-Akbari faction (Islamic Unity Party), Mohammad
Akbar AKBARI; Harakat-i-Islami (Islamic Movement), Mohammed Asif
MOHSENI; Jumbesh-i-Milli Islami (National Islamic Movement), Abdul
Rashid DOSTAM; Taliban (Religious Students Movement), Mohammad OMAR
note: the former ruling Watan Party has been disbanded

Other political or pressure groups: the former resistance
commanders are the major power brokers in the countryside and their
shuras (councils) are now administering most cities outside Kabul;
tribal elders and religious students are trying to wrest control
from them; ulema (religious scholars); tribal elders; religious
students (talib)

International organization participation: AsDB, CP, ECO, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, Intelsat, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Abdul RAHIM
chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-3770, 3771
FAX: [1] (202) 328-3516
consulate(s) general: New York
consulate(s): Washington, DC

US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Afghanistan (embassy closed January 1989)

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and
black with a gold emblem centered on the three bands; the emblem
features a temple-like structure with Islamic inscriptions above and
below, encircled by a wreath on the left and right and by a bolder
Islamic inscription above, all of which are encircled by two crossed
scimitars

Economy
-------

Economic overview: Afghanistan is an extremely poor, landlocked
country, highly dependent on farming (wheat especially) and
livestock raising (sheep and goats). Economic considerations have
played second fiddle to political and military upheavals during more
than 16 years of war, including the nearly 10-year Soviet military
occupation (which ended 15 February 1989). Over the past decade,
one-third of the population fled the country, with Pakistan and Iran
sheltering more than 6 million refugees. Now, only 1.0 million
Afghan refugees remain in Pakistan and about 1.3 million in Iran.
Another 1 million probably moved into and around urban areas within
Afghanistan. Gross domestic product has fallen substantially over
the past 15 years becaus