Afghanistan Supporting Information

BACKGROUND

Afghanistan is a landlocked country bordered by Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China with a population of around 40 million in 2021.

The country was the subject of years of civil conflict during the 1800s, and was then caught up in the conflict British and Russian Empires for influence in central Asia. Following the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919 it emerged as the independent Kingdom of Afghanistan with a monarchy that lasted almost half a century. The monarchy was overthrown in 1973 and the Republic of Afghanistan was established. Since then, however, the country has experienced extensive warfare including coups, invasions, insurgencies and civil wars. There was a protracted Soviet-Afghan war between 1979 and 1989. Following the retreat of the Soviets, the Mujahideen (people engaged in a jihaad), who had fought the Soviets, fought among themselves.

A consequence of the attack on the Twin Towers in America was the invasion in 2001 of Afghanistan by the United States, since when millions of dollars have been invested in both conflict and measures to repair and develop the country. Before there was sufficient in place to build a stable state, Western forces withdrew and had left by August 2021, following which the Taliban (a predominantly Pashtun, Islamic fundamentalist group) took over power and re-established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan with a government made up entirely of Taliban members. They have imposed a harsh interpretation of Islamic law and severely limited free expression and the rights of and opportunities for women and girls. Girls have now been prohibited from attending secondary schools and women have been banned from attending or teaching at universities. They have also struggled to provide Afghans with adequate food supplies and economic opportunities.

Sources :

Afghanistan : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan

Taliban : https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/taliban-afghanistan

SOME HEALTH STATISTICS

(Source : Our World in Data)

Maternal Health

Fertility rate (children/woman) = 4.64 in 2021 (fallen from 7.53 in 2000 having been at this level since 1950)
Birth rate /1,000 people = 35.84 (fallen from 49.66 in 2000 having been at this level since 1950).

Adolescent Birth Rates

a) Adolescent birth rate 10 – 14 year olds = 0.2 in 2014