Tuesday, May 21, 2013 8:14 PM EST

Afghanistan

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a landlocked country in South-Central Asia. It is variously described as being located within Central Asia, South Asia, or the Middle East. It is bordered by Iran in the west, Pakistan in the south and east, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north, and China in the far northeast.

The geographic entity now known as Afghanistan has a very long history, and has been an ancient focal point of the Silk Road and migration. It is an important geostrategic location, connecting East and West Asia or the Middle East. The land has been a target of various invaders, as well as a source from which local powers invaded neighboring regions to form their own empires. Ahmad Shah Durrani created the Durrani Empire in 1747, which is considered the beginning of modern Afghanistan. Read More

Articles About Afghanistan

Pepsi to march in, as foreign troops leave Afghanistan

By Reuters UK

PepsiCo <PEP.N> will open its first plant in Afghanistan in 2014, its Afghan partner said on Monday, the same year foreign troops complete their withdrawal from the country after 13 years of war. (12:28 am)

MORE TOPICS: DUBAI, PAKISTAN, PEPSICO

Brazil FIFA security
Brazil 2014 Fifa World Cup to be Protected by US Robots and Israeli Drones

By IBTimes UK

PackBot robots, Israeli drones, Russian missiles and German tanks for World Cup. (9:35 pm)

MORE TOPICS: IRAQ, ISRAEL, RUSSIA

peake
Ex-Army Pilot Will Fly the Flag for Britain in Space

By IBTimes UK

Major Tim Peake calls it a 'great privilege' to be first Briton selected for mission by European Space Agency. (May 20)

Donors pledge 3.25 billion euros to aid Mali recovery

By Reuters UK

International donors pledged 3.25 billion euros (2.77 billion pounds) on Wednesday to help Mali recover from a conflict with al Qaeda-linked Islamists, exceeding the West African country's target. (May 16)

MORE TOPICS: AL-QAEDA, GERMANY, EUROPEAN UNION, ELECTIONS, MALI

U.S. Navy makes aviation history with carrier drone launch

By Reuters UK

The U.S. Navy made aviation history on Tuesday by launching an unmanned jet off an aircraft carrier for the first time, taking an important step toward expanded use of drones by the American military with an eye on possible rivals like China and Iran. (May 15)

MORE TOPICS: CHINA, HUMAN RIGHTS, PAKISTAN, BROADBAND, U.S. NAVY, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Prince Harry competed for team GB at the 4th Warrior games in Colorado Springs.
Prince Harry Calls for Paralympic Warrior Games to Come to UK

By IBTimes UK

After helping light the flame at the 4th Paralympic Warrior Games for wounded soldiers, prince said he hoped to bring the event to the UK. (May 12)

MORE TOPICS: NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY

Sharif poised to form strong government after Pakistan poll

By Reuters UK

Toppled in a 1999 military coup, jailed and exiled, Pakistan's Nawaz Sharif has made a triumphant election comeback and looks set to form a stable government capable of implementing reforms needed to rescue the fragile economy. (May 12)

MORE TOPICS: IMF, PAKISTAN, INDIA, INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Supporters of the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) hold a portrait of party leader Nawaz Sharif as they attend an election campaign rally in Rawalpindi May 7, 2013.
Nawaz Sharif Stages Comeback in Landmark Pakistan Election

By Reuters

Toppled in a 1999 coup, jailed and exiled, Nawaz Sharif has made a triumphant election comeback and was heading for a third term as Pakistan's prime minister. (May 12)

MORE TOPICS: AL-QAEDA, PAKISTAN, INDIA, INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, CRICKET

Britain's Prince Harry (L), and British Ambassador Peter Westmacott (R), celebrate the 18th birthday of Olympic gold medal swimmer Missy Franklin during a reception at the Sanctuary Golf Course in Sedalia, Colorado May 10, 2013.
Prince Harry to Attend Armed Forces Paralympics on US Tour

By IBTimes UK

Prince Harry will attend the opening ceremony of the Warrior Games on the third day of his US tour. (May 11)

MORE TOPICS: GOLD, MICHELLE OBAMA, WHITE HOUSE

Violence casts shadow over Pakistan's milestone election

By Reuters UK

A string of militant attacks and gunfights that killed at least 15 people cast a long shadow over Pakistan's general election on Saturday, but millions still turned out to vote in a landmark test of the troubled country's democracy. (May 11)

MORE TOPICS: AL-QAEDA, PAKISTAN, ELECTIONS, THE NEW YORK TIMES, NEW YORK, INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND