Afghanistan

Peter R. Blood, ed. Afghanistan: A Country Study. Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress, 2001.

PREFACE

HISTORY
THE PRE-ISLAMIC PERIOD
Achaemenid Rule, ca. 550-331 B.C.
Alexander and Greek Rule, 330-ca. 150 B.C.
Central Asian and Sassanian Rule, ca. 150 B.C.-700 A.D.
ISLAMIC CONQUEST
Ghaznavid and Ghorid Rule
Mongol Rule, 1220-1506
Mughal-Safavid Rivalry, ca. 1500-1747
AHMAD SHAH AND THE DURRANI EMPIRE
THE GREAT GAME
The Rise of Dost Mohammad

The First Anglo-Afghan War
The Second Anglo-Afghan War
ABDUR RAHMAN KHAN, "THE IRON AMIR," 1880-1901
Consolidation of the Modern State

Modernization and Development of Institutions
THE REIGN OF KING HABIBULLAH, 1901-1919
THE REIGN OF KING AMANULLAH, 1919-29
Third Anglo-Afghan War and Independence

Reform, Popular Reaction, and Forced Abdication
TAJIK RULE, JANUARY-OCTOBER 1929
MUHAMMAD NADIR SHAH, 1929-33
MOHAMMAD ZAHIR SHAH, 1933-73
Zahir Shah and His Uncles, 1933-53

The Pashtunistan Issue
Early Links with the Soviet Union
Experiment with Liberalized Politics
Daoud as Prime Minister, 1953-63
The King Reigns: The Last Decade of the Monarchy, 1963-73
DAOUD'S REPUBLIC, JULY 1973- APRIL 1978
COMMUNISM, REBELLION, AND SOVIET INTERVENTION

THE SOCIETY AND ITS ENVIRONMENT
GEOGRAPHY
Mountains
Rivers
Regions
Climate
POPULATION
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
Ethnic Groups
Pashtun

Tajik
Hazara
Uzbek
Turkmen
Other Groups:
Aimaq

Arab
Kirghiz
Wakhi
Farsiwan

Nuristani
Baluch
Brahui
Qizilbash
Kabuli
Jat
Non-Muslims
Interethnic Relations

Tribes
MODES OF SUBSISTENCE
Pastoralism

Mixed Subsistence Patterns
FAMILY
GENDER ROLES
RELIGION
Early Development of Islam
Sunni and Shia Islam
Sufism
Tenets of Islam
Islamic Expression in Afghanistan
Sunnis of the Hanafi School
Ithna Ashariya (Twelver or Imami) Shia
Ismailis
Sufis
Meaning and Practice
Politicized Islam
EDUCATION
Literacy
Administrative Structure
Enrollment
Curriculum
Teacher Training
Higher Education
Adult Literacy
Current Activities

HEALTH
REFUGEES AND REPATRIATION
WARFARE AND CIVIC CULTURE

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
THE ATTEMPT TO MODERNIZE: 1953-73
The Decision to Accept Soviet Economic and Military Assistance
The Constitutional Period, 1964-73
Disenchantment with the Reforms
The Shafiq Government: A Last Attempt at Reform
DAUD'S REPUBLIC: 1973-78
USURPATION, INVASION AND WAR: 1978-92
The April 1978 Coup d'etat and the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan

Soviet Control and Marxist Government, 1980-89
Government Organization
The Search for Popular Support
Internal Refugees: Flight to the Cities
Factionalism
Najibullah's Leadership, 1986-92
The Soviet Decision to Withdraw, 1986-88
The Geneva Accords, 1987-89
The Failure to Bring Peace
Pakistan's Attempt at a Political Solution, 1987-88
Stalemate: The Civil War, 1989-92
THE AFGHAN RESISTANCE
Its Social Basis, A Segmented Society

The Role of Islam
The Path to Victory and Chaos: 1979-92
The Islamist Factor
The Mujahidin Parties
Emergence of Modern Islamic Thought
The Islamic Youth Movement
Pakistan's Support of Afghan Islamists, 1975-79
Khalis and the Moderate Parties
Abdul Rasul Sayyaf
Disinterest in Unity
The Controversy Over Weapons Distribution
The Ghilzai Factor
Expatriate Misperceptions
Pakistan's Policies and Misperceptions
Internecine Violence
The Council of Commanders, 1990-92
Neighboring Governments: Involvements and Interference
Pakistan

Saudi Arabia
Iran
MUJAHIDIN VICTORY: THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN
The Demise of the Soviet Union, 1991

The Fall of Kabul, April 1992
The United Nations Plan for Political Accommodation
The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Since 1992
The Peshawar Accord, April 25, 1992
The Struggle for Kabul
Mujahidin Attempts to Govern, 1992-95
The Islamabad and Jalalabad Accords, March-April 1993
1995: A Changed Situation
AFGHANISTAN'S PROSPECTS

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