AFGHANISTAN
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| (See reference map VIII) |
LAND
647,500 km²; 22% arable (12% cultivated, 10% pasture), 75% desert, waste, or urban, 3% forested
Land boundaries: 5,510 km
PEOPLE
Population: 15,328,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 1.4%; this estimate includes an adjustment for net emigration to Pakistan during recent years, but it does not take into account other demographic consequences of the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan
Nationality: noun—Afghan(s); adjective—Afghan
Ethnic divisions: 50% Pashtuns, 25% Tajiks, 9% Uzbeks, 9% Hazaras; minor ethnic groups include Chahar Aimaks, Turkmen, Baluchi, and others
Religion: 87% Sunni Muslim, 12% Shia Muslim, 1% other
Language: 50% Pashtu, 35% Afghan Persian (Dari), 11% Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen), 10% thirty minor languages (primarily Baluchi and Pashai); much bilingualism
Literacy: 10%
Labor force: 4.98 million (1980 est.); 67.8% agriculture and animal husbandry, 10.2% industry, 6.3% construction, 5.0% commerce, 7.7% services and other
Organized labor: government-controlled unions are being established
GOVERNMENT
Official name: Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
Type: Communist regime backed by multidivisional Soviet force
Capital: Kābul
Political subdivisions: 29 provinces with centrally appointed governors
Legal system: not established; legal education at University of Kābul; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Branches: Revolutionary Council acts as legislature and final court of appeal; President of Council acts as chief of state; Cabinet and judiciary responsible to Council; Presidium chosen by Council has full authority when Council not in session; Loya Jirga (Grand Assembly) supposed to convene eventually and approve permanent constitution
Government leaders: President of the Revolutionary Council and head of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan Babrak KARMAL; Prime Minister Soltan Ali KESHTMAND
Suffrage: universal from age 18
Political parties and leaders: The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) is the sole legal political party
Communists: the PDPA reportedly claims 50,000 members; the Parcham faction of the PDPA was installed on 27 December 1979; members of the deposed Khalqi faction continue to hold some important posts; the Sholaye-Jaweid is a much smaller pro-Beijing group
Other political or pressure groups: the military and other branches of internal security are being rebuilt by the Soviets; insurgency continues throughout the country; widespread opposition on religious grounds and anti-Soviet sentiment
Member of: ADB, Colombo Plan, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, ITU, NAM, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO, WSG; suspended from ISCON in January 1980
ECONOMY
GNP: $2.8 billion (FY79), $225 per capita; real growth rate 2.5% (1975-79)
Agriculture: subsistence farming and animal husbandry; main crops—wheat, cotton, fruits
Major industries: carpets and textiles
Electric power: 360,000 kW capacity (1980); 756 million kWh produced (1980), 50 kWh per capita
Exports: $670.2 million (f.o.b., 1980); mostly fruits and nuts, natural gas, and carpets
Imports: $438.4 million (commercial, c.i.f., 1980); mostly food supplies and petroleum products
Major trade partners: exports—mostly USSR and other Eastern bloc countries; imports—mostly USSR and other Eastern bloc countries
Budget: current expenditure Afl6.7 billion, capital expenditure Afl1.7 billion for FY79 (est.)
Monetary conversion rate: 44.85 Afghanis=US$1 (official, end 1980)
Fiscal year: 21 March-20 March
COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 9.6 km (single track) 1.524-meter gauge, government-owned spur of Soviet line
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