Afghanistan officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central and South Asia. Afghanistan is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south; Iran to the west; Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to the north; and China to the northeast. Occupying 652,000 square kilometers (252,000 sq mi), it is a mountainous country with plains in the north and southwest. Kabul is the capital and largest city. The population is around 32 million, composed mostly of ethnic Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks.

Afghanistan is a unitary presidential Islamic republic. The country has high levels of terrorism, poverty, child malnutrition, and corruption. It is a member of the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, the Group of 77, the Economic Cooperation Organization, and the Non-Aligned Movement. Afghanistan's economy is the world's 96th largest, with a gross domestic product (GDP) of $72.9 billion by purchasing power parity; the country fares much worse in terms of per-capita GDP (PPP), ranking 169th out of 186 countries as of 2018.

Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is located in the eastern part of the country, in a narrow valley situated between the Hindu Kush Mountains. Kabul is also located in the path of the historic silk route, one of the most important trade routes in human history.

The largest part of Afghanistan has a dry continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. 

Afghanistan has four seasons; spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

• Spring: March-May
• Summer:  June - August
•  Autumn: September- November
• Winter: December- February 
  

Dari and Pashto are the official and most widely spoken languages, respectively, by 77% and 48% of the population of Afghanistan. Dari, or Farsi, is the official name of the variety of Persian spoken in the country and is widely used as a lingua franca. The two official languages are followed by Uzbeki (11%), English (6%), Turkmen (3%), Urdu (3%), Pashai (1%), Nuristani (1%), Arabic (1%), and Balochi (1%).

1. Afghans celebrate their new year, Nawroz, on 21 March, the first day of spring. Thousands travel to the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif to welcome Nawroz, a pre-Islamic festival.
2. Poetry is a vital part of Afghan culture. Afghans have told their stories in verse for more than 1,000 years.
3. Afghan cuisine is more sophisticated than kebabs and rice. This landlocked country has been at the crossroads of major civilizations for centuries, which is reflected in the menu. 
4. Afghanistan would love its national game, buzkashi, or goat-grabbing, to be an Olympic sport.
5. The people of Afghanistan are called Afghans, and their currency is Afghanis. Most of the time, people get confused about the use of these two terms.

• The family is the single most vital unit in the Afghan culture. Men's and women's roles are much more defined along traditional lines. Women are generally responsible for household duties, whereas men typically take the role of the breadwinners.
• Be careful when visiting Afghanistan not to do anything that might disgrace your counterparts. Don't criticize them in public and avoid questioning them to feel put on the spot or embarrassed. Be aware that when you are with your Afghani hosts, if you do anything considered shameful, this will also disgrace your hosts. As such, you must act in a weighed and measured way at all times.
• Foreigners must learn to read the rules and live by them. Undermining or publicly deriding them will damage trust and relationships. In some instances, it may even lead to punitive repercussions. 
• Women need to note that it is considered a dishonor to be spoken to directly by a man in a social context. Likewise, if told to now by a man on the street, then this is equally inappropriate. Women should avoid looking men in the eyes and keep their eyes lowered when walking down the road to maintain one's reputation and social standing. Chatting to an unknown male will not be perceived well and may irreversibly damage her reputation. 
• Dining in Afghanistan is a different experience, and there are many differences in etiquette. Always remove your shoes at the door if visiting a home. If eating at someone's house, you will be seated on o the floor, usually on cushions. Food is served on plastic or vinyl tablecloths spread on the floor. Wait to be shown where to sit. Suppose you can sit cross-legged. Otherwise, sit as comfortably as you can. Do not sit with legs outstretched and your feet facing people.