General Information About Afghanistan: An Introduction
Afghanistan (Land of the Afghan) is a mountainous land-locked country in Central Asia with a history and culture that goes back over 5000 years. Throughout its long, splendid, and sometimes chaotic history, this area of the world has been known by various names. In the ancient times, the land was called Aryana by its inhabitants. In the medieval era, it was called Khorasan, and in modern times, its people have decided to call it Afghanistan. The exact population of Afghanistan is unknown, however, it is estimated to be around 21-26 million.
It is a heterogeneous nation, the four major ethnic groups are: Pashtoons, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks. Numerous other minority ethnic groups (Nuristanis, Baluchis, Turkmens, etc.) also call Afghanistan their home. The majority of Afghans (99%) belong to the Islamic faith, however, there are also small pockets of Sikhs, Hindus and even some Jews. The official languages of the country are Pashto and Dari (Afghan Persian). The capital of Afghanistan is Kabul, and these days, due to many years of war, the city remains shattered and destroyed. However, throughout history, Kabul was admired by many great figures, such as the great Central Asian conqueror, Zahirudeen Babur.
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