, the poppy cultivation area in Afghanistan decreased by 95% from 233000 hectares in the same period last year to 10800 hectares, and opium production decreased from 6200 tons to 333 tons.

Afghanistan is a landlocked country with no seaport. There are railways leading to Iran and Tajikistan within the country. Transportation mainly relies on highways and aviation. Some sections of the Amu Darya and Kunduz rivers on the northern border with Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan have navigable capacity.

Highways: There are approximately 44000 kilometers of roads throughout Afghanistan (as of 2018), mainly including roads from Kabul to Mazar-i-Sharif, Herat to Kandahar, Kabul Ring Expressway, and Togram to Kabul.

Air freight: There are 43 airports in the country, including 4 international airports such as Kabul Airport.

The main export commodities of foreign trade include natural gas, carpets, dried and fresh fruits, wool, cotton, etc. The main imported goods include various types of food, motor vehicles, petroleum products, and textiles. The main export targets are India, Pakistan, China, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, etc., and the main import countries are Iran, China, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, etc.

Since 2001, with the assistance of the United Nations and the international community, we have vigorously restored basic living facilities and increased training for medical personnel. There are over 500 hospitals and more than 2400 various health centers in Afghanistan.

The education sector in Afghanistan has been severely damaged by the war. With strong assistance from the international community, significant progress has been made in the education sector in Afghanistan in recent years. There are over 16000 primary education schools and approximately 160 higher education institutions throughout the country. Kabul University is the highest academic institution in the country, while Herat University is the educational center of western Afghanistan.

There are over a thousand types of newspapers and magazines in total, including the Kabul Times (official newspaper), Kabul Weekly, Fatherland Daily, Anis Daily, and others. The Afghan Radio was established in 1925 and broadcasts in nine languages to the outside world. Afghan Television was established in 1978 and broadcasts in Persian and Pashto languages.

Afghanistan attaches great importance to developing its foreign relations. Before 2021, successive Afghan governments focused on seeking aid in their diplomacy and actively developed relations with the United States, Germany, Japan, and the European Union. After the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, they actively sought recognition from the international community and attached importance to developing relations with neighboring countries.

Afghanistan hopes to actively participate in regional cooperation, leverage its geographical advantages, and become a trade and transportation hub in the region. In 2002, Afghanistan and six neighboring countries, including China, jointly signed the Kabul Declaration of Good Neighborliness and Friendship, the Declaration of the Governments of the signatory countries on Encouraging Closer Trade, Transit and Investment Cooperation, and the Kabul Declaration of Good Neighborliness and Friendship on Drug Control.

In October 2005, Afghanistan became a member of the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation Organization, established a liaison group with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in November, and became a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in the same month. In June 2012, it became an observer state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The United Nations has played an important role in promoting the peace process in Afghanistan. In December 2001, the United Nations launched the "Bonn Process" and dispatched the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to Afghanistan to assist in maintaining security. In March 2002, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) was established to assist the Afghan government in maintaining stability, safeguarding human rights, and promoting social and economic development. The United Nations has also actively promoted the international community to hold multiple international conferences on aid to Afghanistan.

The two countries established diplomatic relations with the United States in 1934. In the 1980s, the United States supported Afghan jihadists in resisting Soviet invasion, overthrew the Taliban regime after the "9/11" incident in 2001, fully led the Afghan peace process and economic reconstruction, and provided huge economic assistance to Afghanistan. The United States is also collaborating with NATO and other organizations to dispatch provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs) to Afghanistan. In 2005, the United States established a strategic partnership and signed a joint declaration, which included providing assistance to Afghanistan in democratic governance, economic development, and maintaining security, continuing to use military facilities agreed upon by both sides, and enjoying the freedom to conduct appropriate military operations in Afghanistan on the basis of mutual agreement.

In May 2012, Aramco signed the "Enduring Strategic Partnership Agreement". The United States has granted Afghanistan the status of a "non NATO major ally" and reiterated that it does not seek to have permanent military facilities in Afghanistan, but will maintain a certain military presence in Afghanistan after 2014. In September 2014, the two sides signed the "Aramco Bilateral Security and Defense Cooperation Agreement". In August 2017, the United States announced new policies towards Afghanistan and South Asia, emphasizing that it would no longer set a time limit for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. In February 2020, the United States and the Afghan Taliban signed a peace agreement in Qatar, laying the foundation for the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. In May 2021, the United States initiated a comprehensive withdrawal from Afghanistan. At the end of August, the United States announced the completion of its withdrawal from Afghanistan, ending the 20-year war in Afghanistan, and closing its diplomatic missions there. After the Taliban entered Kabul, the United States announced the freezing of $7 billion in overseas assets of the Afghan central bank. In February 2022, it was announced that the frozen $7 billion in Afghan assets in the United States would be "split in half", allowing $3.5 billion to be used to compensate the families of victims of the 9/11 attacks, and the other $3.5 billion to be used for humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.

Afghanistan and Pakistan have close ties, and Pakistan has accepted a large number of Afghan refugees. But there are significant differences between the two countries on issues such as borders and counter-terrorism. In recent years, bilateral relations have been susceptible to sudden events and have fluctuated. After August 2021, Pakistan has not closed its diplomatic institutions in Afghanistan and has accepted diplomats dispatched by the interim government of Afghanistan. In October 2023, the caretaker government of Pakistan announced that it would expel individuals without legal residency permits, including Afghan refugees, from Pakistan. According to reports, over 500000 Afghan nationals have been repatriated by Pakistan. On March 18, 2024, Pakistan launched airstrikes on targets within Afghanistan, followed by Afghan Taliban forces firing on Pakistani troops in the border areas of the two countries, resulting in casualties.

The Afghan government attaches great importance to developing relations with India. In October 2011, the two countries established a strategic partnership. India has provided approximately $3 billion in aid to Afghanistan so far. India has one embassy and four consulates general in Afghanistan. From 2006 to 2013, President Karzai visited India eight times and reached consensus on issues such as India's aid to Afghanistan for reconstruction, strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation, promoting economic and trade exchanges, and regional cooperation. In December 2015 and June 2016, Indian Prime Minister Modi visited Afghanistan twice. In September 2016 and October 2017, President Ghani visited India twice. In September 2018, President Ghani and CEO Abdullah visited India successively. In August 2021, after the Taliban entered Kabul, India closed its diplomatic mission in Afghanistan. In June 2022, India dispatched a technical working group to Afghanistan under the pretext of coordinating the delivery of humanitarian aid, and entered the Indian Embassy in Afghanistan. In November 2023, former Afghan government personnel announced the closure of the Afghan Embassy in India. In December 2023, the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the Afghan Embassy in India was operating normally.

Russia supports the peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan and waives the $10.38 billion debt owed by Afghanistan. Pay attention to the drug problem in Afghanistan and advocate the establishment of anti drug "safety belts" in the surrounding areas. In December 2016, Russia held consultations on the Russia China Pakistan Afghanistan issue in Moscow. In 2017 and 2018, Russia held two rounds of consultations on the Afghanistan issue in Moscow. After August 2021, Russia has not closed its diplomatic institutions in Afghanistan and has accepted the dispatch of diplomats by the interim government. In September 2023, the fifth "Moscow Model" conference on Afghanistan will be held in Kazan, Russia.

Iran is an important neighboring country in western Afghanistan, with deep historical, cultural, religious, and ethnic roots and connections between the two countries. Iran accepts over 5 million Afghan refugees. Actively participate in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, with a focus on assisting in the construction of Herat Province adjacent to it. After August 2021, Iran has not closed its diplomatic institutions in Afghanistan and has accepted the dispatch of diplomats by the interim government.

A hopes to become a formal member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and actively participate in activities within the framework of the organization. Since 2009, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has held five Vice Foreign Minister level consultations on the Afghan issue and one international conference on the Afghan issue. In June 2012, A officially became an observer state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. In October 2017, the first Deputy Foreign Minister level meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Afghanistan Contact Group was held in Moscow. In May 2018, the second Deputy Foreign Minister level meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Afghanistan Contact Group was held in Beijing. In April 2019, the third Deputy Foreign Minister level meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Afghanistan Contact Group was held in Bishkek. In July 2021, the Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Afghanistan Contact Group was held in Dushanbe. In September 2021, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Collective Security Treaty Organization held a joint summit on Afghanistan.