Located in south-central Asia, Afghanistan sits landlocked between Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. With a population of well over 30 million, Afghanistan is measured to have an area of 252,072 mi2. Of those living in Afghanistan, 99% practice Islam. The official languages of Afghanistan are Pashto and Dari, which is often referred to as Farsi.
Officially establishing itself as a single country in 1747, Afghanistan has a long history of political unrest. Beginning in the 19th century was strife between Afghanistan and Britain, as Britain attempted to annex Afghanistan. However, in 1919 Afghanistan defeated Britain, and again had full-independence. Briefly established as a monarchy, between 1926-1973 Afghanistan becomes a democratic nation after the Prime Minister overthrew the King in a military coup. Mohammed Daoud Khan had deemed himself the president. Khan attempted to modernize what was becoming a communist nation, granting women rights and proposing a new constitution.
Unfortunately, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979 in support of the growing communist regime. This war resulted in 6 million people fleeing Afghanistan to Pakistan and Iran, and the death of at least 1.5 million people. After the Soviet Union withdraws, the power of Afghanistan is undecided and civil war erupts. Kabul, the capital, fell to the Taliban in 1996. By the year 2000, 90% of Afghanistan was controlled by this group. The Taliban has holds a harsh interpretation of Islamic Law, and therefore leads a very oppressive rule over the people of Afghanistan.
Following the September 11th terrorist attack on NYC’s twin towers, America joined the Northern Alliance in attempting to eliminate the Taliban and liberate the people of Afghanistan. The Taliban were deposed in 2001 and so began political reconstruction. By 2004, Hamid Karzari was elected as Afghanistan’s first president. He served for 10 years and was then followed by Afghanistans current President, Ashram Ghani Ahmadzai. Afghanistan has taken considerable steps to becoming a stable united country under a central government but it still troubled by the oppressive and aggressive manner of the Taliban.
The most popular news outlets in Afghanistan are the Afghanistan Times Daily, Benawa, Pajhwok Afghan News, the Kabul Press, and the Daily Afghanistan. Facing repeated political unrest, many Afghans have flooded the globe as immigrants, beginning new lives. Within NYC, Fulshing, Queens holds the largest population of Afghan immigrants, it is often referred to as little-Afghanistan. I plan to frequent this area throughout my research. Most recently I spoke with a man not in this area, but the owner of a Halal food cart on 88th street and Central Park West who goes by Ronny. In 2000 Ronny, then 41, moved to New York with his family in an attempt to “leave the danger and fighting” in Afghanistan. Although Ronny does not remember much on how he viewed America before moving here, he remembers telling himself that it was “big, and safer than home.” Now 55, Ronny describes his life in America fondly by repeating the word good in between spurts of his daily routine (which was basically just work). In speaking to Ronny, I gathered that his favorite part of America is that he can live, work, and go about his day knowing his family is safe. I would like to dive further into the preconceived notions of life in America as compared to the reality as I continue interviews.
A potential source for information regarding Afghan life in New York City that I came across is a group called Women for Afghan Women. They are located in Fresh Meadows and have been labeled the “only culturally competent organization able to serve the specific needs of the New York Afghan population.”
Women for Afghan Women:
New York Office
158-24 73rd Ave.
Fresh Meadows, NY 11366
Tel: +(718) 591-2434