IAS Gyan

Daily News Analysis

Afghanistan and Central Asia

17th August, 2021 Geography

Context

  • Taliban forces have swept across Afghanistan, finally capturing the capital city of Kabul. As people are desperately trying to leave Afghanistan, many will likely seek refuge in neighbouring Tajikistan.

 

Location (Afghanistan)

  • Afghanistan is a mountainous landlocked country.
  • At the crossroads of Central and South Asia, it is bordered by India and Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to the north, and China to the northeast.
  • Kabul is the capital and largest city, composed mostly of ethnic Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks.

 

 

Red- Durand Line

Location (Tajikistan)

  • Tajikistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia.
  • Its capital and largest city is Dushanbe.
  • It is bordered by Afghanistan to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north and China to the east.
  • It is the smallest nation in Central Asia by area.
  • It is covered by mountains of the Pamir range.
  • The only major areas of lower land are in the north (part of the Fergana Valley), and in the southern Kofarnihon and Vakhsh river valleys, which form the Amu Darya River.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-how-the-rise-of-taliban-has-put-tajikistan-in-a-spot-7456846/