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Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 40 general entries. We are selecting 30 for display.
Special Topics
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 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Afghanistan
| The Taliban (or Taleban) regime was described as 'Islamic Fundamentalist'. What does this mean in this context? | Afghanistan
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All of these (They interpreted scripture in a doctrinaire way, They refused to allow any distinction between secular and scriptural laws, They were very intolerant). Fundamentalism is not peculiar to Islam and can be found in other religions, too. However, by any standards, Taliban fundamentalism is one of the most extreme varieties found anywhere, in any religion.
| Much of Afghanistan is very mountainous. What is the name of the highest range of mountains, which rises to above 18,000 feet? | Afghanistan
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Hindu Kush. The Himalayas are well to the east, on the border between Nepal and China, the Caucasus Mountains are much further west between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea and there is no 'K2 Range' though there is a K2 Mountain in the Karakoram Mountains.
| The Amudar'ya River forms the greater part of the northern border of Afghanistan. This river also has a European name. What is it? | Afghanistan
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Oxus. The Amudar'ya River flows into the Aral Sea.
| When most of Afghanistan was controlled by the Taliban in the areas under Taliban rule women (and girls) were forced to lead very restricted lives. What were they forbidden to do? | Afghanistan
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All of these things (Go to school, Work outside the home, Leave home unless accompanied by a male relative). These restrictions were based on the Taliban interpretation of Islamic law.
| What is the name of the pass between Pakistan and Afghanistan near Peshawar? | Afghanistan
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Khyber. The Bolan Pass is wholly in Pakistan, about 30 miles SE of the Pakistani city of Quetta.
Kabul . Other large cities include Kandahar (in the south), Herat (in the west) and Mazar-i-Sharif (in the north).
Central Asia. It is separated from most of the Indian sub-continent by high mountains. It is to the east of the region normally known as the Middle East. (The fact that it is an Islamic country doesn't of course make it part of the Middle East: much of Indonesia and Nigeria, for example, is also Muslim).
| How many 'pillars' are there in their religion? | Afghanistan
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5. The 5 'pillars' are what their religion is made up of. These are prayers, Ramadan, the Mecca walk, taxes, and that God (Allah) is the only God.
| What are the two major religious sects in Afghanistan? | Afghanistan
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Sunni & Shi'ite. There is a big difference between the both types. They agree and disagree on different topics.
| What year did the Taliban take over Afghanistan? | Afghanistan
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| What is the 'Holy Book' of the main religion of Afghanis? | Afghanistan
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Koran. An alternative spelling of Koran is Qur'an.
| What country between 1980-1989 tried to gain control of Afghanistan? | Afghanistan
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Soviet Union. At that time, the U.S. supported Afghanistan and the invasion ended in 1989.
22,664,000. A mere tenth of the population of the United States of America, and a third of the population of the United Kingdom. However, really accurate statistics are impossible to discover, but the population of Afghanistan must have severely shrunk, with the current movement of Afghan refugees.
652, 225. Afghanistan is the tenth largest country in Asia, this of course discludes Turkey which is in only partly in Asia.
| Which ethnic group is the largest, making up about 35% of the ethnic population of Afghanistan? | Afghanistan Facts
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Pashtun. Tadzhik make up about 25% of the ethnic composition , Uzbek make up about 6% of the ethnic composition, and Hazara make up about 19 % of the ethnic composition.
Afghani. The other monetary units all belong to countries that border with Afghanistan.
Pashto and Dari. The other languages all belong to countries that border with Afghanistan.
Kabul. Kabul lies in the east of the country, in the southern foothills of the Hindu Kush. The second largest city is Qandahar, which lies in the south of the country.
Asia. Afghanistan borders five countries; Iran to the west, Turkmenistan to the north-west, Uzbekistan to the north, Tajikistan to the north-east, and Pakistan to the east and south.
| When was Afghanistan invaded by the Soviet Union? | Afghanistan
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1979. Although there was Soviet military intervention before 1979, it wasn't until that year that a full-scale military invasion was launched.
| In what year Britain relinquish its claims of control over Afghanistan's foreign policy, this effectively making the country fully independent? | Afghanistan
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1919. Britain had sought control of Afghanistan to thwart any Russian advance towards India. Despite numerous interventions, Britain was never able to gain real control of the country. In 1895, Britain and Russia agreed to treat the country as a buffer-zone, but during WWI Britain again intervened as it was believed that the Turks were trying to form an 'Islamic' alliance, directed against Britain. In 1919 it relinquished its claims of control over Afghanistan's foreign policy.
| What country is about the same size as Afghanistan? | Afghanistan
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Ukraine. Afghanistan, at 647,500 square kilometers, is slightly larger than Ukraine (603,700 sq. km.).
| How many countries does Afghanistan share borders with? | Afghanistan
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6. The countries are Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, China, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
| Traditionally, what color are burqas, the full-length veils worn by most women in Afghanistan? | Afghanistan
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blue . Although dark blue is the traditional color, other colors are slowly becoming popular.
| One of Afghanistan's official languages is Pashtu. What is the other one? | Afghanistan
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Dari. Dari is related to Persian (or Farsi), Iran's official language. The two languages have a number of differences, but are mutually intelligible. Afghanistan is a very diverse country, with a number of different ethnic and linguistic groups. Pashtu is spoken by the Pashtun, the country's largest ethnic group. Dari is spoken by the Tajiks, the second largest. Other etnic groups include the Hazaras, Uzbeks, Turkmen and Kyrgyz.
| What is a meal in Afghanistan not complete without? | Afghanistan
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naan (a kind of bread). Naan (also spelled 'nan'), flat unleavened bread, is an important part of meals in several countries in South and Central Asia, including Afghanistan.
Kabul. In the 1770s the Afghan capital was moved from Kandahar to Kabul.
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