Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/714

 662 AFGHANISTAN

AFGHANISTAN.

Afghanistan is a country of Asia lying between parallels 29° and 38" 20' of north latitude, and 61° and 72° of east longitude, with a long narrow strip extending to 75* east longitude (Wakhi'in). On the north-east, the boundary follows a line running generally westward from a fixed point near one of the peaks of the Sarikol Range to Lake Victoria, thence along the line of that branch of the Oxus which issues from the lake, and so, following the course of the Oxus, to Khamiab. From Khamiab, the line runs in a south-westerly direction to Zulnkar, on the river Hari-Rud, and thence by Kal-i-Kalla to Hashtadan, thence to the south, between Hashtadan and Siah Koh, north of Bandan, the boundary is undefined. The Sistam lake and the Helmund river form the boundary between Siah Koh and Band-i-Seistan, and thence the boundary runs south in a straight line to Koh-i-Malik Siah, where the frontiers of Persia, Afghanistan and Baluchistan meet. Here the boundary turns round and runs generally eastwardly to the Khwaja Amran range. The eastern and southern boundaries of Afghanistan long remained uncertain, but the basis of a delimitation was settled, in 1893, at a conference between the Amir Abdur Rahman and Sir Mortimer Durand, and the boundary agreed upon, with the exception of the Asmar section, has since been demarcated. The Amir agreed that Chitral, Bajaur and Swat should be included within the British sphere of political influence, while he himself was to retain Asmar and the Kunar valley above it, as far as Arnawai; also the tract of Birmal, west of Waziristan. In the subsequent demarcation, Kafiristan was included within the countries, under Afghan control, and is garrisoned by the Amir's troops. The Amir has with- drawn his pretensions over Waziristan. Between March, 1903, and May. 1905, the boundary towards Persia was demarcated from Koh-i-Malik Siah to the Helmund, and thence to Siah Koh. In July, 1905, Sir Henry McMahon announced his award concerning disputed water rights over the Helmund river, but the award has not yet been ratified by the Persian Government. The Khaibar boundary was demarcated by Mr. J. L. Mafl'ey in 1919.

Amanullah Khan, the reigning Amir, the third son of Amir Habi- bullah Khan by his principal wife, Ulya Hazrat, was horn on June 1, 1892, and succeeded on the assassination of his father, February 20, 1919. The Amir has five brothers : — Inayatulla Khan (born Oct. 20, 1888), Hayatulla Khan (born Dec. 29, 1888), KabirulLi Khan (born Oct. 4, 1S95), AsadullaJan (born May 23, 1910), and Obedulla Khan (born Nov. 18, 1915). Uncles of the Amir are : — Aminulla Khan (born Oct. 12, 1885), Muhammad Umar Khan (born Sept, 16, 1889), and Ghulam Ali Khan (born Sept. 3, 1890).

For earlier Britisli relations with Afghanistan, see Thk Statesman's Ybar-Book for 1916, pp. 662-3.

The government of Afghanistan is monarchical under one hereditary prince, whose power varies with his own character, skill, and fortune. The dominions are politically divided into the four provinces of Kabul, Turki- stan, Herat, and Kandahar, Badakhsh&n being now under Turkistan. Each province is under a hdkim or governor (called Naib-ul-Hukuma), under whom subordinate oilicials dispense justice and collect taxes. Spoliation, exaction, and embezzlement are not infrequent.

Area and Population. — The extreme breadth of Afghanistan from north-east to south-west is about 700 miles ; its length from the Herat frontier to the Khaibar Pan, about 600 miles ; the area is ibont 245,000 square miles. The surrounding countries are, on the north, Russian terri-