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Contrary to popular belief,
Afghanistan “has significant oil and gas deposits. During the Soviets’ decade-long
occupation of Afghanistan, Moscow estimated Afghanistan’s proven and probable natural
gas reserves at around five trillion cubic feet and production reached 275 million cubic
feet per day in the mid-1970s.” Nonstop war since has prevented further exploitation.
[Asia Times, 10/5/2001] A later article suggests that the country may also have as much
copper as Chile, the world’s largest producer, and significant deposits of coal,
emeralds, tungsten, lead, zinc, uranium ore, and more. Estimates of Afghanistan’s
natural wealth may even be understated, because surveys were conducted decades ago, using
less-advanced methods and covering limited territory. [Houston Chronicle, 12/23/2001]
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| Afghanistan is a land-locked country,
and has historically been dependent on Pakistan for all its imports, its exports, for all
of its trade |
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| The Northern Alliance had
historically been supported by India, Russia, and Iran |
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| Cities |
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- Kabul (3,000,000)
- Kandahar (450,300)
- Herat (349,000)
- Mazari Sharif (300,600)
- Kunduz (264,100)
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| Conflicts |
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- Taliban government had very rocky relations with Iran
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| Demographics |
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- Population: 33,609,937
- Life Expectancy: 44.64 years
- Literacy: 28.1%
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- Median Age: 17.6 years
- Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal
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| Afghanistan produces 93% of the
world's heroin |
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| 80% of Afghanistan runs on
Afghanistan, therefore you could help 80% of the population by investing in this sector.
Poppy does not require any real infrastructure, it grows on just about anything. |
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| History |
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- Taliban Purges Herat of Shi'a Muslims (5/1999)
- Taliban Again Visits Unocal in Texas (7/1999)
- Yakaolong Massacre of 300 (1/7/2001)
- Ancient Buddha Statues Destroyed (3/21/2001)
- Enron in Talks with Taliban (7/2001)
- First recorded suicide bombing in Afghanistan (9/9/2001)
- Karzai Assumes Power in Afghanistan (12/21/2001)
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| Languages |
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- Afghan Persian or Dari (official) 50%
- Pashto (official) 35%
- Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%
- 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai)
4%
- Much bilingualism
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| Religion |
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- Sunni Muslim 80%
- Shi'a Muslim 19%
- Other 1%
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