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| Country background |
Afghanistan
Use the tabs below to find online resources about Afghanistan from governmental and nongovernmental sources. Most of these sources are freely available to the public, but titles followed by a CU symbol are only accessible on campus or via VPN.
- Country Profiles
- Official Government
- Articles and Databases
- Diplomacy and Aid
- Health
- Military and Peacekeeping
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- Related Guides
Country profile, economic and trade information, and foreign relations from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
BBC News Profile - Afghanistan
A guide to history, politics and economic background of countries from BBC News.
CIA World Factbook - Afghanistan
Country profile provides information on country background, geography, people, government, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues.
EurasiaNet - Afghanistan
EurasiaNet, an Open Society Institute resource, provides information and analysis about political, economic, environmental and social developments in the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus, as well as in Russia, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia.
FAO Country Profiles: Afghanistan
Information on economic and agricultural issues from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It also has a good selection of maps.
Human Development Report on Afghanistan
Provides quick statistics on human development, economy, labor force, and population from the United Nations Development Programme.
IAEA - Afghanistan
Country factsheet on multilateral and safeguard agreements from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
IMF - Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Country information, reports and publications from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
ITC - Afghanistan
Country-specific trade and market profiles, map, and trade statistics from the International Trade Centre (ITC).
Library of Congress Country Study - Afghanistan
This is a book-length report studying the history, social customs, and politics of the country from early times to the present.
OHCHR - Afghanistan
Country background, treaties, reporting status, calendar of events and publications related to human rights from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
UNdata Country Profile - Afghanistan
Provides summary, economic, social, and environmental statistics from the United Nations Statistics Division.
UNESCO Worldwide - Afghanistan
Highlights cooperation between the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and its Member States.
- UNESCO Communication & Information - Afghanistan
Country profile, news and links to related projects and web sites. - UNESCO Institute for Statistics - Afghanistan
A selection of national statistics on education, literacy, science and technology, culture, and communication. - UNESCO Office Tehran
Cluster Office to Afghanistan, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Pakistan and Turkmenistan in the Central and South-West Asia Cluster. - UNESCO World Heritage - Afghanistan
Cultural and natural heritage properties and documents on the World Heritage List.
United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office- Afghanistan
Country profile covering history, politics, economy, human rights, relations with the UK, and travel.
United Nations News Centre - News Focus: Afghanistan
News, press releases, official statements and reports.
United Nations Statistics Division: Environment Snapshot - Afghanistan
Country snapshots offer national environment statistics.
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics: Trade with Afghanistan
U.S. trade in goods (imports, exports and balance) with Afghanistan.
U.S. Department of Commerce - Afghanistan Investment and Reconstruction Task Force
Country profile about doing business in Afghanistan by the Commercial Service, the global business solutions unit of the Department of Commerce.
U.S. Department of Energy - Afghanistan
Country analysis report from the Energy Information Administration.
U.S. Department of State - Background Note: Afghanistan
This resource provides background information on issues such as the economy, history, politics, and foreign relations. The State Department also provides access to annual reports on human rights and terrorism.
Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Ministry of Commerce and Industries
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation & Development
National Assembly of Afghanistan
Office of the President
Provides information on the duties and activities of the Afghan President. Also provides information on the National Assembly, legislative processes, and the Cabinet.
Supreme Court of Afghanistan
- International Area Studies Africa/Middle East CU
Collection of databases from the University of Colorado covering Africa and the Middle East (Afghanistan is included in the Middle East database). - International Area Studies General CU
Collection of general databases from the University of Colorado covering international issues.
International Area Studies Statistics CU
Collection of international statistics databases from the University of Colorado.
Declassified information available from the FOIA Electronic Reading Room. Enter "Afghanistan" or "Afghan" as the search terms.
- National Intelligence Council (NIC) Declassified Documents
Database of intelligence reports, National Intelligence Estimates, and other publications produced by the National Intelligence Council or its predecessor organizations, the Office of National Estimates and the Office of Reports and Estimates since 1946.
The Congressional Research Service (CRS), the research arm of Congress, prepares reports (usually under 20 pages long) on topics of interest to members of Congress. Enter "Afghanistan" as the search term.
CrisisWatch Database
Monthly bulletin of significant situations of conflict or potential conflict around the world.
Declassified Documents Reference System CU
Search this database to find declassified documents related to Afghanistan.
Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC)
Department of Defense Scientific and Technical Reports Collection provides access to citations to unclassified unlimited documents that have been entered into DTIC's Technical Reports (TR) Database, as well as the electronic full-text of many of these documents.
Digital National Security Archive CU
Database of primary declassified documents regarding critical U.S. policy decisions. Enter "Afghanistan" as the search term.
- Afghanistan: The Making of U.S. Policy, 1973-1990 CU
This database has gathered material from the U.S. government and written essays on the relationship between Afghanistan and the United States.
An integrated database containing information on armed conflicts and peace keeping, arms production and trade, military expenditure, armed forces and weapons.
Global Legal Information Network (GLIN)
"Public database of official texts of laws, regulations, judicial decisions, and other complementary legal sources contributed by governmental agencies and international organizations."
Human Rights Watch
News and reports related to human rights in Afghanistan.
LexisNexis Academic Country & Region Reports CU
News, country briefings, and country risk guides. Filter by country or choose "Country & Region Reports" from publication type.
SESRIC Statistics Database
Searchable statistical database for member countries from the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), a subsidiary organ of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
Statistical Database System (SDBS) Online
SDBS is the the Asian Development Bank's central statistical database that stores macro-economic and social data of its developing member countries.
UNdata
UNdata provides a single entry point allowing users to search and download numerous statistical resources of the United Nations System.
World dataBank
Contains data from the World Bank, including the World Development Indicators & Global Development Finance, Gender Statistics, Education Statistics, Health Nutrition and Population Statistics, African Development Indicators, Global Economic Monitor, and Millennium Development Goals. Users can select variables (some going as far back as 1960) to create customized tables, charts, maps, and reports.
Worldwide Incidents Tracking System (WITS)
WITS is the National Counterterrorism Center's database of terrorist incidents.
Projects, publications, and news about Afghanistan and the ADB.
Delegation of the European Commission to Afghanistan
The Delegations of the External Service serve European Union interests throughout the world.
Embassy of Afghanistan
Diplomatic representation of Afghanistan in the United States.
Embassy of the United States in Kabul, Afghanistan
Diplomatic representation of the U.S. in Afghanistan.
EU's Relations with Afghanistan
Overview, country strategy, EU support, and documents on the European Union's relations with Afghanistan.
G-77 at the United Nations
The Group of 77 is an intergovernmental organization of developing states in the UN. It provides the means for the countries of the South to articulate and promote their collective economic interests and enhance their joint negotiating capacity on all major international economic issues within the United Nations system, and promote South-South cooperation for development. There are now 130 member states (including Afghanistan), although the name G-77 was retained because of its historical significance.
ILO - SRO-New Delhi (Afghanistan)
The Subregional Office for South Asia, New Delhi (SRO-New Delhi) covers seven countries in South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Iran Islamic Republic of, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) for the International Labour Organization (ILO).
IRIN Humanitarian Profile - Afghanistan
IRIN (Integrated Regional Information Networks), part of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), provides news and analysis about sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia for the humanitarian community.
Islamic Development Bank
"The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) is a Multilateral Development Bank (MDB), established to foster the economic development and social progress of its member countries and Muslim communities in non-member countries in accordance with the principles of Shari'ah (Islamic Law). There are 56 member countries (including Afghanistan).
Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the United Nations
Web site of member state missions and their representatives to the United Nations.
ReliefWeb - Afghanistan
ReliefWeb, administered by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), provides news, documents, maps, and background information on emergency assistance by country. Wait a minute, I’ll go get Leanne,” as if we were consulting American Jurisprudence Second Edition.
SAARC
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) promotes economic and social development in member states (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka).
SESRIC - Islamic State of Afghanistan
Socioeconomic statistics and information for member countries from the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRTCIC), a subsidiary organ of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
UNAMA
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is the political mission of the United Nations Security Council supporting the process of rebuilding and national reconciliation in Afghanistan.
UNDP in Afghanistan
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) helps countries work toward human rights, democratic governance, poverty reduction, crisis prevention and recovery, energy and environment for sustainable development, and HIV/AIDS prevention.
UNHCR
News, operations, statistics, background, analysis and policy, and maps from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR). Select Afghanistan from the "Browse by country" drop-down menu on the right.
United Nations Division for Sustainable Development - Afghanistan
Economic, social and environmental policies and plans for sustainable development from the UN Department Economic and Social Affairs.
United Kingdom and Afghanistan
Information on news, political progress, work of the international community, UK assistance to Afghanistan, counter-narcotics, security, and human rights from the United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
USAID - Afghanistan
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) economic and humanitarian assistance programs in Afghanistan.
U.S. Department of State - Afghanistan
U.S.-Afghanistan relations, humanitarian assistance, reconstruction, and country background notes.
World Bank - Afghanistan
World Bank data, projects, and research in Afghanistan.
World Food Programmeme - Afghanistan
The World Food Programmeme (WFP) is the United Nations frontline agency in the fight against global hunger.
World Trade Organization - Afghanistan (Observer Country)
Provides key information on trade statistics, WTO commitments, disputes, trade policy reviews, and notifications for observer countries.
Country situation analysis and news in Afghanistan from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.
WHO (World Health Organization)
- WHO - Afghanistan
Information and statistics on the status of public health in Afghanistan from WHO. - WHO Country Office in Afghanistan
Afghanistan health information and program site. From WHO-EMRO. - WHO-EMRO
Official site of the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean
Region Office (WHO-EMRO). - WHO-EMRO: Country Health System Profile - Afghanistan
Information and health indicators about Afghanistan. From WHO-EMRO. - WHO-EMRO: Roll Back Malaria - Afghanistan
Malaria situation analysis in Afghanistan. From WHO-EMRO.
Maps, agencies, military branches, nuclear capability, news, and references from GlobalSecurity.org.
Afghanistan: Security Assistance
Provides information on Political-Military-administered security assistance funds from the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, U.S. Department of State.
International Crisis Group - Afghanistan
Reports, briefings, and analysis of violent conflicts and peace implementation in Afghanistan.
Military Policy Awareness Links (MiPALS) - Afghanistan
MiPALs are published by the National Defense University (NDU) Library to provide access to key U.S. policy statements on the country or topic for Military Education Research Library Network (MERLN) users.
NATO
Resources on Afghanistan from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
- International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) - NATO
UN-mandated ISAF-NATO is "assisting the Afghan Government in extending and exercising its authority and influence across the country, creating the conditions for stabilization and reconstruction." -
NATO's Role in Afghanistan
International assistance in providing security and stability in Afghanistan.
May 1988-March 1990: Assisted in "ensuring the implementation of the Agreements on the Settlement of the Situation Relating to Afghanistan and in this context to investigate and report possible violations of any of the provisions of the Agreements."
U.S. Department of Defense
- Defend America: Afghanistan Update
News about the War on Terrorism from the U.S. Department of Defense. - Into Afghanistan (2001-2005): Operation Enduring Freedom Marks 4 Years
This War on Terror Special Report covers photo essays on Afghan Elections, Medical Task Force, Afghan Army, Bridge Provides Link to Kandahar, First Lady Visit, Civil Affairs, Military Support, and Into Afghanistan. - Securing Afghanistan: Stabilization and Growth
Site from the U.S. Department of Defense covering security and stabilization, reconstruction and opportunity, governance and democracy, and life on the ground.
U.S. Central Command conducts operations to attack, disrupt and defeat terrorism, deter and defeat adversaries, deny access to WMD, assure regional access, strengthen regional stability, build the self-reliance of partner nations’ security forces, and protect the vital interests of the United States within the area of responsibility.
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars - Afghanistan
Collection of historic and current reports and documents on Afghanistan.
Try these searches to see some of the resources in Chinook, the library catalog:
| Electronic Resources | Print and Electronic Resources |
| afghanistan and econom* | afghanistan and econom* |
| afghanistan and histor* | afghanistan and histor* |
| afghanistan and politic* | afghanistan and politic* |
| afghanistan (government publications only) |
afghanistan (government publications only) |
The * replaces up to five characters in a word.
For additional foreign information, arranged by subject, see the Subject Page.

