The Qizilbash of Mediterranean sub-stock speak Dari, are Imami
Shi'a, and scattered throughout Afghanistan, primarily in urban
centers. There are perhaps 50,000 Qizilbash living in Afghanistan
although it is difficult to say for some claim to be Sunni Tajik
since Shia Islam permits the practice of taqiya or dissimulation
to avoid religious discrimination. The Qizilbash form one of the
more literate groups in Afghanistan; they hold important administrative
and professional positions.
The Qizilbash are traditionally considered to be the descendants
of Persian Shia mercenaries and administrators left behind by
the Safavid Emperor Nadir Shah Afshar (1736-47) to govern the
Afghan provinces. Under Ahmad Shah Durrani, who served in Nadir
Shah's bodyguard, and his successors, the Qizilbash acquired power
and influence at court out of proportion to their numbers. This
created resentment among the dominant Pushtun which hardened over
the years, especially after the Qizilbash openly allied themselves
with the British during the First Anglo-Afghan War (1838-1842).
Amir Abdur Rahman accused the Qizilbash of being partisan to the
enemy during his campaigns against the Shi'a Hazara in 1891-1893,
declared them enemies of the state, confiscated their property
and persecuted them.
Country
name Afghanistan conventional long form Islamic State of
Afghanistan conventional short form Afghanistan local long
form Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan local short form Afghanestan former Republic of Afghanistan
Area
- total: 647,500 sq km land: 647,500 sq km water: 0 sq km
Terrain
- mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
Climate
- arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
Geography
- landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast to southwest divide
the northern provinces from the rest of the country; the highest peaks are in
the northern Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor)
Waterways
- 1,200 km note: chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to 500 DWT (2001)
Natural hazards - damaging earthquakes
occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts
Information
Courtesy: The Library of Congress - Country Studies
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