20,414,000 (1994).

31.0 per sq km.

Kabul

1,036,407 (1982).

Afghanistan is a landlocked country, sharing its borders with Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikstan to the north, China to the northeast, Pakistan to the east and south and Iran to the west. On the eastern tip of the Iranian plateau, central Afghanistan is made up of a tangled mass of mountain chains. The Hindu Kush is the highest range, rising to more than 7500m (24,600ft). The Bamian Valley separates the Hindu Kush from Koh-i-Baba, the central mountain range and source of the Helmand River. To the north and southwest of these mountains, alluvial plains provide fertile agricultural soil. To the northeast is Kabul, the capital. The other major cities are Jalalabad, Kandahar, Mazar-i-Sharif and Herat.7500m (24,600ft). The Bamian Valley separates the Hindu Kush from Koh-i-Baba, the central mountain range and source of the Helmand River. To the north and southwest of these mountains, alluvial plains provide fertile agricultural soil. To the northeast is Kabul, the capital. The other major cities are Jalalabad, Kandahar, Mazar-i-Sharif and Herat.

Republic. Civil war since 1992. Head of State: President Burhanuddin Rabbani since 1992. Head of Government: Prime Minister Abdolghaffur Rawanfarhadi, appointed by the anti-Taliban opposition coalition (UIFSA) in 1997. The Taliban ousted Rabbani's Government in 1996 and installed a strict Islamic regime which is, however, not recognised by the UN; the Taliban control two-thirds of the country.

The official languages are Pashtu and Dari Persian. Some English, French and German is also spoken.

Islamic majority (mostly Sunni), with Hindu and Sikh minorities.

GMT + 4.5.

220 volts AC, 50Hz.

At the time of writing, no telephone, fax, telex, telegram or postal services are available. Telephone/Fax: No IDD. In general, there is normally a severe shortage of lines for operator-connected international calls. Telegram: Under normal circumstances, these may be sent from the Central Post Office, Kabul (closes at 2100). Post: Airmail usually takes one week to reach Europe. Press: The Kabul Times is the main English-language newspaper.