Lesson Plans
- Afghanistan Cvil War and Civil Rights Lesson Plan (PBS)
Provides resources activities and discussions for high school students to better understand conditions in Afghanistan. 11-01
- Afghanistan Lesson (CNN)
Provides a lesson on the history of Afghanistan, especially conflicts that led up to current events. 11-01
- Afghanistan Lessons (National Geographic Society)
Provides a lesson for each general grade level "To foster a greater understanding of the land and people of Afghanistan...." 11-01
- Afghanistan and International Terrorism Lesson Plans (PBS)
Provides lessons related to Afghanistan, international terrorism, and creating world peace. 11-01
- Relief - Cost of Relief for One Person (New York Times - Zimbalist and Driggs)
Provides the cost of relief for one person or one family in Kosovo. The methods could be used for estimating costs for relief in Afghanistan. 12-01
Lists
- Afghanistan (Political Resources)
Provides links to political resources regarding Afghanistan and the Taliban. 9-00
Materials
- Afghanistan Battle Grounds Map (BBC News)
Provides a map of Afghanistan with updated results on which group controls major cities. 11-01. Also spelled battlegrounds.
- History of Afghanistan (Afghan-Web.com)
Provides information from pre-history (50,000 BCE) to 2001. 6-02
- History of Afghanistan (Afghanan.net - Dupree)
Provides information from pre-history to 1977. 6-02
- History of Afghanistan (Sabawoon - Afghanpedia)
Provides information on the economy, land, government, people, and history from pre-history to 1978. 6-02
- Kings and Rulers of Afghanistan (Sikander)
Provides pictures and drawings in historical order, starting with Ahmad Shah Durani in 1747 and ending with Mulah Mohamad Omar (2001). Does not mention the new president, Hamid Karzai. 6-02
- Locations of Afghan Refugees (Guardian Unlimited)
Provides a map of refugee movements and locations. (Uses Macromedia Flash format.) 10-01
- Maps of Afghanistan (ReliefWeb)
Provides dozens of maps, in terms of human needs in the area. 11-01
- US Targets in Afghanistan (Guardian Unlimited)
Provides a map of bombing targets. (Uses Macromedia Flash format.) 10-01
News
- 01-04-04 Afghanistan Approves New Constitution (Bloomberg.com)
"Afghanistan's national council approved a constitution paving the way for democratic elections, in a move hailed by U.S. President George W. Bush, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan." 1-04
- 01-06-04 NATO to Expand Role in Afghanistan (ABC News)
"NATO-led peacekeepers took over a peace-building mission in northern Afghanistan on Tuesday, the first step in a plan for the alliance to expand into the country's troubled provinces ahead of summer elections."
"Troops from Germany, the first nation to respond to U.N. and Afghan calls to provide more troops, took control from the United States of the operation based in Kunduz, 150 miles north of Kabul. Germany is deploying an initial 170 troops, though the number is expected to rise to over 200 later this year." 1-04
- 01-26-04 Afghan President Signs New Constitution (VOANews.com)
"Afghan President Hamid Karzai has signed the country's new constitution into law, paving the way for the first free elections in more than two decades." 1-04
- 06-22-03 Afghanistan Leader in Heroin Export (Independent - McSmith and Reeves)
"Afghanistan is still the source of almost all of the heroin sold in London, even though Britain has poured millions into trying to stamp out the war-wrecked country's resurgent drugs production business."
"Local Afghans say that bags of heroin are used in lieu of currency in some parts of the lawless countryside where - more than two years after the Taliban was toppled - the US-backed interim government of Hamid Karzai has failed to establish control." 6-03
- 08-10-03 NATO Takes Over Afghan Security Force (Bloomberg)
"The North Atlantic Treaty Organization takes over command of the international security force in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, as the United Nations suspended road travel in the south after a series of attacks." 8-03
- 10-06-03 Plight of Most Women Not Improved in Afghanistan (CBS News)
" 'The ultraconservative Taliban regime, which was toppled by a U.S.-led invasion in 2001, had banned women from working and girls from school. The Afghan government has since lifted those restrictions, but in rural areas where it has little authority many women still cannot work or girls be educated.' "
"President Hamid Karzai has little authority outside the capital, Kabul, where most areas are ruled by warlords with private militias."
" 'Nearly two years on, discrimination, violence, and insecurity remain rife, despite promises by world leaders, including (U.S.) President Bush and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, that the war in Afghanistan would bring liberation for women,' the [Amnesty International] report said."
"It added: 'The situation is unacceptable and calls for urgent action.' " 10-03
- 12-15-03 Opium Rampant in Afghanistan (ABC News)
"The raw material for heroin is grown so openly and abundantly in Afghanistan that farmers and a local mayor were willing to show the United Nation's top anti-drug official exactly how their poppy plants are cultivated for opium." 12-03
- 12-29-03 Afghanistan Constitution Almost Complete (ABC News)
"Members of a marathon constitutional council scrambled to present final amendments to Afghanistan's first post-Taliban charter Monday, hours after an apparent suicide bomber killed four intelligence agents and heightened concerns about security."
"The loya jirga, or grand council, is expected to ratify in the coming days a constitution putting the country under the strong presidency sought by the U.S.-backed incumbent, Hamid Karzai. But critics are still pressing after two weeks to give parliament enough power to keep the chief executive in check." 12-03
- American Pilot Responsible for Deaths of Canadian Soldiers (CBC News)
American and Canadian reports on the deaths of four Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan show that the incident was caused by an American pilot who refused to obey orders. The pilot was ordered twice not to attack before he dropped a bomb on the soldiers, according to the reports. Disciplinary action against the pilot has not been announced. 6-02
- Countering Terrorism (Christian Science Monitor)
Provides in-depth news stories that cover the conflict in Afghanistan and the roots of terrorism. 10-01
- Karzai Elected President of Afghanistan (MSNBC)
"Hamid Karzai, widely praised for his reconciliation efforts during six months in power, was chosen as Afghanistan’s new head of state Thursday after receiving the overwhelming support of delegates at the grand council, or loya jirga, meeting in Kabul." 6-02
- Taliban Leave - New Afghanistan Government to Begin (MSNBC)
According to Karzai, the person chosen to lead an interim government in Afghanistan, "The Taliban rule is finished.” The Taliban have left Khandahar, the last remaining major city in Afghanistan that the Taliban controlled. 12-01
Papers
- Abdul Haq - Afghan Hero (Guardian)
Describes a key Pashtun Afghan hero who was assisting the United States in developing an alternative government to take over from the Taliban. He was, however, caught by the Taliban while on a heroic mission to help the people of Afghanistan. 10-01
- Afghan Women as Co-Leaders (Christian Science Monitor)
Discusses the role of women in the early 1990's and argues for a strong role for women in leadership positions in the future. 11-01
- Afghanistan (CountryReports.org)
Provides a profile by topic, including Economy, Defense, Geography, Government, People, National Anthem, Lyrics and Related Links. Provides a map and a flag. 6-02
- Afghanistan (Library of Congress)
Provides a history of the country, including culture, government, economy, and more. Also includes geographic information. 1-02
- Afghanistan (U.S. State Department)
Provides a history of the country, including culture, government, economy, and more. 1-02
- Afghanistan - Challenges of New Government (Christian Science Monitor - Prusher)
Discusses some of the challenges of then new government in Afghanistan, such as a lack of infrastructure to distribute aid to those in greatest need. 12-01
- Afghanistan - Conflict with the Taliban (Christian Science Monitor - Zubrzycki)
Provides an overview of the state of battle in Afghanistan between the Taliban and the Northern Alliance. 11-99
- Afghanistan - Human Rights Violations by the Taliban (Amnesty International)
Provides an assessment of violations of human rights in Afghanistan. 11-99
- Afghanistan - Kabul Prefers Taliban (Electronic Telegraph - Spillius)
Provides an overview of the state of battle in Afghanistan between the Taliban and the Northern Alliance. 11-99
- Afghanistan - U.N. Urged to Get Involved (Human Rights Watch)
Provides views of Human Rights Watch that atrocities by the Taliban are occuring in Afghanistan. 11-99
- Afghanistan Government and Culture (Frankenstein)
Provides an overview of Afghanistan by topic area. 11-99
- Afghanistan History and War (The Times)
Describes Afghanistan as a country that seems almost always at war. 10-01
- Afghanistan One Year Later (CBS News)
"The war in Afghanistan has claimed 39 American lives, including 16 during combat or other hostile situations. About 10,000 U.S. soldiers remain in Afghanistan, hunting for terrorists and helping the interim government of President Hamid Karzai." 10-02
- Afghanistan Regional Relationships (ABCNews)
Provides profiles on the relationship of several countries to the Taliban of Afghanistan. 9-01
- America's Fund for Afghan Children (Red Cross)
President Bush is asking children to contribute to prevent a disaster to the children of Afghanistan. The funds will be used, in coordination with the United Nations and other relief efforts in Afghanistan, through a special program set up for this by the American Red Cross. 10-01 10-01
- Bombs and Food (Economist)
Provides a British view of the American bombing in Afghanistan and discusses the need for food. Includes a map showing how many people are at risk of starvation in each part of the country. 10-01 10-01
- Brave Children of Afghanistan (BBC News - Miron)
"There was no furniture, no cupboards, no spare clothes left hanging, not even any glass in the windows - just cardboard. And no fire to keep them warm at night." "Nasim earns about 30,000 Afghanis a day - about $1 - cleaning shoes. With that he buys the basics for his family, mostly just bread and sugar." Like many other children in Afghanistan, Nasim is literally the family breadwinner.
"I asked him how he felt about his situation. 'I am happy and not happy,' he told me. 'Happy because I work, but not happy because I cannot earn enough to bring my family everything they need.' " 7-02
- Building a Nation in Afghanistan (Chicago Tribune)
Provides a brief summary of the rather complex problems facing the future of Afghanistan. 10-01
- Building a Nation in Afghanistan (San Francisco Chronicle - Achikzad)
Suggests a role for the United Nations and the former king of Afghanistan in creating a transitional government after the Taliban are removed from power. 10-01
- Delicate Balance of Power in Afghanistan (Gulf News - Gopal)
Describes the various factions of power in Afghanistan and how the balance between them will be difficult to maintain. 3-02
- Editorial - Forming New Afghanistan Government Will Be Complex (Far Eastern Economic Review - Rashid)
Describes the different groups involved with trying to form a government after the Taliban have fallen from power. 10-01
- Editorial - Taliban Not Valid Interpreters of Islam (Muslim Women's League - Al-Marayati)
Provides a Muslim scholar's views on Taliban interpretations of Islam. "Indeed, the extreme position taken by the Taliban hardly deserves to be considered an 'interpretation' of Islam. That implies the position has some degree of validity, when it is really an aberration in violation of the most basic tenets of the faith." 11-01
- Fundraising for the Poor Instead of the Rich (Alertnet.org)
Discusses where funds are going from the massive efforts by Americans to help those affected by the September 11th disaster. Suggests that raising funds for the starving in Afghanistan should be considered. Also called 911, 9-11, or 9/11.10-01
- Geneva Convention on Treatment of Prisoners of War (University of Minnesota)
Provides the rules, accepted by most countries, for treatment of prisoners of war. Killing, torturing, starving, injuring, mistreating, or failing to provide medical assistance to a prisoner of war is a war crime. 11-01
- Getting Food to the Children (Alertnet.org)
Discusses the great efforts relief agencies are taking to ensure that food and other essential supplies reach those who need it most, especially children. "Mansour [of the World Food Program] said: 'United States is the largest supporter of the WFP Afghan operations. For our last operation they provided nearly 90 percent of the food and support we needed.'" 10-01
- Grand Tribal Council (Institute-for-Afghan-Studies.org)
Describes the Grand Tribal Council or Loya Jirga of Afghanistan, a coalition that may select the new government for Afghanistan after the Taliban have withdrawn. 10-01
- History of Afghanistan (New York Review of Books - Mishra)
Describes the different political and military movements in Afghanistan in the 20th century that led to the current war. 10-01
- Hundreds of Civilians Killed in Afghanistan Due to Poor Intelligence (Independent - Gumbel)
"What differentiates the Afghan campaign from previous US military engagements is that the civilians, increasingly, have not been caught up in strikes on legitimate targets or killed as a result of bombs going astray – what in military parlance is known as 'collateral damage'. Rather they have been deliberately targeted by precision bombers acting on flawed instructions from their superiors." 7-02
- Karzai - An Interview with Hamid Karzai (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Provides an interview with Hamid Karzai, a Pashtun tribal leader allied with the former King Mohammad Zahir Shah. Karzai said that, after the Taliban are removed from power, Afghanistan will need help from the international community to rebuild. However, speaking of the factions before the Taliban were in power, he said 'If the foreign intervention does not stop in Afghanistan from all around, terrorism will not end in Afghanistan. This message should be heard clearly by the international community.' 10-01
- Landmines in Afghanistan (BBC News - George)
Describes the landmine situation in Afghanistan and provides a chart comparing it with other countries with landmines. 12-01
- Leaders of Afghanistan (Christian Science Monitor)
Describes interim leaders of Afghanistan until a new government can be formed. Includes Hamid Karzai, Yunu Qanooni, Abdullah Abdullah, and Muhammad Quassim Fahim.12-01
- Leadership in Afghanistan (ABC News)
Provides a list of top government officials in Afghanistan, along with the ethnic affiliation of each. 7-02
- Leadership in Afghanistan (TeacherVision.com)
Provides profiles of past and current leaders in Afghanistan. 12-01
- Loya Jirga - A History (BBC News)
A loya jirga is "a forum unique to Afghanistan in which, traditionally, tribal elders - Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras and Uzbeks - have come together to settle affairs of the nation or rally behind a cause." 7-02
- Massoud, Ahmad Shah (Parsa-Afghanistan.org)
Provides a tribute to the former leader of the Northern Alliance. 12-02
- Mullah Mohammed Omar (BBC News)
Provides a short profile and picture of the leader of the Taliban of Afghanistan. (Sometimes spelled Taleban.) 11-99
- Northern Alliance (CBC)
Provides a profile of the Northern Alliance, the military group opposing the Taliban in Afghanistan. 10-01
- Northern Alliance - Burhanuddin Rabbani (CBC)
Provides a profile of the Northern Alliance leader, recognized by most countries as the legitimate head of the Afghanistan government. (The profile is below the one of bin Laden.) 10-01
- Northern Alliance Leaders (ABC News)
Provides short profiles of nine of the key leaders of the Nortehrn Alliance. 11-01
- Northern Alliance Leaders (Independent - Fahim)
Provides short profiles of five of the key leaders of the Nortehrn Alliance. 11-01
- Oppression of Women in Afghanistan (Afghan-web.com - Shorish-Shamley)
"The current oppression of women in Afghanistan is due to politics and ignorance, not Islam!" 10-01
- Osama Bin Laden's Plan (Time)
Provides a summary of what Osama bin Laden is trying to achieve. 11-99
- Osama bin Laden Political History (PBS Frontline)
Provides a rather detailed history of Osama bin Laden's life and involvement in politics. The story is expressed in "broken" English, with many grammatical errors. The source of information is a close associate of bin Laden's and reveals a great deal about the political climate and stuggles within Afghanistan and the region. The story contradicts a number of accounts of bin Laden, such as that he worked with or was trained by Americans. It also explains his relationship with his family and the Saudi regime differently from other public accounts. It states that the American retaliation for bombings of American embassies in 1998 unified Muslims in the region against the USA. The American retaliation was considered so incompetent that it must have been a deliberate attack against the Muslim religion instead of against bin Laden. 9-01
- Osama bin Laden Profile (ABC News)
Provides a profile of the leading suspect for planning the attack on the USA on September 11th. Also called 911, 9-11, or 9/11. 9-01
- Qatar (ABCNews)
Provides a brief profile of Qatar, including its 24-hour program, Al-Jazeera, which is the leading news source from the Arab world. 10-01
- Qatar (Arab.net)
Provides information on Qatar, such as history, government, and culture. 10-01
- Qur'an in Arabic (IslamicCity.com)
Provides the text of the Holy Qur'an in Arabic. Requires setting the browser to accept Arabic fonts in order to use. In Internet Explorer 5.0 right click on the IE icon and select Properties. Then Select Languages and pick Arabic. 6-02
- Quran Searches (STG - Pickthall)
Provides searches in the text of the Holy Qur'an by sura number and verse or by word. 6-02
- Rumi, Jalal al-Din (Marman)
Reviews the works of poetry of the famous Muslim mystic. 10-01
- Rumi, Jalaluddin (Christian Science Monitor - Marks)
Reviews the works of poetry of the famous Muslim mystic. Remarks on the current popularity of the 13th-century poet in the United States. 10-01
- Shah, Mohammad Zahir (Afghan-Network.net)
Provides a short biography of the former king of Afghanistan. 10-01
- Shah, Mohammad Zahir (Afghanpedia)
Provides a short biography of the former king of Afghanistan. 10-01
- Should Christians Convert Muslims? (Time - Biema)
"Muslim critics accuse missionaries of lying about their identities and their faith to achieve their goals. And as the tensions between Islam and the West continue to boil, some familiar with the Middle East have begun asking whether the missionaries, who love Muslims but despise Islam, are the sort of nonappointed goodwill ambassadors the U.S. really needs in a region dense with the rhetoric of holy war. Says Charles Kimball, a Baptist minister who was director of the National Council of Churches' Middle East office in the 1980s: 'Sincerity isn't the issue, or commitment to one's faith. It is just that the region is at a pivotal and volatile juncture, and it is arguably not the time for groups coming in, like someone with a lighted match into a room full of explosives, wearing Jesus on their sleeves.' " 6-03
- Taliban - How Taliban Criminals Gained Control of Afghanistan (MSNBC Newsweek - Bahari)
 Describes how Taliban criminals overthrew the legitimate government of Afghanistan. 10-01
- Taliban - How Taliban Criminals Gained Control of Afghanistan (MSNBC Newsweek - Bahari)
Describes how Taliban criminals overthrew the legitimate government of Afghanistan. 10-01
- Taliban Leadership (ABCNews)
Provides profiles on several key leaders of Afghanistan. 9-01
- Taliban Leave - New Government to Begin (MSNBC)
According to Karzai, the person chosen to lead an interim government in Afghanistan, "The Taliban rule is finished.” The Taliban have left Khandahar, the last remaining major city in Afghanistan that the Taliban controlled. 12-01
- Taliban and Women (Muslim Women's League)
Provides the perspective of the Muslim Women's League regarding treatement of women in Afghanistan by Taliban followers. 11-99
- Taliban of Afghanistan (CNN)
Provides a short summary and links related to the Taliban. (Sometimes spelled Taleban.) 11-99
- UN Fears After Fall of Taliban (Guardian Unlimited)
Discusses the future role of the United Nations in Afghanistan. 10-01
- UN Representatives to Afghanistan (BBC News)
Provides a short profile and picture of Francesc Vendrell, responsible for gaining collaboration from different factions within Afghanistan to form a new, broad-based government. Also includes a picture of Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN's representative to gain cooperation among nations regarding Afghanistan's new government. 11-01
- UN Representatives to Afghanistan (BBC News)
Provides a short profile and picture of Francesc Vendrell, responsible for gaining collaboration from different factions within Afghanistan to form a new, broad-based government. Also includes a picture of Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN's representative to gain cooperation among nations regarding Afghanistan's new government. 11-01
- Violence Against Women in Afghanistan (New Jersey Online - Lederer)
Summarizes recommendations from a UN report related to Afghanistan and the culture of violence against women Annan found. 2-02
- Weather in Afghanistan (USA Today)
Provides drawings and animation to show weather patterns in Afghanistan. 11-01
- Women's Rights in Islam (Islamic.org)
Provides a summary of women's right as presented in the Qur'an and Hadith. Examples of rights include "the right and duty to obtain education, the right to have their own independent property, the right to work to earn money if they need it or want it, equality of reward for equal deeds, the right to participate fully in public life and have their voices heard by those in power," and much more. Editor's Note - The rights of women in Islam are in stark contrast to the limitations of women's rights made--in the name of Islam--by the Taliban government in Afghanistan. 10-01
- Women's Rights in Islam Compared to Political Oppression (Afghan-web.com - Shorish-Shamley)
Uses texts of Qur'an and Hadiths to declare that women are equal to men in Islam. 10-01
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