Afghanistan Country Handbook This handbook provides basic reference information on Afghanistan, including its geography, history, government, military forces, and communications and trans- portation networks. This information is intended to familiarize military per sonnel with local customs and area knowledge to assist them during their assignment to Afghanistan. The Marine Corps Intel ligence Activity is the community coordinator for the Country Hand book Program. This product reflects the coordinated U.S. Defense Intelligence Community position on Afghanistan. Dissemination and use of this publication is restricted to official military and gov- ernment personnel from the United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, NATO member countries, and other countries as required and desig- nated for support of coalition operations. The photos and text reproduced herein have been extracted solely for research, comment, and information reporting, and are intended for fair use by designated personnel in their official duties, including local reproduction for training. Further dissemination of copyrighted material contained in this document, to include ex- cerpts and graphics, is strictly prohibited under Title 17, U.S. Code. CONTENTS KEY FACTS .................................................................... 1 U.S. MISSION ................................................................ 2 U.S. Embassy .............................................................. 2 Travel Advisories ........................................................ 2 Entry Requirements ................................................... 3 Passport/Visa Requirements ................................. 3 Immunization Requirements ................................. 4 Customs Restrictions ............................................. 4 Credit Cards and Banking ........................................... 5 U.S. Military Bases .................................................... 5 GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE ..................................... 6 Geography ................................................................... 6 Land Statistics ....................................................... 6 Boundaries ............................................................ 6 Border Disputes .................................................... 6 Bodies of Water ...................................................... 6 Topography ........................................................... 8 Climate ........................................................................ 11 Temperature .......................................................... 11 Precipitation .......................................................... 12 Phenomena ............................................................ 13 Environment .......................................................... 16 Cross-country Movement ..................................... 18 TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION .......... 20 Transportation ............................................................ 20 Roads .................................................................... 20 Rail ........................................................................ 22 iii Contents (Continued) Air ......................................................................... 23 Maritime ............................................................... 24 Communication .......................................................... 25 Radio and Television ............................................. 25 Telecommunication ............................................... 27 Newspapers and Magazines .................................. 27 Internet .................................................................. 28 Postal Service ......................................................... 29 Satellites ................................................................. 29 CULTURE ....................................................................... 30 Population Patterns ..................................................... 30 Ethnic Density ............................................................. 31 Society ........................................................................ 31 Ethnic Groups ............................................................. 32 Family ......................................................................... 37 Rites of Passage .......................................................... 38 Education and Literacy ............................................... 40 Language ..................................................................... 42 Religion ....................................................................... 42 Recreation ................................................................... 44 Customs and Courtesies .............................................. 46 Greetings ................................................................ 46 Gestures ................................................................. 46 Dress ........................................................................... 47 Food ............................................................................ 49 Interpersonal Relations ............................................... 50 MEDICAL ASSESSMENT ............................................. 51 Disease Risks to Deployed Personnel ......................... 51 Food- and Waterborne Diseases ............................. 52 Vector-borne Diseases ............................................ 52 iv Contents (Continued) Animal-contact Diseases ....................................... 52 Sexually Transmitted Diseases .............................. 53 Water-contact Diseases .......................................... 53 Respiratory Diseases .............................................. 53 Medical Capabilities ................................................... 54 Key Medical Facilities ........................................... 55 HISTORY ......................................................................... 57 Early History .............................................................. 57 Recent History .......................................................... 58 Chronology of Key Events .......................................... 63 GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS .................................. 65 Government ................................................................. 65 National Level ........................................................ 65 Local Level ............................................................ 68 Politics ........................................................................ 69 Political Parties ...................................................... 69 Foreign Relations .................................................. 71 International Organizations ................................... 75 ECONOMY ..................................................................... 76 Statistics ...................................................................... 77 Resources .................................................................... 77 Industry ....................................................................... 79 Agriculture .................................................................. 80 Utilities ........................................................................ 82 Foreign Investment ...................................................... 84 Outlook ....................................................................... 85 THREAT .......................................................................... 85 Crime .......................................................................... 85 Travel Security ............................................................ 85 v Contents (Continued) Terrorism ..................................................................... 86 Drug Trafficking ......................................................... 88 Major Intelligence Services ........................................ 90 ARMED FORCES ........................................................... 91 Organization ................................................................ 91 Afghanistan National Army ........................................ 92 Misssion ................................................................. 92 Deployment ............................................................ 93 Equipment .............................................................. 93 Afghanistan Air Force ................................................. 94 Organization ........................................................... 95 Personnel ................................................................ 95 Equipment .............................................................. 96 Police .......................................................................... 96 Organization ........................................................... 97 Weapons and Equipment ....................................... 98 APPENDICES Equipment Recognition ................................................... A-1 International Time Zones ................................................. B-1 Conversion Charts ............................................................ C-1 Holidays ........................................................................... D-1 Language .......................................................................... E-1 International Road Signs .................................................. F-1 Deployed Personnel’s Guide to Health Maintenance