Afghanistan: Introduction

Afghanistan is a landlocked country located in Southern Asia that borders China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.  The geography of Afghanistan is arid and mountainous; the Hindu Kush Mountains run northeast to southwest and divide the northern provinces from the rest of the country. The government system is an Islamic republic. The chief of state and head of government is the President. Afghanistan has a controlled economic system in which the central government directs the economy regarding the production and distribution of goods.  Afghanistan is a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).