In Pictures: A taste of Afghanistan helps these bakers find home in India (2024)

FAQs

What is it like to live in Afghanistan? ›

Poverty, unemployment and food prices have skyrocketed in Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover in August 2021. A year on, and almost half of the population is going hungry. They are in need of urgent support to survive.

The most visible difference between Indian and Afghani naans comes next with the process of shaping and dressing. From my experience, Afghan naan is made in larger portions, so I divided this batch of dough into only three pieces that I pressed down into a rough oval. Then, working with one piece of dough at a time.

Following the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919, Afghanistan became free of foreign political hegemony, and emerged as the independent Kingdom of Afghanistan in June 1926 under Amanullah Khan.

Overall, the survey paints a grim picture of living conditions in Afghanistan as widespread deprivation continues and food insecurity remains high, negatively impacting the economy and the welfare of the Afghan people, especially women and girls.

In Afghanistan, 54.5% of the population lived below the national poverty line in 2016. In Afghanistan, the proportion of employed population below $2.15 purchasing power parity a day in 2023 was 34.9%. For every 1,000 babies born in Afghanistan in 2022, 58 die before their 5th birthday.

Naan, while nutritious, cannot be a cure-all for a diet that's high in processed sugars and fats and low in nutrients. You can use naan as a vehicle for nutritious foods, like vegetables and legumes.

The term "naan" comes from Persian nân (Persian: نان), a generic word for any kind of bread. This word was borrowed into a range of languages in the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia, where it came to refer to a specific type of bread. The term then spread around the globe along with the style of bread itself.

Naan bread also has a buttery flavor due to the ghee and buttermilk in the dough, which adds an extra dimension of flavor compared to pita bread's more neutral taste. Naan can be used in place of pita bread for many dishes, adding a unique twist to traditional recipes.

Breakfast Afghan or Lebanese bread with peanut butter and jam, cheese and fried eggs are common foods for breakfast. Tea with milk and sugar (one to four teaspoons or even more) is also served with breakfast. Lunch is usually eaten at noon and is the largest meal of the day.

In Afghanistan, as in most Islamic nations, eating pork is considered haram. In fact, one interpretation of that belief forbids even touching the animal. As a result, no pigs are reared or farmed in the country. Besides, the mountainous terrain of Afghanistan is no place for a domestic pig.

What kind of meat do they eat in Afghanistan? ›

​Mutton (lamb) is the most popular meat eaten in Afghanistan. Chicken is also common, and it is usually served with long grain rice, and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.

The most ancient name of Afghanistan is “Gandhara". It is from there the modern name of Kandhar comes. In former times this was the name of entire Afghanistan. Kabul's ancient name is “Kapisa".

2021–present. Despite no countries recognizing the Islamic Emirate as the legitimate successor of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, there have been official diplomatic talks between the Taliban and other countries since September 2021.

Afghans are dealing with extreme hardship. Approximately 85 percent of them live on less than one dollar a day. The situation became markedly worsened after August 2021, particularly for women, who are now facing severe restrictions that bar them from education and most jobs.

Religion has long played a paramount role in the daily life and social customs of Afghanistan. Even under the mujahideen leaders, Afghanistan appeared to be on a course of Islamization: the sale of alcohol was banned, and women were pressured to cover their heads in public and adopt traditional Muslim dress.

Afghanistan is currently facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, worsened by earthquakes on October 7, 2023. The landlocked country has been entangled in conflict, drought, extreme poverty, and natural disasters, including two devastating earthquake events in 2022 and 2023.

The security situation remains highly volatile and dangerous. If you are in Afghanistan, you should shelter in a safe place and exercise caution if you need to move to a more secure location. Keep in mind that you are responsible for your own safety and that of your family.