Afghanistan is a mountainous landlocked country located in Central Asia, north and west of Pakistan and east of Iran. Afghanistan has an area of 647,500 square kilometers (250,000 square miles), making it slightly smaller than the state of Texas. The population of Afghanistan is estimated to be between 24 and 29 million. Afghanistan is a heterogeneous nation in which four major ethnic groups coexist: the Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks. Numerous other minor ethnic groups (including the Nuristanis, Baluchis, and Turkmens) also call Afghanistan their home. Although the majority of Afghanis (99%) belong to the Islamic faith, there are also small pockets of Sikhs and Hindus. The official languages of the country are Pashto and Dari (Afghan Persian).

Afghanistan has a rich cultural heritage spanning more than five thousand years. Because most Afghans live outside the cities, their mode of living is best described as that of a peasant tribal society. Kinship is...