Afghanistan

Afghanistan, located at the crossroads of Central and South Asia, was the site of the Soviet-Afghan War (1979–1989), one of the Cold War's most consequential proxy conflicts. The Soviet invasion of December 1979 triggered a CIA-backed mujahideen insurgency that contributed to Soviet economic exhaustion and ultimately to the USSR's collapse, while the radical networks created during the conflict became the foundation for post-Cold War jihadist movements.

• Existed: 1747 CE – present
• Type: Entity
• Government: Republic (various forms)
• Capital: Kabul