Afghanistan is a landlocked, mountainous country in south-central Asia. The Hindu Kush Mountains dominate the landscape, running northeast to southwest and dividing the northern provinces from the rest of the country. Afghanistan is bordered by Pakistan in the south and east, Iran in the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north, and China in the far northeast.

The country has long been the focal point of the "Silk Road" for trade and human migration. 50 percent of the country lies above 6,500 feet, and although Afghanistan boasts many rivers and lakes, there are inadequate supplies of potable water. Extensive soil degradation has resulted from overgrazing, deforestation, and pollution. Afghanistan has also suffered a severe drought for 25 years, adding to the scarcity of indigenous food supplies.

     On a more positive note, in 2010 US geologists discovered nearly one trillion dollars worth of untapped mineral deposits in Afghanistan. This could significantly improve the Afghan economy and even curtail the war, according to senior American officials. With this new found wealth, Afghanistan could become the "Saudi Arabia" of lithium, a key raw material in the manufacture of batteries for laptops and other electronic devices.