1. By: Meg Carr

2.  History

3.  Between the late 1800s and early 1900s Great Britain fought 3 wars with Afghanistan with the goal of consolidating it’s Indian empire and to prevent Russia from moving South into their territory (2)  Conflicts with British India continued until 1970s (2) http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.oldhousebooks.co.u k/images

4.  In the 1970s King Zahir Shah tired to modernize Afghanistan (2)  However, these modernizations only truly took effect in the capital of Kabul(2)  He gave women more rights and tried to modernize the economy(2) http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://intelligencepoo l.com/images/afghan%2520king.jpg&imgrefurl=http://intellige ncepool.com http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/121/262098367_7c10b4e30f.jpg&imgre furl=http://www.flickr.com http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://fractal- vortex.narod.ru/Afghanistan/Afghanistan_files/afghanstudents_ 1980_Kabul_U.jpg&imgrefurl=http://

5.  In 1978, Communists seized Afghanistan (2)  Islamic leaders called on Afghanis to oppose the new government (2)  Late 1979, the Soviet Union sent troops to support the Communist regime (2) http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j 313/unitarymoonbat/khalq-flag.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.dailykos.com/ http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ygyuqVU0Dv4 /TVD745Mfo4I/AAAAAAAAAR4/UjGOWnA8cv0/s1600/russian-army- withdrawing-from-afghanistan.jpg

6.  Afghan guerrillas or mujahideen (Islamic warriors) resisted the Soviet invasion (2)  Hundreds of thousands of Afghans died and millions fled to Pakistan and Iran (2)  The U.S. supported the mujahideen and the Muslim fighters who poured into Afghanistan from the rest of the Muslim world fight communism (2) http://sjmb.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/m ujahideen-afghanistan-1984.jpg http://www.swedishcommittee.org/afghanistan/index/map_afgh anistan.gif

7.  The Soviet troops withdrew in 1988- 89(2)  However, civil war continued into the 1990s (2)  In 1992 the mujahideen overthrew the Afghanistan’s communist president(2)  However it was not a smooth transition (2) Taliban fighters ride a tank they have captured from Hezb-i-Islami. 1995. World Conflicts Today. ProQuest, 2011. Web. 11 Apr. 2011.

8.   Almost all of the Taliban leaders were mujahideen who had fought the communists(2)  The Taliban came into the public view in 1992 when they freed from bandits a convoy of Pakistani trucks(2)  The Taliban went on to seize weapons and planes which they used to control Kandahar (2) Rise of the Taliban http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://1.bp.blo gspot.com/- sTEk0d9yUGo/TWCvC1_22ZI/AAAAAAAAACg/Rgzw m9g7HBI/s1600/map_afghanistan_kandahar.gif&imgrefu rl=http://educational- b.blogspot.com/2011/02/kandahar-province-with-more- pictures.

9.  Kabul fell to the Taliban on September 26, 1996 (2)  They imposed the strictest sharia law in the world (2)  These harsh laws included: amputations for thieves, stonings for adulterers, and mandatory long burkas for women and beards for men. (2) http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://jalopnik.com/assets/resourc es/2008/03/Burka.jpg&imgrefurl

10.  In the late 1990s the Taliban open Afghanistan to the terrorist group Al- Qa’ida led by Osama bin Laden (2)  After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, special forces from the U.S. and several other countries began their offensive against the Taliban on October 7, 2001 (2)  By the end of 2001 the Taliban was out and an interim government was established (2)  However, the Taliban has not given up (2) http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CZ6DtE8Ne9g/TIdZLquurkI/AAAAAAAABfA/XMJJ wuSr37I/s400/twin- towers280_436781a.jpg&imgrefurl=http://tommclaughlin.blog spot.com/2010_09_01_

11.  Fighting continues today in Afghanistan (2)  The Taliban and other warlords still control many parts of the country (2)  In June 2010 the War in Afghanistan surpassed Vietnam as the U.S.’s longest conflict (2) http://www.topnews.in/files/osama-bin-laden101.jpg http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.historycommons.org/events- images/371_afghanistan_divided2050081722-9311.jpg&imgrefurl=http

12.  Global and Regional Impacts

13.  As the conflict continues the more the Afghan people will suffer violence at the hands of the Taliban and warlords(2)  Continued conflict could cause major problems in Pakistan and other neighboring countries(2)  The Taliban and al-Qa’ida seek refuge in the tribal areas of Pakistan and could threaten the Pakistani government(2)  If Afghanistan remains a safe place for terrorists to hide and plot attacks the entire world is at rick(2)

14.  Obstacles

15.  There continue to be many obstacles to success in Afghanistan  The terrain in Afghanistan is very difficult for fighting and makes it easy for the Taliban and Al-Qa’ida hide out (2)  The opium trade is a large part of the economy meaning many average citizens do not have a way to support themselves without this illicit business (3)  Many people do not support the government that has been established meaning they still support the Taliban and are willing to hide them (2)  Also, U.S. support for the long and expensive war is waning (2)  Violent extremists have been given sanctuary and support by elements in western Pakistan (5)

16.  Possible Solutions

17.  There must be a clear assessment of Pakistan’s military and the U.S. must create a U.S.-Pakistan relationship based not solely on counterterrorism but a positive future for Pakistan (5)  The U.S. must work on creating consistent safety for the common citizens so they will support our campaign (5)  The U.S. must work to increase the size and capabilities of the Afghan National Security Forces (5)  The U.S needs to work with Afghan leaders to reduce corruption in the government and work to generate support (5)

18.  There must be improvement in Afghanistan- Pakistan relationship(4)  Leaders in both countries need to commit to talks in a safe and trusted environment (4)  It is also vital to involve tribal leaders along the boarder (4)  They also need to discuss the role of India in Afghanistan (4) http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.newsmild.com/wp- content/uploads/turkey-hosts-pakistan-afghan-talks.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.newsmild.com/

19.  Human Geography

20.  Geography: Afghanistan is (1)landlocked, it is divided by the Hindu Kush mountain range, and there is a lack of potable water (1)  (3)Population : about 29,835,392 (1)  (2)Life expectancy : 45.02 years (1)  There are many different (6)ethnic groups including: Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara Aimak, Turkmen, and Baloch (1)  (7)Literacy rate : male, 43.1% and female, 12.6% (1)  (4)Refugees and (5) Internally displaced persons : 132,246 (mostly those displaced in south and west due to drought and instability (1)  (8)Religion : 80% Sunni Muslim, 19% Shia Muslim, 1% other (1)

21. Works Cited