More about Afghanistan

Here we are at another Monday, and I am going to share a bit more about Afghanistan, like the population is 43 million, the life expectancy at birth in Afghanistan show a range, but generally fall between 59 and 66 years.

The countries has two official languages:

Dari (also known as Afghan Persian or Farsi) and Pashto

While both are officially recognized, Dari is the more widely spoken language and functions as the lingua franca (common language) for inter-ethnic communication across the country. Pashto is the native language of the Pashtun people, the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan.

The flag of Afghanistan shall be made up of three equal parts, with black, red and green colours juxtaposed from left to right vertically. The width of every colour shall be half of its length, and at the centre of which the national insignia shall be located. The national insignia of Afghanistan shall be comprised of an emblem and a pulpit in white colour—at the two corners of which are two flags, inscribed in the top middle the holy phrase “There is no God but Allah and Mohammad is his Prophet, and Allah is Great.” This shall be inscribed and superseded on rays of a rising sun, and in its lower part, the year 1919 in the solar calendar, and the word “Afghanistan” encircled on two sides by sheaves of wheat shall be inscribed. The law shall regulate the use of the flag and insignia

The Emblem of Afghanistan has the inscription of the Shahada in Arabic at the top. Below it is the image of a mosque with a mihrab and minbar, or pulpit, within. Attached to the mosque are two flags, taken to stand for flags of Afghanistan. Beneath the mosque is an inscription that , states the name of the nation. Around the mosque are sheaves of wheat, and underneath that, the Hijri year 1298 (1919 in the Gregorian calendar), the year Afghanistan gained independence from the British influence.

The national flower of Afghanistan is the Tulip, sometimes referred to by its Persian name, Laleh, although opium poppies are a prominent crop, the tulip is the chosen national flower, symbolizing hope and beauty.  

Their national animal is the Snow Leopard it is a native resident of the high, rugged mountain ranges of the country, like the Hindu Kush. It is often seen as a symbol of the country's strength, agility, and the wild beauty of its mountainous terrain.  

Their national sport is something called Buzkashi (pronounced booz-kuh-shee). It is a rugged and ancient team sport played on horseback, where riders compete to seize and carry a headless goat or calf carcass and drop it into a designated scoring circle.  

While sports like cricket and football have gained immense popularity it remains the traditional and culturally significant national sport, deeply connected to Afghan identity, particularly in the northern regions.

The capital is Kabul it is also the largest city, it is a city with a rich and complex history, but one that has also been affected by decades of conflict. It is located in the eastern part of Afghanistan, nestled high in a narrow valley in the Hindu Kush Mountain range.  The Kabul River flows through the city. It was established as the capital of Afghanistan in the late 18th century.

Decades of war—including the Soviet invasion, the civil war in the 1990s, and the U.S.-led intervention—have caused massive damage, rapid population shifts, and strain on the city's infrastructure.

The city returned to the control of the Taliban in August 2021, since then the city has experienced changes, with some reporting increased security but a simultaneous deep humanitarian and economic crisis marked by poverty, high unemployment, and restrictions on human rights, especially for women and girls.