alternative words: Panshir valley, Panjshir
keywords:
locality
related topics:
Taliban
,
Soviet invasion
,
United front
,
Ahmad Shah Masoud
,
Kabul
related web sites:
http://www.baharazadi.com/panjsher.htm
explanation: Located in the north east of Kabul and surrounded by Hindu Kush mountains Panjshir valley has played important role in Afghan war due to its vicinity to Kabul and its strategic value: a main road goes to Tajikistan through Khawak pass. The late commander Masoud organized resistance against Soviet occupation and got the name of lion of Panjshir. It has then become the base of northern alliance. Panjshir river goes through the valley of 2000m high and comes out near Bagram airport in 50km north of Kabul.
alternative words: Pashto, Pashtu language, Pashto language, Pashtun language, Pushto, Pukhto
keywords:
language
related topics:
Pashtun
,
Afghanistan
,
Dari
related web sites:
http://www.afghanan.net/pashto/index.htm
explanation: Pashto language is spoken in the south and east of Afghanistan, and another side of frontier in Pakistan. Pashto is an Indo-European language and owns some similarities with Persian language. Pashto is spoken by more than 1 third of the Afghan population. The constitution of 1964 declared Pashto and Dari as 2 official languages of Afghanistan.
alternative words: Pakhtun, Pathan, Pashtoon, Pakhtoon
keywords:
race
related topics:
Pashtu
related web sites:
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/1945/Pakhtoon.html
explanation: Pashto speaking people are called Pashtuns. They are living on the both side of frontier between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The total number of Afghan Pashtuns is 7,5 millions and form the largest ethnic group in Afganistan while Pakistani Pashtuns are 14 millions. They are farmers, herdsmen and soldiers, and form multiple tribes under patriarchal authorities. Their dominant religion is Sunni Islam. Pakistani Pashtuns are supposed to have emigrated from Afghanistan between 13 and 16th centuries.
alternative words: Peshawar city
keywords:
pakistan
,
town
related topics:
Muhammad Daoud
,
Taliban
,
Pashtun
,
Burhanuddin Rabbani
,
Ahmad Shah Masoud
,
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar
related web sites:
http://www.alephx.com/peshawar/html/info.htm
explanation: Ancient capital of Gandhara kingdom more than 2000 years ago, Mughul emperor built there a fortress. During the regime of Daoud then Soviet occupation, many Afghans such as Rabbani, Daoud and Hekmatyar fled to Peshawar to organize an Islamic resistance. Peshawar has been also an important center to form Taliban soldiers thanks to its inhabitants, most of them Pashtuns. The total population is 750,000. Incidentally, Peshawar means "place at frontier" in Pashtu language.
alternative words: Quetta city, Kwatah
keywords:
pakistan
,
town
related topics:
Kandahar
,
Pashtu
related web sites:
http://anjum.cjb.net
explanation: Capital of Balutchistan in the western Pakistan near Afghanistan border, Quette has been a strategic city since old times thanks to its communication network with Iran and Afghanistan. The ancient capital of Afghanistan, Kandahar is 200km northwest from Quetta through Khojak pass. Quetta became a part of British India in 1876. The great earthquake of May 1935 completely destroyed Quetta. The total population is about 280,000. Incidentally, Quetta means "fort" in Pashtu language.
alternative words: Saur uprising, Saur revolt, Saur insurrection, Saour revolution, Saour uprising, Saour revolt
keywords:
communism
,
event
related topics:
Muhammad Daoud
,
King Zahir
,
Hafizollah Amin
explanation: After Daoud's coup against King Zahir with a participation of communists, may of them entered his cabinet. But soon their relation became strained due to his iron fist policy. The assassination of Mir Akbar Khyber, an important figure of PDPA provoked a popular riot in April 1978 (Saur means April in Afghan) and communists militaries recruited by Amin encircled the presidential palace. Daoud was killed with his entourage and Democratic republic of Afghanistan was proclaimed.
alternative words: Tadzhik, Tajiks
keywords:
race
related topics:
Afghanistan
,
United front
,
Ahmad Shah Masoud
,
Herat
related web sites:
http://www.tajik.com
explanation: Tajik forms the second largest ethnic group of Afghanistan with 5 million of population and live in northeastern region on the both side of the border with Tajikistan. Tajik language belongs to the same family as Farsi (Persian language). They form the essential part of the United front's troops like ex defense minister, and the late commander Masoud. Their dominant religion is Sunni Islam but the minority living in western Afganistan around Herat believes Shi'a Islam.
alternative words: Talib, Taleban, Taleb, Talibaan, Student
keywords:
islam
,
organization
related topics:
Kandahar
,
Muhammad Omar
,
ISI
related web sites:
http://www.afghan-info.com/TALIBAN.HTM
,
http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/taleban.htm
explanation: Literally "students", they suddenly emerged in late 1994 at Kandahar, when 30 students guided by an Islam teacher, Muhammad Omar, succeeded to drive out local Mujahideen. Endorsed overwhelmingly by the people tired with perpetual combats among Mujahideen factions, Taliban quickly captured most of Afghanistan. Most important decision-making structure is "shura", a council of mullahs. Though they are controlling 90% of Afghanistan, few countries have recognized their regime. They are now at war against USA.
alternative words: Northern alliance, United Islamic front, United Islamic front for the salvation of Afghanistan
keywords:
islam
,
organization
related topics:
Taliban
,
Jamiat i Islami
,
Hezb e Islami
,
King Zahir
,
Tajik
,
Mujahideen
,
Abdul Qassim Fahim
,
Panjshir valley
related web sites:
http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/northern_alliance.htm
explanation: After the fall of Kabul in 1996, many Mujahideen groups who had fight one against another beforehand formed a coalition force against Taliban unless they might disappear. It includes Rabbani and Masoud of Jamiat i Islami and an ex communist general, Abdul Rashid Dostam. They are now confined to the northeastern region by Taliban and control only 10% of Afghanistan. Most of the fighters are Tajiks and claim to support a moderate Islam. They are now trying to form a coalition government with ex king Zahir.
alternative words: Uzbeks
keywords:
race
related topics:
Afghanistan
,
Mazar i Sharif
,
Abdul Rashid Dostam
related web sites:
http://www.rferl.org/bd/uz/
explanation: Uzbeks are a minority (about 5% of the total population) living in the northern Afghanistan on the both side of border with Uzbekistan. They speak a variant of Turkish language and believe Sunni Islam. Ex soviet general and warlord of Mazar-i-Sharif, Abdul Rashid Dostam is an Uzbek.
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