Afghanistan

Afghanistan is currently home to 33 million inhabitants, 99 percent of whom are Muslim (approximately 80 percent are Sunni Muslim while 19 percent are Shi'a Muslim). It is an ethnically diverse country; major ethnic groups are Pashtun and Tajik with smaller portions of the population comprised of Usbek, Hazara, and other groups. Located in southern Asia, Afghanistan is known as the crossroads of central Asia. It consists primarily of rugged mountain and hillside terrain with smaller portions comprised of arid and semiarid plains. Major sources of revenue include agriculture and opium production. Democratic elections were held in both 2004 and 2009, yet the political system of Afghanistan remains unstable. The reconstruction process has been painfully slow and, consequently, women and girls continue to face significant ...