Afghanistan. Country Background Report

Afghanistan Running head: AFGHANISTAN. COUNTRY BACKGROUND REPORT 1

Afghanistan. Country Background Report

The official name for Afghanistan is the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. It is a landlocked sovereign state that is located partially in South Asia, Central Asia, and to some extent Western Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan in the south and the east, Iran in the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north, and China in the far northeast. It has a population of around 30 million people inhabiting an area of approximately 250,001 sq mi, making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world.

To many of us Afghanistan is strongly associated with endless wars, violence, bearded fanatics and poverty. It is often portrayed as an undeveloped country from the 13th century that has been stuck in time for centuries. However, it was not always the case.

Some interesting facts about Afghanistan from not a long time ago:

* Free compulsory education for children of both sex

* Equal status of men and women

* Women actively taught in university of Kabul

* There were more female members in Kabul University science and mathematics departments in 1964 than they were in many Universities in United States. (Saturday Forum | A Brief History of Afghanistan — How Did We Get Here? Where Are We Going)

At the same time in the United States,in 1966, The National Organization for Women (NOW) was founded to end sexual discrimination, especially in the workplace, by means of legislative lobbying, litigation, and public demonstrations. (fromWomen's Rights Movement in the U.S.: Timeline of Events (1921-1979) Retrieved from infoplease.com). Later it all has changed

In order to understand better what has happened let’s look at history of Afghanistan

The fact that part of the Silk Road between the India, Iran, and central Asia went through Afghanistanhas attracted conquerors throughout its history. And most of its early history is...