Afghanistan participates in many sports including football, cricket and buzkashi. This is a national sport of Afghanistan similar to polo played on horseback in two teams, each trying to grab and hold a goat carcass.

Afghan hounds (a type of running dog) also originated in Afghanistan.

It experiences four distinct seasons and sharp temperature contrasts according to time of day, season and elevation.

It has extremely cold winters with a lot of snowfall in the mountains and very hot dry summers while spring and autumn are the rainier seasons.

99% being Muslim (Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 19%, other 1%)

Afghans display pride in their religion, country, ancestry, and above all, their independence. Like other highlanders, Afghans are regarded with mingled apprehension and condescension, for their high regard for personal honor, for their clan loyalty and for their readiness to carry and use arms to settle disputes.

Afghan’s cuisine is renowned for its delicious flavour and aromatic spices. The dietary staples are rice and bread (naan). Other basic foods include cheese, beef, lamb, chicken, eggs, tea and numerous fruits and vegetables. As in other Muslim countries, livestock must be slaughtered according to Islamic rites (halal).

Afghanistan’s most popular art is poetry. The country’s poetic heritage spans many centuries and cultures. Poems traditionally celebrate heroic virtues, romantic love and religious piety. The most important Pashtu poet is Kaushal Khan Khattak, a 17th century chieftain and warrior who also wrote books on philosophy, medicine and ethics.