The 1992 CIA World Factbook | Page 4

CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM,
OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO,
WTO; note - the new government has not yet announced whether it will
continue to be a member of these bodies; the former resistance
government in exile (Afghan Interim Government) was given
membership in the OIC in 1989 Diplomatic representation: previous
Minister-Counselor, Charge d'Affaires Abdul Ghafur JOUSHAN;
Chancery at 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008;
telephone (202) 234-3770 or 3771; a new representative has not yet

been named US: Charge d'Affaires (vacant); Embassy at Ansari Wat,
Wazir Akbar Khan Mina, Kabul; telephone 62230 through 62235 or
62436; note - US Embassy in Kabul was closed in January 1989 Flag: a
new flag of unknown description reportedly has been adopted; previous
flag consisted of three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and
green, with the national coat of arms superimposed on the hoist side of
the black and red bands; similar to the flag of Malawi, which is shorter
and bears a radiant, rising red sun centered in the black band
:Afghanistan Economy
Overview: Fundamentally, Afghanistan is an extremely poor,
landlocked country, highly dependent on farming (wheat especially)
and livestock raising (sheep and goats). Economic considerations,
however, have played second fiddle to political and military upheavals
during more than 13 years of war, including the nearly 10-year Soviet
military occupation (which ended 15 February 1989). Over the past
decade, one-third of the population fled the country, with Pakistan
sheltering more than 3 million refugees and Iran about 1.3 million.
Another 1 million probably moved into and around urban areas within
Afghanistan. Although reliable data are unavailable, gross domestic
product is lower than 12 years ago because of the loss of labor and
capital and the disruption of trade and transport. GDP: exchange rate
conversion - $3 billion, per capita $200; real growth rate 0% (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): over 90% (1991 est.) Unemployment
rate: NA% Budget: revenues NA; expenditures NA, including capital
expenditures of NA Exports: $236 million (f.o.b., FY91 est.)
commodities: natural gas 55%, fruits and nuts 24%, handwoven carpets,
wool, cotton, hides, and pelts partners: mostly former USSR Imports:
$874 million (c.i.f., FY91 est.) commodities: food and petroleum
products partners: mostly former USSR External debt: $2.3 billion
(March 1991 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 2.3% (FY91 est.);
accounts for about 25% of GDP Electricity: 480,000 kW capacity;
1,450 million kWh produced, 90 kWh per capita (1991) Industries:
small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, and
cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, oil, coal, copper Agriculture:
largely subsistence farming and nomadic animal husbandry; cash
products - wheat, fruits, nuts, karakul pelts, wool, mutton Illicit drugs:
an illicit producer of opium poppy and cannabis for the international

drug trade; world's second-largest opium producer (after Burma) and a
major source of hashish Economic aid: US commitments, including
Ex-Im (FY70-89), $380 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA
and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $510 million; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $57 million; Communist countries (1970-89),
$4.1 billion; net official Western disbursements (1985-89), $270
million Currency: afghani (plural - afghanis); 1 afghani (Af) = 100 puls
:Afghanistan Economy
Exchange rates: afghanis (Af) per US$1 - 550 (May 1992, free market
exchange rate), 900 (free market exchange rate as of November 1991),
850 (1991), 700 (1989-90), 220 (1988-89); note - these rates reflect the
bazaar rates rather than the official exchange rates Fiscal year: 21
March - 20 March
:Afghanistan Communications
Railroads: 9.6 km (single track) 1.524-meter gauge from Kushka
(Turkmenistan) to Towraghondi and 15.0 km from Termez (Uzbekistan)
to Kheyrabad transshipment point on south bank of Amu Darya
Highways: 21,000 km total (1984); 2,800 km hard surface, 1,650 km
bituminous-treated gravel and improved earth, 16,550 km unimproved
earth and tracks Inland waterways: total navigability 1,200 km; chiefly
Amu Darya, which handles steamers up to about 500 metric tons
Pipelines: petroleum products - former USSR to Bagram and former
USSR to Shindand; natural gas 180 km Ports: Shir Khan and
Kheyrabad (river ports) Civil air: 2 Tu-154, 2 Boeing 727, 4 Yak-40,
assorted smaller transports Airports: 41 total, 37 usable; 9 with
permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 10 with
runways 2,440-3,659 m; 18 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: limited telephone, telegraph, and radiobroadcast
services; television introduced in 1980; 31,200 telephones; broadcast
stations - 5 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 satellite earth station
:Afghanistan Defense Forces
Branches: the military currently is being reorganized by the new
government and does not yet exist on a national scale; some elements
of the former Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard,
Border Guard Forces, National Police Force (Sarandoi), and Tribal
Militias remain intact and are supporting the new government; the
government has asked all military personnel to return