Its strategic position sandwiched between the Middle East, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent along the ancient "Silk Route" means that Afghanistan has long been fought over - despite its rugged and forbidding terrain. It was at the centre of the so-called "Great Game" in the 19th century when Imperial Russia and the British Empire in India vied for influence.

And it became a key Cold War battleground after thousands of Soviet troops intervened in 1979 to prop up a pro-communist regime, leading to a major confrontation that drew in the US and Afghanistan's neighbours. A third of the Afghan population has fled abroad - despairing of a future at home.

20 years after the 1979 Soviet invasion, and 10 years after the withdrawal of the last Soviet soldier in 1989, Afghanistan is still a country in which an armed conflict over power between opposing political factions continues. Afghanistan has in the process been devastated, producing the world’s largest ever single refugee case-load, at times as high as 6.2 million persons

The emergence of the Taleban - originally a group of Islamic scholars - brought at least a measure of stability after nearly two decades of conflict. The Taleban - drawn from the Pashtun majority - are opposed by an alliance of factions drawn mainly from Afghanistan's minority communities and based in the north. The Taleban - now controlling about 90% of Afghanistan - are recognised as the legitimate government by only three countries.

Throughout the history, Afghani people have been know for their hospitality, determination, and the physical and spiritual strength. Despite their chronic political and economic instability in the modern history, it is the firm faith in God, forbearance, and sense integrity of Afghans that served as the source of their victory over other Nations.

On Sept. 27, 1996, members of the Islamic Taliban movement displaced the ruling members of the Afghan government. The Islamic State of Afghanistan has no widely recognized functioning government at this time, and the country remains divided among warring factions.  The Taliban has declared itself to be the legitimate government of Afghanistan. Only Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.

The country is essentially divided along ethnic lines; the Taliban controls the capital of Kabul and approximately 90 percent of the country, including the predominately ethnic Pashtun areas in southern Afghanistan. Opposing factions have strongholds in the ethnically diverse north.

Afghan Media

Afghanistan's media have been seriously restricted since the Taleban came to power. Radio Afghanistan was renamed Radio Voice of Shari'ah (Islamic law) and now reflects the Islamic values of the Taleban.

The Taleban have banned TV as a source of moral corruption and regard music as suspect. Afghan Islamic Press, a Pashto language news agency based in Peshawar, covers breaking news.

Press

Date/Time Last Modified: 6/3/2004 8:09:33 AM

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