AFGHANISTAN (The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan)

The term "Afghanistan," means the "Land of Afghans,” which is also called Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

AREA: At 249,984 sq miles (647,500 km²), Afghanistan is the world's 41st-largest country (after Myanmar).

GOVERNMENT: Islamic presidential republic

INDEPENDENCE DAY:19th Aug, 1919

CAPITAL: Kabul (Largest City).

PRESIDENT: Hamid Karzai

VICE PRESIDENT: Karim Khalili

POPULATION & LANGUAGE: The estimated population of Afghanistan is 31,889,923 as per 2007. The official language of this country is Pashto and Dari (Farsi) are the major two languages spoken in Afghanistan. The eastern dialects of the Persian language are popularly known as "Dari". Other languages such as Balochi, Pashayi and Turkic, Uzbek and Turkmen and Tajiki are also used.

GEOGRAPHY & CLIMATE: Geographically located in South - Central Asia is a mountainous land-locked country bounded by Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, Pakistan and Iran. Afghanistan has continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. Summer temperatures as high as 49° C and winter temperatures as low as -9° C (15° F) at the high level in the Hindu Kush region. Most of the precipitation falls between the months of October and April.

PEOPLE AND CULTURE:

People: Afghanistan is a heterogeneous nation, in which there are four major ethnic groups: Pashtoons, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks. While the majority of Afghans (99%) are muslims belongs to the islamic faith (the followers of Sunni or Shia Islam). Numerous other minor ethnic groups are (Nuristanis, Baluchis, Turkmens, etc.). There are also small pockets of Sikhs, Hindus and even some Jews.

Culture: Afghans display pride in their religion, country, ancestry, and above all, their independence. Classic Persian poetry plays a very

Girls in Kabul, wearing their traditional clothes, sing at a celebration of International Women's Day in 2002.

important role in the Afghan culture. Private poetry competition events known as “musha’era” are quite common even among ordinary people.

Economy: Basically, the economic activities of Afghanistan are based on agriculture produce generating 80% of employment with real GDP growth rate of 14% (2005 est.). Afghanistan is a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). According to a 2004 report by the Asian Development Bank, the present reconstruction effort focuses on rebuilding critical physical infrastructure, and second, on building modern public sector institutions from the remnants of Soviet style planning to ones that promotes market-led development. The fiscal year is 21 March - 20 March.

CURRENCY:

Observe of 10 Afghani

Reverse of 10 Afghani

SOCIAL LIFE AND RECREATION:

Sports: “Buzkashi” is a national sport in Afghanistan. It is similar to polo and played by horsemen in two teams, each trying to grab and hold a goat carcass. Afghan hounds (a type of running dog) also originated in Afghanistan.

Education: Primary education is totally free and available for all boys and girls. Kabul University is open to both male and female students. The university accepts students from Afghanistan and the neighboring countries providing education in the fields of Agriculture, Economics, Pharmacy, Law, Literature, Science, Engineering, and Fine Arts. The American University of Afghanistan is the nation’s first private, not-for-profit institution of higher education opened in 2006. Transport:

Air • The main gateway airport is Kabul International Airport / Khwaja Rawash Airport • Check in time: 2 hours recommended.

Unit : Afghani Subunit : 1/100 pul Coins : 1,2,5 afghani Banknotes (with colors) : 10 (yellow green), 20 (brown), 50 (dark green), 100 (violet), 500 (blue), 1000

(orange) afghani Central bank : Da Afghanistan Bank Website : www.centralbank.gov.af 1 Afghani : 0.02 USD 1 Afghani : 1.1674730538 / 1.16 INR

• Airport to City: 16 kilometres / 10 miles. Journey time 30 minutes. • Departure Tax AFA200. Children under two years of age are exempt. • Direct Flights to Kabul – Ariana Afghan Airline (National Airline), Air India, Kam Air.

Land • Bus services or taxis are most widely common in Kabul. Taxi fares are negotiable.

Rail • Limited Rail Service with Turkmenistan • Current Railway Project (Heart to the Iranian city Mashad / Kandhahar & Quetta in

Pakistan) COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY: Television and radio broadcastings are available in most parts of the country, with local and international channels or stations. The international calling code for Afghanistan is +93 Internet country code - .af Package delivery services – Fedex, DHL MAJOR CITIES IN AFGHANISTAN: Kabul* – the largest city and Capital of Afghanistan, Kandahar, Heart, Mazari Sharif, Qunduz, Taluqan, Puli Khumri , Jalalabad* , Charikar , Sheberghan , Ghazni, Sari Pul * Business Centres

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN KABUL

OTHER TOURIST PLACES: • The Mausoleum of Emperor Babur • Kabul Golf Club • Kabul Zoo

Mosque at Babur Gardens Afghan National Museum / Kabul Museum

Paghman (Holiday Retreat) Qargha Lake Kabul Business Centre

• Chihlsitoon Gardens (includes a state guest house) • The mausoleum of Timur Shah Durrani • The Minaret of Jam, in the Hari River valley, is a UNESCO World Heritage site • Id Gah Mosque (the largest mosque in Kabul) • Kabul City Centre (a unique modern style nine story shopping mall) • Flower Street and Chicken Street (a prime shopping area for purchasing gifts for tourist

and local people). • The Afghan National Gallery (Most famous art gallery in Afghanistan) • Ancient Citadel and Walls of Kabul

TRAVEL TIPS: • You should stay indoors after dark. • Signs prohibiting photography should be strictly obeyed. You should ask permission

before photographing local people. Military installations should not be photographed. • Travelers should only consider travel to other provinces, if they have strong

commercial or professional reasons to do so and only to a properly secured workplaces.

• Avoid unnecessary road travel in Kabul City. • Use secure transport with close protection, using reputable local drivers and guides. • Don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and

cameras may be tempting targets for thieves. • Foreign men and women should dress modestly in public • Medical facilities are limited throughout Afghanistan, including Kabul. • We advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, and avoid ice cubes and

raw and undercooked food • Credit cards and travellers' cheques are not widely accepted.

VISA REQUIREMENTS & PROCEDURE:

Valid Passport Two Visa Application form Duly filled in Capital's and Signed as per Passport(Photocopy allowed) Two Recent Colour Passport Size Photograph's Covering Letter from Indian Company Stating Applicant's Name, Designation, Purpose & Duration of Visit Invitation from Afghanistan Associate Stating Applicant's Name, Designation, Purpose & Duration of Visit Return Confirmed Air Ticket's for Stay Duration Foreign Exchange Duly Endorsed / Valid International Credit Card Copy A letter of recommendation from the Indian Chamber of Commerce and business correspondence/ letter of invitation from the Afghani business associates are required. The validity of the visa is for 90 days with a 15 days (maximum) stay allowed. The visa may be issued for maximum stay of 15 days with single entry. The validity of the visa is for 90 days from the date of issue. Processing time is 24 hrs after visa approval is received.

Visa is Gratis (free of charge) All visa applications are referred to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and can take 7 to 10 days for approval. Extension of visa is possible from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Afghanistan Time Taken: 02-03 Weeks

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS

Subject Type of Service Telephone Number

Ambulance Emergency Non-Emergency

+93700 282 719

Fire Fire Service +93202 300 304 Flight Information Automated 24-hour service +93202 101 031 Police Emergency 119

EMBASSIES:

Embassy of India Embassy of Afghanistan Malalai Wat, Shahre-Nau 5/50 F, Shantipath Kabul Chanakyapuri Afghanistan New Delhi-110021 Tel : 00-873-763095560 Tel: 91-11- 2410 0412/ 2688 3601/3632 Fax : 00-873-763095561 Fax:91-11-26875439 Email : indembkabul@nic.in Email : afghanembassy@rediffmail.com afghanspirit@yahoo.com

REGIONAL OFFICE

Country Manager: Mr. V.K. Bhat AFIN Consultants Opposite Indra Ghandhi Hospital, Near Mohd. Pharmacy, Wazir Akbar Khan Road, Kabul, Afghanistan Tel: 009370295663 E-mail: ict_kabul@yahoo.com; Alternate Email: vkbhat@ictonline.com Website: www.ictonline.com