Afghanistan
Background
Afghanistan is a landlocked country in South and Central Asia, officially known as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. It borders Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, Tajikistan to the northeast, and China to the northeast and east. The country covers 652,864 square kilometers and is largely mountainous, with plains in the north and southwest separated by the Hindu Kush range. Kabul is the capital and largest city, and the population is estimated at between 35 million and 50 million.
The country remains significant in regional and international affairs because of its location at the crossroads of major transit and security corridors and because instability there affects neighboring states. In recent years, Afghanistan has been included in multilateral discussions on drug use and prevention in Central Asia, reflecting continued concern over narcotics, youth vulnerability, and cross-border cooperation. Its economy is underdeveloped by global standards, but it has noted natural resources such as lithium, iron, zinc, and copper, and it is also associated with the production of cannabis resin, saffron, and cashmere. Afghanistan is a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and a founding member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Human habitation in Afghanistan dates back to the Middle Paleolithic era, and the territory has long been shaped by imperial rivalry and military campaigns. It was a buffer state during the Great Game between the British and Russian empires, and in the 20th and 21st centuries it experienced coups, Soviet intervention, civil war, the rise and fall of Taliban rule, and the 2001 to 2021 US-led war. The Taliban returned to power in 2021 and reestablished the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, which has limited international recognition. Contemporary attention to the country continues to focus on security, governance, humanitarian conditions, and regional spillover effects.
Timeline
Russia highlighted youth anti-drug initiatives in Central Asia that were linked to UNODC support, which was relevant to Afghanistan as part of the region’s drug prevention efforts.
Press Release: Participation of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia D.E. Lubinsky in a Side Event on Drug Use Prevention Among Youth at the 69th Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs
Documents
Press Release: Participation of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia D.E. Lubinsky in a Side Event on Drug Use Prevention Among Youth at the 69th Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Lubinsky highlighted Russia's role as a donor to UNODC's youth anti-drug initiatives in Central Asia at a side event of the 69th UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs.