A Country Study: Afghanistan

• Afghanistan - Visit updated Profile (PDF)
• Preface

• Chapter 1 - Historical Setting (Craig Baxter)
• The Pre-Islamic Period
  • Achaemenid Rule, ca. 550-331 B.C.
  • Alexander and Greek Rule, 330-ca. 150 B.C.
  • Central Asian and Sassanian Rule, ca. 150 B.C.-700 A.D.
• Islamic Conquest
  • Ghaznavid and Ghorid Rule
  • Mongol Rule, 1220-1506
  • Mughal-Safavid Rivalry, ca. 1500-1747
• Ahmad Shah and the Durrani Empire
• The Great Game
  • The Rise of Dost Mohammad
  • The First Anglo-Afghan War
  • The Second Anglo-Afghan War
• Abdur Rahman Khan, "The Iron Amir", 1880-1901
  • Consolidation of the Modern State
  • Modernization and Development of Institutions
• The Reign of King Habibullah, 1901-1919
• The Reign of King Amanullah, 1919-29
  • Third Anglo-Afghan War and Independence
  • Reform, Popular Reaction, and Forced Abdication
• Tajik Rule, January - October 1929
• Muhammad Nadir Shah, 1929-33
• Mohammad Zahir Shah, 1933-73
  • Zahir Shah and His Uncles, 1933-53
  • The Pashtunistan Issue
  • Early Links with the Soviet Union
  • Experiment with Liberalized Politics
  • Daoud as Prime Minister, 1953-63
  • The King Reigns: The Last Decade of the Monarchy, 1963-73
• Daoud's Republic, July 1973- April 1978
• Communism, Rebellion, and Soviet Intervention

• Chapter 2 - The Society and Environment (Nancy Hatch Dupree and Thomas E. Gouttierre)
  • The Natural Environment
    • Mountains
    • Rivers
    • Regions
    • Climate
  • Population
  • Social Structure
    • Ethnic Groups
      • Pashtun
      • Tajik
      • Hazara
      • Uzbek
      • Turkmen
    • Other Groups
      • Aimaq
      • Arab
      • Kirghiz
      • Wakhi
      • Farsiwan
      • Nuristani
      • Baluch
      • Brahui
      • Qizilbash
      • Kabuli
      • Jat
    • Non-Muslims
    • Interethnic Relations
    • Tribes
  • Modes of Subsistence
    • Pastoralism
    • Mixed Subsistence Patterns
  • Family
  • Gender Roles
  • Religion
    • Early Development of Islam
      • Sunni and Shia Islam
      • Sufism
    • Tenets of Islam
    • Islamic Expression in Afghanistan
      • Sunnis of the Hanafi School
      • Ithna Ashariya (Twelver or Imami) Shia
      • Ismailis
      • Sufis
    • Meaning and Practice
    • Politicized Islam
  • Education
    • Literacy
    • Administrative Structure
    • Enrollment
    • Curriculum
    • Teacher Training
    • Higher Education
    • Adult Literacy
    • Current Activities
  • Health
  • Refugees and Repatriation
  • Warefare and Civic Culture

• Chapter 4 - Government and Politics (Richard S. Newell)
  • The Attempt to Modernize: 1953-73
    • The Decision to Accept Soviet Economic and Military Assistance
    • The Constitutional Period, 1964-73
    • Disenchantment with the Reforms
    • The Shafiq Government: A Last Attempt at Reform
  • Daud's Republic: 1973-78
  • Usurpation, Invasion and War: 1978-92
    • The April 1978 Coup d'etat and the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
    • Soviet Control and Marxist Government, 1980-89
    • Government Organization
    • The Search for Popular Support
    • Internal Refugees: Flight to the Cities
    • Factionalism
    • Najibullah's Leadership, 1986-92
    • The Soviet Decision to Withdraw, 1986-88
    • The Geneva Accords, 1987-89
    • The Failure to Bring Peace
    • Pakistan's Attempt at a Political Solution, 1987-88
    • Stalemate: The Civil War, 1989-92
  • The Afghan Resistance
    • Its Social Basis, A Segmented Society
    • The Role of Islam
    • The Path to Victory and Chaos: 1979-92
    • The Islamist Factor
    • The Mujahidin Parties
    • Emergence of Modern Islamic Thought in Afghanistan
    • The Islamic Youth Movement
    • Pakistan's Support of Afghan Islamists, 1975-79
    • Khalis and the Moderate Parties
    • Abdul Rasul Sayyaf
    • Disinterest in Unity
    • The Controversy Over Weapons Distribution
    • The Ghilzai Factor
    • Expatriate Misperceptions
    • Pakistan's Policies and Misperceptions
    • Internecine Violence
    • The Council of Commanders, 1990-92
    • Neighboring Governments: Involvements and Interference
      • Pakistan
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Iran
  • Mujahidin Victory: The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
    • The Demise of the Soviet Union, 1991
    • The Fall of Kabul, April 1992
    • The United Nations Plan for Political Accommodation
    • The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Since 1992
    • The Peshawar Accord, April 25, 1992
    • The Struggle for Kabul
    • Mujahidin Attempts to Govern, 1992-95
    • The Islamabad and Jalalabad Accords, March-April 1993
    • 1995: A Changed Situation
  • Afghanistan's Prospects