Afghanistan is an ancient country, with a culture that goes back thousands of years. In modern times, Afghanistan was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1979, then regained independence after 10 years of struggle by U.S-supported Mujahidin forces. These forces then fought among themselves for dominance, finally achieved by the Taliban, a fundamentalist Islamic group that was overthrown in 2002 by the U.S.-supported Northern Alliance.
The country is still beset by strife between the weak central government, which primarily controls only the capital city, Kabul, and remnant Taliban and Al-Qaeda terrorist forces as well as regional warlords. The situation is complicated by strife among the various ethnic groups, ranging from the Pashtuns, who were the majority in the Taliban government, to Uzbeks, Tajiks and others.
Afghanistan's climate is arid to semi-arid. For weather, expect extremely hot, long summers with temperatures up to 50 C (120 F). Winters can be severely cold, with considerable variation between day and night temperatures. The cold is particularly severe in the rugged mountains that form most of the terrain, less so in the plains to the north and southwest.
The inhabitants of Afghanistan are Pashtun (38 percent), Tajik (25 percent), Hazara (19 percent), minor ethnic groups, including Aimaks, Turkmen and Baloch (12 percent) and Uzbek (6 percent).
The economy of Afghanistan is gradually recovering from the long wars with significant assistance from the international community.
Air travel is offered by Ariana, Afghanistan's national airline, with service to Frankfurt, Istanbul, Dubai, Sharjah, Tehran, Amritsar, Delhi, Moscow, Jeddah, Dushanbe, Urumqi and Islamabad.
Wired phone service is unreliable. A single GSM mobile phone operator offers service in major cities and a license has been issued for a second operator; some people use satellite phone service for international calls. ATMs are not available in Afghanistan. Cash remains the most useful method of payment.
Strongly consider deferring travel to Afghanistan due to the great security risks there. Crime is a continuing problem in the poverty-stricken country. The unemployment rate is very high; many people turn to crime as a means of survival. Furthermore, much of the territory is controlled by local warlords representing various ethnic factions. Travelers are threatened both by violence among the factions and by crimes committed by the armed groups commanded by the warlords.
The iJET Intelligence Center
The situation in Afghanistan is very dynamic and potentially dangerous. Intelligence Officers at iJET are currently monitoring local conditions to provide a level of information that surpasses any available from other public sources, including the U.S. State Department. Free from political constraints or concerns, our data provides vital, unfiltered information created specifically for travelers.
Travelers to Afghanistan or those considering travel to Afghanistan are strongly advised to purchase an Intelligence Brief for the most timely and concise information available on the country.
For only $7.50 you will receive the most complete intelligence available to the general public. Each Intelligence Brief contains data on 12 areas of concern for travelers (including Security and Health, Local Travel Alerts, Entry/exit requirements, Cultural and Business information, Transportation, Communications/Technology, the Legal and Financial situation, Environmental concerns and Language) plus you will receive a detailed map and real-time updates from the world's leading private intelligence gathering organization.
To purchase and immediately download the latest Intelligence Brief for the country Click Here