President: Hamid Karzai (2002)
Total area: 250,000 sq mi (647,500 sq km)
Population (2009 est.): 33,609,937 (growth rate: 2.6%); birth rate: 45.4/1000; infant mortality rate: 151.9/1000; life expectancy: 44.6; density per sq mi: 128
Kabul, 2,206,300
Other large cities: Kandahar, 349,300; Mazar-i-Sharif, 246,900; Charikar, 202,600; Herat, 171,500
Monetary unit: Afghani
Region: South-central Asia
Capital: Kabul
Population: 28 500 000 (2004 estimates)
Surface area: 652 090 square km
Currency: afghani
GDP per capita: $700 (2003)
Background:
The Afghan nation began to emerge in the late eighteenth century. It was ruled, with brief interruptions, by a succession of monarchs whose consolidation of power was constantly undermined by civil wars and foreign invasions. The current borders of Afghanistan were delineated in the nineteenth century, as a result of the "great game" rivalry between Russia and Britain. Britain exerted some influence over Afghan foreign policy from the late nineteenth century until the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919.
Economy – overview:
Afghanistan's economic outlook has improved significantly over the past years since 2001 because of the infusion of over $2 billion in international assistance, dramatic improvements in agricultural production, and the end of a four-year drought in parts of the country. However, Afghanistan remains extremely poor, landlocked, and highly dependent on foreign aid, farming, and trade with neighboring countries.
Growing political stability and continued international commitment to Afghan reconstruction create an optimistic outlook for maintaining improvements to the Afghan economy in 2004. The replacement of the opium trade - which may account for one-third of GDP - is one of several potential spoilers for the economy over the long term.
United Nations Membership date: 19 November 1946
New York Mission:
Permanent Mission of the Islamic State of Afghanistan to the United Nations
360 Lexington Avenue, 11th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10017 USA
Telephone: 212-972-1212 / 1213 Fax: 212-972-1216
Article 20 of Afghanistan's constitution (adopted in January 2004) states that the National Anthem of Afghanistan must be in the Pashto language and that it must contain the phrase “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great). It must also mention the names of the ethnic groups in Afghanistan. The following was approved by the Afghan President in May 2006. Words by Abdul Bari Jahani. Music by Babrak Wasa.
* Listen to the National Anthem
* Previous National Anthem
Lyrics to the National Anthem
Pashto
دا وطن افغانستان دی دا عزت د هر افغان دی
کور د سولی کور د توری هر بچی یی قهرمان دی
دا وطن د تولو کور دی د بلوچو د ازبکو
د پښتون او هزاره وو د ترکمنو د تاجکو
ورسره عرب، گوجر دی پامیریان، نورستانیان
براهوی دی، قزلباش دی هم ایماق، هم پشه ییان
دا هیواد به تل ځلیږی لکه لمر پرشنه آسمان
په سینه کی د آسیا به لکه زړه وی جاویدان
نوم د حق مودی رهبر وایو الله اکبر وایو الله اکبر
Transliteration
Daa watan afghanistan do daa ezzat de har afghan di
Kor de soli kor de tori har bachi ye qahraman di
Daa watan di tolo kor di de balocho, de uzbako
De pashtoon aw hazarwoo de turkmano de tajeko
Worsara arab, gojar di pamirian, noristanian
Barahawi di, qizilbash di ham aimaq, ham pashaiyean
Daa hiwad ba til zaligi laka limar pa eshna aasman
Pa sina ki de asia laka zera wi jawidan
Noom de haq mo di rahbar wayoo Allah o Akbar, wayoo Allah o Akbar
English Translation
This land is Afghanistan - It is the pride of every Afghan
The land of peace, the land of the sword - Its sons are all brave
This is the country of every tribe - Land of Baluch, and Uzbeks
Pashtoons, and Hazaras - Turkman and Tajiks with them,
Arabs and Gojars, Pamirian, Nooristanis
Barahawi, and Qizilbash - Also Aimaq, and Pashaye
This Land will shine for ever - Like the sun in the blue sky
In the chest of Asia - It will remain as the heart for ever
We will follow the one God - We all say, Allah is great, we all say, Allah is great
