Date of independence, or formation date: 1919
Date when current borders were established: 1919
National day: Aug 19
Vehicle country identifying code: AFG
Time zone (hours plus or minus from GMT): +4.5
International telephone dialling code: +93
Internet country identifying code: .af

Afghanistan lies landlocked in central Asia, three-quarters of its territory inaccessible terrain. Its political system, economy, and infrastructure have been devastated by decades of armed conflict. In the 1980s Islamic mujahideen factions defeated the Soviet-backed communist regime, but rivalries undermined their fragile power-sharing agreement and the hard-line taliban militia swept to power in 1996. Islamic dress codes and behavior were vigorously enforced and women left with few rights or opportunities. The taliban regime crumbled in the face of the US-led "war on terrorism" launched in late 2001.

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004