Afghanistan facts

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,. Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located within South-Central Asia. The north consists of fertile plains, whilst the south-west consists of deserts where temperatures can get very hot in summers. Kabul serves as the capital and its largest city.

Kabul. The Soviets turned the city of Kabul into their command centre during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. Kabul was considered moderately safe during that period. However, about 80 percent of the city was destroyed during the civil war between different mujahideen factions, which broke out after the Soviet's retreat.

Afghanistan. Abdul Ahad Mohmand is a former Afghan Air Force aviator who became the first Afghan citizen and fourth Muslim to visit outer space. He became one of Soyuz TM-6 crew members and spent nine days aboard the Mir space station in 1988 as an Intercosmos Research Cosmonaut.