Afghanistan (Pashto افغانستان‎, Dari افغانستان), official name is the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. State in Central Asia. The first part of the name is “Afghan”, a Persian word translated as “silence” or “silence”; from the Turkic languages ​​the word - Augan (Afghan) is translated as gone, hidden. This is also an alternative name for Pashtuns - the largest ethnic group in the country. The last part of the name, the suffix “-stan”, goes back to the Indo-European root “*stā-” (“to stand”) and in Persian means “place, country”.

It borders with Iran in the west, Pakistan in the south and east, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north, China in the easternmost part of the country, and India (more precisely, the territory of Jammu and Kashmir disputed by India, China and Pakistan) in the east. Landlocked.

Territory - 652,864 km² (41st place in the world).

Population – 35 million people (40th place in the world).

The official languages ​​are Pashto and Dari.

The capital is Kabul.

Large cities: Kabul, Herat, Kandahar, Mazar-i-Sharif, Jalalabad, Kunduz, Baghlan.

Afghani (Pashto and Dari افغانۍ) is the monetary unit of Afghanistan, equal to 100 pulas. Currently in circulation are banknotes in denominations of 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10 afghani and coins in denominations of 5, 2 and 1 afghani.

State authorities use a flag with a black coat of arms in the middle, but along with it there are flags with a white and yellow flowers. The flag has three vertical stripes, where black is the color of historical and religious banners, red is the color of the supreme power of the king and a symbol of the struggle for freedom, and green is the color of hope and success in business. In the center of the coat of arms is a mosque with a mihrab and a minbar, above which the Shahada is written.

The coat of arms of Afghanistan is placed on the Flag of Afghanistan and has existed practically since the appearance and formation of the country itself. The latest version of the emblem includes the addition of the shahadah on Arabic upstairs. Below this is an image of a mosque with a mihrab that faces Mecca with a prayer mat inside. The two flags attached to the mosque are the flags of Afghanistan. Below the mosque is an inscription that means the name of the nation. There is a garland around the mosque.

• Blue Mosque (Mazar-i-Sharif) - the mosque was built in the 15th century. on the site of the tomb of Caliph Ali (12th century), cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. It got its name due to large quantity turquoise tiles covering the walls and domes.
• The Blue Lakes of Bande-Amir are a network of reservoirs surrounded by mountains and steppes. Included in the UNESCO natural heritage list.
• The Palace in Busta (Lashkari Bazar) is the residence of the dynasties of the Ghaznavid and Ghurid sultans. The complex dates back to the 11th century and consists of three palaces.
• Jam Minaret – located in the mountains in the north-west of the country, built in the 12th century. V ancient city Firusuchus.
• Juma Mosque in Herat - the building has been restored and covered with rich paintings, the courtyard can accommodate 5,000 believers.
• The Kabul Museum is a collection of ancient artifacts, restored and opened to the public in 2004.
• The Bala Hissar fortress is a 5th century structure in Kabul that served as a shelter for the rulers of Afghanistan. It is now used as a base for the Afghan military.
• Abdul Rahman Mosque – built in 2001 – 2009. year in Kabul. The largest Muslim temple in Afghanistan, can accommodate up to 10,000 people. The library has 150,000 books.
• The Id Gah Mosque is the largest mosque in Kabul, where Afghanistan's independence was declared in 1919. The name translates as festive; major Muslim holidays are held here.
• The Panjshir Gorge is a picturesque valley in the Panjshir province; on its territory there are convenient passes leading from the northern to the southern provinces.
• The Babur Gardens park complex is a Kabul park, the location of the tomb of the founder of the Mughal dynasty, Babur. It consists of 15 cascading terraces, designed in the style of Mughal architecture.
• Cave monastery in the Bamyan Valley - a city in the rocks is located 200 km from Kabul, only in this place you can cross the Hindu Kush mountain range. In the 2nd century, the first Buddhist monasteries were built in the area. Residential complexes carved into the rocks served as a refuge for traders and a permanent habitat for monks. Ancient settlement decorated with two giant Buddha monuments, but in 2001 they were destroyed by the Taliban.
• The Khyber Pass is a 53 km long mountain road on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Along the aisle laid Railway and the Kabul-Peshawar highway.
• Herat Citadel - built during conquests Alexander the Great.

Interesting Facts about Afghanistan

• Afghanistan holds the record for the frequency of flag changes. Since 1880, the country has already changed twenty-three flags, and among them were a single-color black one (under the Shahs in late XIX century), and a single-color white banner (under the Taliban).
• The capital of Afghanistan, Kabul is one of the most dangerous cities in the world, but not because of robbers and bandits, but because of terrorists.
• After the withdrawal of Soviet troops, the war between various Mujahideen groups continued. The winners were representatives of the Taliban movement (“seekers of knowledge”), who came to power in 1996 and established an authoritarian regime of government. Television was banned in the country, the death penalty was imposed for drinking alcohol, and Sharia law was the basis. After the terrorist attack in New York in 2001, a military operation was launched at the initiative of the United States, as a result of which the Taliban regime was overthrown.
• The largest copper deposit in Eurasia was discovered near Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. The largest iron ore deposit in South Asia is located in the same area.
• The highest point in Afghanistan is Mount Noshak, the peak of which rises to 7492 meters.
• Scientists believe that one of the ancient religions, Zoroastrianism, originated in Afghanistan several thousand years BC, and Zarathustra himself allegedly lived and died in the local city of Balkh.
• The national game is Buzkashi (“grab a goat by the tail”). Two teams on horseback catch a goat or a goat skin by the tail.
• On the territory of this country there is no very concept of an official language - in different regions it is used different languages and adverbs.
• The most popular art in Afghanistan is poetry.
• Afghans celebrate New Year (Navruz) on March 21st. This number is the first day of spring.
• Seasonal temperature changes in Afghanistan are very significant - winters here are harsh and cold, and summers are unbearably hot.
• The national dance of the Afghans is attan, which is usually performed by men. This is a circular dance in which from two to several hundred people participate. The circling to the accompaniment of booming drums and flutes lasts on average from 5 to 30 minutes, but can last up to 5 hours.
• In Afghanistan, 47% of men and only 15% of women are literate. Despite this, Afghans are very fond of poetry, and every home has at least one volume of poetry. Closed poetry competitions are held even among illiterate workers and peasants.
• The age of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, is over three and a half thousand years.
• Afghanistan is the largest producer of opiates on the planet. According to UN statistics, about 90% of drugs entering Europe are smuggled across the Afghan border.
• Afghanistan has a predominantly rural population, urban population makes up 25% and mainly lives in Kabul.

The war in Afghanistan has left many unhealed wounds in our memory. The stories of the “Afghans” reveal to us a lot of shocking details of that terrible decade, which not everyone wants to remember.

No control

The personnel of the 40th Army, fulfilling its international duty in Afghanistan, constantly lacked alcohol. The small amount of alcohol that was sent to the units rarely reached the recipients. However, on holidays the soldiers were always drunk.
There is an explanation for this. With a total shortage of alcohol, our military has adapted to distill moonshine. The authorities forbade doing this legally, so some units had their own specially guarded moonshine brewing stations. The extraction of sugar-containing raw materials became a headache for home-grown moonshiners.
Most often they used captured sugar confiscated from the Mujahideen.

The lack of sugar was compensated with local honey, which, according to our military, was “pieces of dirty yellow color.” This product was different from the honey we are used to, having a “disgusting taste.” Moonshine made from it was even more unpleasant. However, there were no consequences.
Veterans admitted that during the Afghan war there were problems with personnel control, and cases of systematic drunkenness were often recorded.

They say that in the first years of the war many officers abused alcohol, some of them turned into chronic alcoholics.
Some soldiers who had access to medical supplies became addicted to painkillers as a way to suppress uncontrollable feelings of fear. Others who managed to establish contacts with the Pashtuns became addicted to drugs. According to former special forces officer Alexei Chikishev, in some units up to 90% of the rank and file smoked charas (an analogue of hashish).

Doomed to Death

Captured Soviet soldiers Mujahideen rarely killed outright. Usually there followed an offer to convert to Islam; in case of refusal, the serviceman was actually sentenced to death. True, as a “gesture of goodwill,” the militants could hand over the prisoner to a human rights organization or exchange them for one of their own, but this is rather an exception to the rule.

Almost all Soviet prisoners of war were kept in Pakistani camps, from where it was impossible to rescue them. After all, for everyone, the USSR did not fight in Afghanistan. The living conditions for our soldiers were unbearable; many said that it was better to die from a guard than to endure this torment. Even more terrible were the tortures, the mere description of which makes one feel uneasy.
American journalist George Crile wrote that soon after the Soviet contingent entered Afghanistan, five jute bags appeared next to the runway. Pushing one of them, the soldier saw blood appearing. After opening the bags, a terrible picture appeared before our military: in each of them there was a young internationalist, wrapped in his own skin. Doctors determined that the skin was first cut on the stomach and then tied in a knot above the head.
The execution was popularly nicknamed the “red tulip.” Before the execution, the prisoner was drugged to the point of unconsciousness, but the heroin stopped working long before death. At first, the doomed person experienced a severe painful shock, then began to go crazy and eventually died in inhuman torment.

They did what they wanted

Local residents were often extremely cruel to Soviet internationalist soldiers. Veterans recalled with shudder how peasants finished off Soviet wounded with shovels and hoes. Sometimes this gave rise to a ruthless response from the colleagues of the deceased, and there were cases of completely unjustified cruelty.
Corporal of the Airborne Forces Sergei Boyarkin in the book “Soldiers of the Afghan War” described an episode of his battalion patrolling the outskirts of Kandahar. The paratroopers had fun shooting cattle with machine guns until they came across an Afghan driving a donkey. Without thinking twice, a burst of fire was fired at the man, and one of the military decided to cut off the victim’s ears as a souvenir.

Boyarkin also described the favorite habit of some military personnel of planting incriminating evidence on the Afghans. During the search, the patrolman quietly pulled a cartridge out of his pocket, pretending that it was found in the Afghan's belongings. After presenting such evidence of guilt, a local resident could be shot right on the spot.
Viktor Marochkin, who served as a driver in the 70th brigade stationed near Kandahar, recalled an incident that occurred in the village of Tarinkot. Previously locality was fired from "Grad" and artillery; local residents, including women and children, ran out of the village in panic; the Soviet military finished off with "Shilka". In total, about 3,000 Pashtuns died here.

"Afghan Syndrome"

On February 15, 1989, the last Soviet soldier left Afghanistan, but the echoes of that merciless war remained - they are commonly called the “Afghan syndrome.” Many Afghan soldiers, having returned to civilian life, could not find a place in it. Statistics that appeared a year after the withdrawal of Soviet troops showed terrible figures:
About 3,700 war veterans were in prison, 75% of “Afghans” families faced either divorce or worsening conflicts, almost 70% of internationalist soldiers were not satisfied with their work, 60% abused alcohol or drugs, among the “Afghans” was high level suicides.
In the early 90s, a study was conducted that showed that at least 35% of war veterans needed psychological treatment. Unfortunately, over time, old mental traumas tend to worsen without qualified help. A similar problem existed in the United States.
But if in the United States in the 80s a state program for assistance to veterans of the Vietnam War was developed, the budget of which amounted to $4 billion, then in Russia and the CIS countries there is no systematic rehabilitation of “Afghans”. And it is unlikely that anything will change in the near future.

When in December 1979 Soviet troops entered Afghanistan to support the friendly communist regime, no one could have imagined that the war would last for ten long years and would ultimately “drive” the last nail “into the coffin” of the USSR. Today, some are trying to present this war as the villainy of the “Kremlin elders” or the result of a worldwide conspiracy. However, we will try to rely only on the facts.

According to modern data, losses Soviet army in the Afghan war there were 14,427 people killed and missing. In addition, 180 advisers and 584 specialists from other departments were killed. More than 53 thousand people were shell-shocked, wounded or injured.

Cargo "200"

The exact number of Afghans killed in the war is unknown. The most common figure is 1 million dead; Available estimates range from 670 thousand civilians to 2 million in total. According to Harvard professor M. Kramer, an American researcher Afghan war: “During nine years of war, more than 2.7 million Afghans (mostly civilians) were killed or maimed, and several million more became refugees, many of whom fled the country.” There appears to be no clear division of victims into government soldiers, mujahideen and civilians.

The terrible consequences of war

For courage and heroism shown during the war in Afghanistan, more than 200 thousand military personnel were awarded orders and medals (11 thousand were awarded posthumously), 86 people were awarded the title of Hero Soviet Union(28 posthumously). Among the awarded – 110 thousand soldiers and sergeants, about 20 thousand warrant officers, more than 65 thousand officers and generals, more than 2.5 thousand SA employees, including – 1350 women.

A group of Soviet military personnel awarded government awards

During the entire period of hostilities, 417 military personnel were in Afghan captivity, 130 of whom were released during the war and were able to return to their homeland. As of January 1, 1999, 287 people remained among those who had not returned from captivity and had not been found.

Captured Soviet soldier

During nine years of war P The losses of equipment and weapons amounted to: airplaneecomrade - 118 (in the Air Force– 107); helicopters - 333 (in the Air Force – 324); tanks - 147; BMP, armored personnel carrier, BMD, BRDM – 1314; guns and mortars - 433; radio stations and KShM – 1138; engineering vehicles – 510; flatbed vehicles and tank trucks – 11,369.

Burnt Soviet tank

The government in Kabul was dependent throughout the war on the USSR, which provided it with about $40 billion in military aid between 1978 and the early 1990s. Meanwhile, the rebels established contacts with Pakistan and the United States, and also received widespread support from from Saudi Arabia, China and a number of other states, which together provided the Mujahideen with weapons and other military equipment worth about $10 billion.

Afghan Mujahideen

On January 7, 1988, in Afghanistan, at an altitude of 3234 m above the road to the city of Khost in the Afghan-Pakistan border zone, a fierce battle took place. This was one of the most famous military clashes between units of the Limited contingent of Soviet troops in Afghanistan and the armed formations of the Afghan Mujahideen. Based on these events, the film “The Ninth Company” was shot in the Russian Federation in 2005. The height of 3234 m was defended by the 9th parachute company of the 345th Guards separate parachute regiment with a total number of 39 people, supported by regimental artillery. Soviet fighters were attacked by units of Mujahideen numbering from 200 to 400 people who were trained in Pakistan. The battle lasted 12 hours. The Mujahideen never managed to capture the heights. After suffering heavy losses, they retreated. In the ninth company, six paratroopers were killed, 28 were injured, nine of them – heavy. All paratroopers for this battle were awarded the Order of the Red Banner and the Red Star. Junior Sergeant V.A. Aleksandrov and Private A.A. Melnikov were posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Still from the film “9th Company”

The most famous battle of Soviet border guards during the war in Afghanistan took place on November 22, 1985 near the village of Afrij in the Zardevsky Gorge mountain range Darayi-Kalat in northeastern Afghanistan. A combat group of border guards from the Panfilov outpost of a motorized maneuver group (21 people) was ambushed as a result of an incorrect crossing of the river. During the battle, 19 border guards were killed. These were the most numerous losses of border guards in the Afghan war. According to some reports, the number of Mujahideen participating in the ambush was 150 people.

Border guards after the battle

There is a well-established opinion in the post-Soviet period that the USSR was defeated and expelled from Afghanistan. It is not true. When Soviet troops left Afghanistan in 1989, they did so as a result of a well-planned operation. Moreover, the operation was carried out in several directions at once: diplomatic, economic and military. This made it possible not only to save the lives of Soviet soldiers, but also to preserve the Afghan government. Communist Afghanistan held out even after the fall of the USSR in 1991 and only then, with the loss of support from the USSR and increasing attempts from the Mujahideen and Pakistan, did the DRA begin to slide towards defeat in 1992.

Withdrawal of Soviet troops, February 1989

In November 1989, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR declared an amnesty for all crimes committed by Soviet military personnel in Afghanistan. According to the military prosecutor's office, from December 1979 to February 1989, 4,307 people were brought to criminal responsibility as part of the 40th Army in the DRA; at the time the decision of the USSR Armed Forces on amnesty came into force, more than 420 former soldiers were in prison - internationalists.

We have returned…

Whose motto on the tattoo turned into an ominous prophecy after surgery?

The anthem of the Liverpool Football Club is the song “You"ll never walk alone.” The same words were tattooed on the leg of Marine Andy Grant, who was sent to Afghanistan and was blown up by a mine. His leg was amputated below the knee, and during the operation the last the word of the tattoo was cut off, causing it to become "You"ll never walk." Grant himself treats this story with humor - he learned to walk with a prosthesis, participates in sports competitions and often talks about this incident in motivational speeches to other disabled veterans.

What domestic animal lives in Afghanistan in only one copy?

In Afghanistan, Muslim country with a population of over 30 million, there is only one pig. Her name is Hanzir, and she is in the Kabul Zoo. Despite the animal’s isolation, in 2009, during the global swine flu pandemic, Hanzir was quarantined.

Which country did the censors demand to remove from the film Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson?

In the first episode of the film "Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson" Holmes guesses that Watson came from the east. However, in the original voice-over, Holmes’ phrase sounded: “How long since Afghanistan?” The fact is that before the release of the film on television, the artistic council demanded that the filmmakers remove all references to Afghanistan, since shortly before that, Soviet troops were brought in there. I had to re-voice several fragments, inserting “east” and “eastern colonies”.

In which countries are some girls raised as boys?

In Afghanistan and Pakistan, there is a tradition of raising girls as boys - such children are called "bacha posh". Families in which only girls are born resort to this method, which, according to local customs, is considered almost a disgrace for the family. Bacha posh give male name, dressed in boyish clothes and with short hair, she has more opportunities to appear in public, go to school and play sports. However, upon the onset of puberty, the bacha posh has to return to the life of a girl again, losing all male rights, and then get married. They often become bad spouses because they have not learned to properly cook, sew, and do other jobs that are considered feminine.

Why did one Scotsman come to the funeral of his comrade in arms in a woman's dress?

Two Scottish soldiers, Kevin Elliott and Barry Delaney, while serving in Afghanistan, made a promise to each other: if one of them died, the other would come to his funeral in a woman's dress. And so it happened: Kevin died from a missile strike, and Barry came to the ceremony in an acid-green dress and pink leggings, although he grieved and did not hide his tears.

From whom were the Americans forced to buy back the weapons they had donated at four times their cost?

After the entry of Soviet troops into Afghanistan, the Americans presented the Mujahideen, according to various estimates, from 500 to 2000 Stinger man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems. And after the Soviet troops left there, the American government began to buy missiles for 183 thousand dollars apiece. At the same time, the usual cost of a stinger is 38 thousand dollars.

Afghanistan is a country of amazingly beautiful mountains, hot summers and sometimes cruel customs. The conflict has been going on here for many years; a large part of the country’s territory is controlled by militants of various gangs and terrorist organizations, but against the backdrop of all this, ordinary people are somehow trying to continue living an ordinary life.

• Literally translated from Persian, “Afghanistan” means “Silent Country.” At the same time, from the languages ​​of the Turkic group the word “Afghan” is translated as “hidden”. Both of these interpretations are perfect for describing Afghanistan - a mountainous, inaccessible country where all the tribes who wanted to maintain independence hid.
• The largest copper deposit in Eurasia has been discovered near Kabul, the Afghan capital. The largest iron ore deposit in South Asia is located in the same area.
• Afghanistan is considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world along with Somalia ().
• People inhabited modern Afghan lands at least 5 thousand years ago. The rural communities that arose in this area were the first on the planet.
• Scientists believe that one of the ancient religions, Zoroastrianism, originated in Afghanistan several thousand years BC, and Zarathustra himself allegedly lived and died in the local city of Balkh.
• Afghanistan became the first state to recognize the RSFSR after the revolution.
• This country is the largest producer of opiates on the planet. According to UN statistics, about 90% of drugs entering Europe are smuggled across the Afghan border.
• Afghanistan ranks fourth in the world in terms of the number of children born to local women - on average, each woman in this country gives birth 6-7 times.
• In Afghanistan, 47% of men and only 15% of women are literate. Despite this, Afghans are very fond of poetry, and every home has at least one volume of poetry. Closed poetry competitions are held even among illiterate workers and peasants.
• This state ranks sadly first among countries in the world in terms of infant mortality rate - 226 babies under the age of 5 die out of 1000 births.
• The national sport in Afghanistan is called buzkashi. Two teams of riders enter the field, where they have to capture and hold the skin of a goat. Afghan youth love to entertain themselves by kite fighting.
• Afghan Hounds are graceful hunting dogs that, as their breed name suggests, originate from Afghanistan. Scientists have found that these are one of the most difficult dogs to train, but at the same time, Afghans are friendly, playful and love communication with people.
• The national dance of the Afghans is attan, which is usually performed by men. This is a circular dance in which from two to several hundred people participate. The circling to the accompaniment of booming drums and flutes lasts on average from 5 to 30 minutes, but can last up to 5 hours.
• Afghan athletes have taken part in 13 Summer Olympics, and during this time they have won two bronze medals in taekwondo competitions. The same wrestler became victorious both times.
• Afghanistan, where 99% of the population is Muslim, has only one pig, and it is kept in the Kabul Zoo.
• While serving in Afghanistan, two Scottish soldiers jokingly promised each other that if one of them died, the other would come to his funeral dressed as a woman. And so it happened, and the tearful soldier sat at the grave of his friend in a bright yellow dress and pink spats.