Afghanistan Specialization Entry Exam cheat sheet

The Durrani Empire (1747–1823) was founded by Ahmad Shah Durrani and is often considered the beginning of modern Afghanistan.

The Anglo-Afghan Wars (1839–42, 1878–80, 1919) resulted in Afghanistan retaining independence after the Third Anglo-Afghan War.

King Amanullah Khan (r. 1919–29) introduced reforms including a constitution and co-education, but was overthrown by Habibullah Kalakani.

The 1964 Constitution under Zahir Shah established a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parliament.

The Saur Revolution (April 1978) brought the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) to power, leading to Soviet intervention in 1979.

The Soviet-Afghan War (1979–89) ended with the Geneva Accords (1988) and Soviet withdrawal in 1989.

The Taliban first ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, establishing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

The Bonn Agreement (December 2001) established an interim administration led by Hamid Karzai and a process for drafting a new constitution.

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (2004–2021) ended with the Taliban's return to power in August 2021.

The 2004 Constitution established a presidential system with a bicameral National Assembly (Wolesi Jirga and Meshrano Jirga).

The President served as head of state and government, elected for a five-year term, with a two-term limit.

The Wolesi Jirga (House of the People) had 249 seats, with at least 68 reserved for women.

The Meshrano Jirga (House of Elders) had 102 seats: one-third appointed by the President, one-third elected by provincial councils, and one-third elected by district councils.

The Supreme Court was the highest judicial authority, with judges appointed by the President and confirmed by the Wolesi Jirga.

The 2004 Constitution declared Islam the sacred religion and provided that no law could contradict its provisions.

The Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) was established in 2007 to oversee subnational governance.

The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) was established in 2002 and later became the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) under the 2004 Constitution.

After August 2021, the Taliban established an interim government with a Supreme Leader (Amir al-Mu'minin) and a caretaker cabinet.

Afghanistan's GDP was approximately $20 billion in 2020, but contracted by about 20-30% after the Taliban takeover.

Agriculture employs about 40-50% of the labor force and contributes roughly 25% of GDP.

Major exports include opium, fruits, nuts, carpets, and minerals; opium accounts for a significant share of illicit economic activity.

The World Bank and IMF suspended engagement after August 2021, and the US froze about $7 billion in Afghan central bank assets.

Afghanistan is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) since 2016 and has trade agreements with India, Pakistan, and Iran.

The TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) gas pipeline project aims to transit gas through Afghanistan.

Mining resources include lithium, copper, iron ore, and rare earths, with estimates of untapped mineral wealth exceeding $1 trillion.

The Afghan afghani (AFN) is the national currency; the Taliban introduced restrictions on foreign currency use in 2021.

Remittances and humanitarian aid are major sources of foreign exchange, with aid comprising up to 40% of GDP before 2021.

Afghanistan's population is estimated at about 40 million (2023), with a median age of 18.4 years.

Major ethnic groups include Pashtuns (largest, ~40-42%), Tajiks (~25-30%), Hazaras (~10-15%), Uzbeks (~8-10%), and others.

Dari and Pashto are the two official languages; Dari serves as the lingua franca in many urban areas.

Islam is practiced by over 99% of the population, with Sunni Muslims comprising about 80-85% and Shia about 10-15%.

The Hazara people are predominantly Shia and have faced historical discrimination and persecution.

Afghanistan has one of the world's highest fertility rates (about 4.5 children per woman) and a young population.

Literacy rates are low: approximately 43% for men and 18% for women (pre-2021 estimates).

Nowruz (Persian New Year) is widely celebrated, and the Buzkashi game is a traditional sport.

The Taliban imposed restrictions on women's education and employment after 2021, reversing gains in female school enrollment.

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in South-Central Asia, bordered by Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China.

The Hindu Kush mountain range dominates the northeast, with Mount Noshaq (7,492 m) as the highest peak.

Major rivers include the Amu Darya, Helmand, Kabul, and Harirud; water disputes with Iran and Central Asian states exist.

The climate is arid to semi-arid with cold winters and hot summers; droughts are frequent.

Afghanistan is prone to earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush region, and to landslides and flooding.

Deforestation and overgrazing have reduced forest cover to about 2% of land area.

Mineral resources include copper (Aynak), iron ore (Hajigak), lithium, gold, and hydrocarbons in the Amu Darya basin.

The country has significant untapped rare earth elements and is a major source of high-quality lapis lazuli.

Environmental degradation is exacerbated by conflict, lack of regulation, and climate change impacts.

Afghanistan maintained a policy of neutrality and non-alignment during the Cold War, though it received Soviet and US aid.

The Durand Line (1893) remains a disputed border with Pakistan, with Afghanistan historically not recognizing it as an international boundary.

Pakistan, Iran, and China are key regional actors; Pakistan has historically influenced Afghan politics and hosted Taliban leadership.

The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (2011) is a regional platform for Afghan cooperation.

Afghanistan joined the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in 2007.

The US-Taliban Agreement (Doha Agreement, February 2020) set terms for US withdrawal.

After 2021, no country has formally recognized the Taliban government, though some maintain diplomatic engagement.

Afghanistan has territorial disputes over water rights with Iran (Helmand River) and border tensions with Pakistan.

China has engaged with the Taliban over security and mineral extraction, including the Amu Darya oil basin.

The Afghan Civil War (1992–1996) followed the collapse of the communist regime and led to the Taliban's rise.

The Taliban insurgency intensified after 2001, with peak violence around 2010–2011.

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operated from 2001 to 2014, followed by Resolute Support Mission.

The Doha Agreement (2020) between the US and Taliban led to the withdrawal of US troops by August 2021.

The intra-Afghan peace talks began in Doha in September 2020 but made little progress.

The Taliban captured Kabul on August 15, 2021, and established the Islamic Emirate.

The National Resistance Front (NRF) in Panjshir is a remaining armed opposition group.

ISIS-K (Islamic State Khorasan Province) has conducted attacks in Afghanistan, including the 2021 Kabul airport bombing.

The UN estimates that Afghanistan remains one of the most conflict-affected countries, with thousands of civilian casualties annually.

Afghanistan faces one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, with over 28 million people in need of assistance (2023).

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) coordinates relief efforts; the 2023 appeal sought $4.6 billion.

The Taliban's restrictions on women's work and education have hindered humanitarian access and aid delivery.

Human rights concerns include extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, and suppression of freedom of expression.

The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) was effectively dissolved after 2021.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has investigated war crimes and crimes against humanity in Afghanistan.

Rule of law is weakened by parallel justice systems, corruption, and lack of formal legal codes under Taliban rule.

Women and girls face severe restrictions on movement, dress, and access to public life under Taliban decrees.

Refugee and displacement issues persist, with millions of Afghans displaced internally and abroad, particularly in Iran and Pakistan.