Capital: Kabul
Currency: Afghani (AFA)
Borders: China 76 km, Iran 936 km, Pakistan 2,430 km, Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km

Afghanistan is a land-locked country located in the east of the Middle East. It borders Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to the north, Iran to the west and Pakistan to the east and south. The total landmass of Afghanistan is 647,500 sq km. The terrain is comprised of a rugged mountainous plateau with large low-lying desert plains in the north and southwest. The main rivers of are the Kabul, Farah and Helmand. Another natural feature is the mighty Hindu Kush mountain range in the northwest of Afghanistan. The highest point of elevation is Nowshak at a height of 7485m. The world famous Khyber Pass is located on the border with Pakistan.

The former Soviet Union invaded the country in 1979 but was ousted by the Taliban in 1989. From 1989 until 2001, the Taliban ruled and controlled Afghanistan. The capital city of Kabul has severely suffered at the hand of conflict in Afghanistan over the years. The infrastructure, not only within the capital, but also in other cities like Mazar-e-Sharif and Kandahar, has been crippled in recent years. Much of Afghanistan remains impoverished. The languages are Pashtu, Afghan Persian and Turkic. The national unit of currency is the Afghani.

Afghanistan is an extremely poor country and relies heavily on agriculture. 60% of the national workforce is employed within agriculture, raising livestock and producing crops such as wheat, fruits, nuts and wool. The poppy fields of Afghanistan are known the world over for their provision of opium to the western world. The current government is trying very hard to keep a tab on opium activity. The natural commodities of Afghanistan include natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, sulphur, lead, zinc and iron ore. These provide a base for Afghanistan's industry. The transport network consists of 24.6 km of railways and 21,000 km of roads, of which just 2793 are paved.

The climate of Afghanistan is arid to semi-arid with long, hot summers and harsh, cold winters. Earthquakes often cause devastation in the Hindu Kush region. The coldest temperature recorded in Kabul was -21°C. The highest was 40°C.