Afghanistan: The Lost Treasure of Asia

Basic Information and facts about Afghanistan with brief history, business and economy of Afghanistan, most visited places in Afghanistan, etc

Afghanistan and its History

Located in South Asia, covering a total area of 251,772 sq mi, Afghanistan is a mixed nation of the East and the West of Asia. 

It plays an important geographical role as it connects South, South West and Central Asia. It is a country composed of mountains, fertile valleys and plains.

In the south west part of Afghanistan, lie great deserts.  Though a big portion of the land is dry, there are rivers that vary widely. Being torn and greatly affected by war, Afghanistan is now one of the poorest countries in the world.

Afghanistan is a culturally diverse country due to invasion and migration. There are dozens of ethnic groups that are found in the country but most of them are Muslims. The main religion in the country is Muslim brought by Arabs in the 7th and 8th century.

Economy

Everything started well in Afghanistan until the coup. Coup in Afghanistan started in 1978 conflict between anti-Communist Muslim Afghan guerrillas, Afghan government and Soviet forces Afghanistan. People continuously grieved from the war from 1978 to 1992. This has continuously made Afghanistan struggle for power, bloody war and economic instability.

As of 2007 survey, only 60 % of the population is employed not to mention that these employed citizens try to make both ends meet for an income of 2 dollars a day. But after all the political and military unrest, bloody war and subsequent conflicts, Afghanistan is slowly recovering. It has been noted that since 2002, Afghanistan has been growing and recovering economically. This owes to the developing cultivation and manufacturing of medicinal drugs.

What to see

One thing that Afghans can be proud of is their culture, history and religion. They take pride on loyalty, honor and their ability to face and settle disputes.

The experiences the Afghans had on the past can attest on how tough they are when faced in these kinds of situations. Their love for their tradition, culture and history were shown in monuments and statues that were before forms of tourist attractions. However, due to conflicts and wars in Afghanistan, these historical monuments and statues were destroyed. Although, Afghanistan experienced shedding of blood, the tourism in this country still remains and hasn’t died out completely. There are still wonderful places to visit, culture and life to experience. There are still much to see in one of the oldest cities of Asia; Kabul.

There are major places of interest that the government is trying to restore and some of them were already restored. Though many tourists are embraced with fears, many still want to visit Kabal Bala Hisar; a fortress on top of a hill. Although many were destroyed in the famous Kabul Museum which used to house the finest antiquities in Asia, it is still possible to have a glimpse on some of the remaining artifacts. The Garden of Babur, which was also damaged by the war, is now being reconstructed. Babur, the emperor of Afghans is buried in this garden. These are only some of the many places that tourist can enjoy upon visiting Afghanistan. There are bazaars where travelers can spend their shopping time. Muslims from other countries would not want to miss the wonderful architecture of mosques and many more.

Those who had the chance to visit Afghanistan before the spark of war could attest how beautiful Afghanistan is. Let not the black shadow of the past hinder you from having a glimpse of one of the finest of Asia; Afghanistan.