Afghanistan Specialization Entry Exam flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Durrani Empire

Founded in 1747 by Ahmad Shah Durrani, it is considered the beginning of modern Afghanistan and expanded across parts of India and Persia.

Saur Revolution

April 1978 coup by the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan that established a socialist government and led to Soviet intervention.

Bonn Agreement

December 2001 agreement that established an interim Afghan administration under Hamid Karzai and outlined a process for a new constitution.

2004 Constitution

Established a presidential system with a bicameral National Assembly and declared Islam the sacred religion of Afghanistan.

Wolesi Jirga

The lower house of the Afghan National Assembly, with 249 seats, including at least 68 reserved for women.

Meshrano Jirga

The upper house of the Afghan National Assembly, with 102 seats: one-third appointed by the President and two-thirds elected by provincial and district councils.

Supreme Court

Afghanistan's highest judicial authority under the 2004 Constitution, with judges appointed by the President and confirmed by the Wolesi Jirga.

Afghan afghani (AFN)

The national currency of Afghanistan, which the Taliban restricted foreign currency use in 2021 to stabilize.

TAPI pipeline

Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India natural gas pipeline project designed to transit gas through Afghanistan.

Aynak copper deposit

One of the world's largest untapped copper deposits, located in Logar Province, Afghanistan.

Opium economy

Afghanistan is the world's largest illicit opium producer, with opium contributing significantly to the informal economy.

Pashtuns

The largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, predominantly Sunni Muslim and speaking Pashto, with significant influence in politics.

Hazaras

A predominantly Shia ethnic group in Afghanistan, speaking Dari, who have faced historical discrimination and persecution.

Dari and Pashto

The two official languages of Afghanistan, with Dari serving as the lingua franca in many urban areas.

Nowruz

Persian New Year celebrated widely in Afghanistan, marking the beginning of spring and the solar year.

Buzkashi

A traditional Central Asian sport popular in Afghanistan, played on horseback with a goat carcass.

Hindu Kush

A major mountain range in northeastern Afghanistan, home to Mount Noshaq, the country's highest peak at 7,492 meters.

Helmand River

The longest river in Afghanistan, flowing southwest into Iran, and a source of water disputes between the two countries.

Amu Darya

A major river forming part of Afghanistan's northern border with Central Asian states, important for irrigation and hydropower.

Durand Line

The 1893 border between Afghanistan and British India (now Pakistan), which Afghanistan has historically not recognized as an international boundary.

Heart of Asia Process

A regional cooperation platform launched in 2011 to support Afghanistan's stability and development through confidence-building measures.

Doha Agreement

February 2020 agreement between the US and the Taliban that set terms for US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

SAARC

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, which Afghanistan joined in 2007 to enhance regional economic and political ties.

ISAF

International Security Assistance Force, a NATO-led mission in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014 that aimed to train Afghan security forces and combat insurgency.

Taliban

An Islamist militant movement that ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 and returned to power in August 2021.

National Resistance Front

An armed opposition group based in Panjshir Valley, led by Ahmad Massoud, resisting Taliban rule after 2021.

ISIS-K

Islamic State Khorasan Province, a militant group active in Afghanistan that has conducted attacks, including the 2021 Kabul airport bombing.

OCHA

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which coordinates relief efforts in Afghanistan and issues annual humanitarian appeals.

AIHRC

Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, established in 2002 to monitor human rights, effectively dissolved after the Taliban takeover.

ICC investigation

The International Criminal Court's probe into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Afghanistan since 2003.

Taliban decrees on women

Restrictions imposed after 2021 banning women from education, employment, and public life, severely impacting humanitarian access.

Afghan displacement

Millions of Afghans have been displaced internally and as refugees, primarily to Iran and Pakistan, due to conflict and economic hardship.