Afghanistan was first invaded by Asians (around 1500 B.C.) and then by Persians. In 330 B.C., Alexander the Great conquered most of Afghanistan. Ever since, Afghanistan has been fought for by Arab Muslims, Mongols, the UK, and Russia. The British left and Afghanistan became independent in 1919.

“We will never be a pawn in someone else's game. We will always be Afghanistan.”―Ahmad Shah Massoud

Independence Day: August 19, 1919. This day is to commemorate the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919, which allowed for a neutral relation between Afghanistan and Britain.

The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in the late 1970s, but the locals rebelled against them due to their dislike of the communistic policies. There were thousands of troops sent in to fight the revolt and the rebels who called themselves “holy warriors” also known as “mujaheddin”. Although the Soviets had better equipment, the so - called holy warriors had support and equipment from the US. The Soviets began retreating from Afghanistan in 1988, and these holy warriors ended up overthrowing the government. However, there was lack of stability as there were lots of fights by different alliances that began to govern and rule the country.

The official languages of Afghanistan are Pashto and Dari