New Delhi: Every year on August 19, the Afghan Independence Day is celebrated. The day commemorates the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919 which brought the Third Anglo-Afghan War to an end and forced Britain to recognise the independence of Afghanistan. Afghanistan, from being a British Protected State, became an autonomous nation. The relationship between Afghanistan and Britain became neutral. Notably, Afghanistan had become a British protectorate in 1879 following the Treaty of Gandamak in the Second Anglo-Afghan War.
Interesting facts about Afghanistan
Afghanistan is a beautiful country with a rich history and culture. Currently governed by the Taliban, the heritage of the nation goes back thousands of years and it has been home to people of different caste and creed. Before the Taliban uprising wreaked havoc in the 1980s, it was a prosperous and thriving nation with people enjoying human rights and civil liberties. On the occasion of the Afghan Independence Day, we will take a look at the interesting facts about the country.
The country’s official name is the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. It is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of South Asia and Central Asia and is called the Heart of Asia.
Afghanistan covers 652,864 square kilometres of land and is mainly dominated by mountainous with plains in the north and the southwest, which are separated by the Hindu Kush mountain range.
Afghanistan has been called ‘the graveyard of empires’ and it has witnessed numerous military campaigns including famous ones, like the campaigns of Alexander the Great, the Persians, the Maurya Empire, Arab Muslims, the Mongols and those who would form the Mughal Empire and the British Empire.
It may seem surprising today but Afghanistan has been the home to people of different religions over the years. Once upon a time, it was a centre for Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, and Hinduism till the prosperity of Islam.
Afghanistan got its modern shape during the reign of the Durrani Afghan Empire in the 18th century. However, Dost Mohammad Khan, who became the Emir of Afghanistan during the decline of the Durrani Empire is considered to be the founder of the first modern Afghan state.
Afghanistan is famous for its natural resources including iron, lithium, copper and zinc. When it comes to cannabis resin, it is the second-largest producer and the third-largest of saffron and cashmere.
Even though communities in Afghanistan have cultural features, they differ from one region to another. Each place has its own distinct culture due to geographic obstacles that divide the country. For example, in the southern and eastern regions, the Pashtun culture is the most dominant.
Afghanistan is famous for its cuisine and its foods are mostly based upon the chief crops like maize, barley, wheat, and rice along with native fruits and vegetables and dairy products like milk and yoghurt. The country’s national dish is Kabuli palaw and the culinary specialties of the country represent its ethnic diversity.
Afghanistan is a beautiful country with a rich history and culture. Currently governed by the Taliban, the heritage of the nation goes back thousands of years and it has been home to people of different caste and creed. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
