Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a landlocked country bordered by Pakistan in the south and east, Iran in the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north and China in the far northeast.

Afghanistan was first founded in 1747, when the tribes gathered under Ahmad Shah Durrani's leadership. The country won its independence from England in 1919. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, but struggled to maintain its control over the fractured region. After heavy loses on both sides, the Soviet Union withdrew in 1989.

In 1996, Afghanistan came under the control of the Taliban, which had been established in 1994. After 9-11, the Taliban was overthrown by the United States, citing the group's support for and protection of Osama Bin Laden as a casus belli.

In December of 2004, Hamid Karzai was elected the nation's president.

• Time Magazine: Afghanistan: A Treasure Trove for Archaeologists (February 26, 2009)

• BBC News: Afghanistan

• Google News Search: Afghanistan

• Topix: Afghanistan News

• Official Site: Radio Free Afghnistan

• Official Site: Kabul Press

• Time Magazine: Afghanistan: A Treasure Trove for Archaeologists (February 26, 2009)

• Wikipedia: History of Afghanistan

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  Creative Commons image by "CIA World Factbook"

• Wikipedia: Geography of Afghanistan

• CIA World Factbook: Afghanistan Geography

• WorldAtlas.com: Afghanistan map

• Higher Criticism: Taleban back to attacking girls' schools (May 13, 2008)