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COUNTRY INFORMATION - AFGHANISTAN

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Location Of Afghanistan
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, Afghanistan is a landlocked country. 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.

Airports
Kabul Airport is 10 miles from the city. Taxis are available to the city centre and the travel time is about 30 minutes.

Language
The principal languages are Pashtu and Dari Persian but some English and Russian may also be spoken.

Places To Go
It should be noted that much of the land in Afghanistan is still mined and, therefore, trips outside urban areas are ill advised and dangerous.

The Gardens of Babur and a well-presented museum are among the few conventional attractions for tourists. The ancient walls of the citadel Bala Hissar remain too dangerous to circumnavigate. There are plans to re-open the National Gallery in the near future. Travel outside Kabul is not generally permitted to tourists.

Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar Province, used to be an attractive winter resort, with many cypress trees and flowering shrubs. Consisting of two huge mountain ranges, the Hindu Kush is a wild and remote region. Although travelling by car is possible, the steepness of the routes makes vehicles prone to breakdowns. The Hindu Kush is best left for travellers prepared to rough it. For those who make the journey, the mountains, valleys and lakes provide stunning scenery.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Malak Azghar Road
Kabul
Afghanistan
Tel: (20) 210 0366.
Fax: (86) 689 099 88.

British Embassy
The British Embassy in Kabul is not yet able to provide consular assistance, and British citizens must contact the Embassy in London for advice via the Afghanistan Unit (e-mail: afghanistanunit@fco.gov.uk). However, there are plans for the Embassy to re-open in the near future. The British High Commission in Islamabad deals with enquiries relating to Afghanistan (see Pakistan section).

Embassy of the Islamic State of Afghanistan
31 Prince’s Gate
London
SW7 1QQ
UK
Tel: (020) 7589 8891/2.
Fax: (020) 7584 4801 or 7581 3452 (consular section).
E-mail: afghanembassy@btinternet.com
Website: www.embassyofafghanistan.org
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 09:00-16:00; 09:30-13:30 (visa applications).

Ariana Afghan Airlines
PO Box 76
Ansari Watt
AF-Kabul, Afghanistan
Tel: (762) 523 844/5.
Fax: (762) 523 846.
E-mail: flyariana@mail.com
Website: www.flyariana.com
Offers limited tourist information only.

CIA World Factbook - Afghanistan

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