AFGHANISTAN (a short story)

Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan CAPITAL: Kabul FLAG: Three equal vertical bands of black (hoist), red, and green, with a white emblem centered on the red band; the emblem features a temple-like structure encircled by a wreath on the left and right and by a bold Islamic inscription above. ANTHEM: Esllahte Arzi (Land Reform), beginning “So long as there is the earth and the heavens.” MONETARY UNIT: The afghani (AF) is a paper currency of 100 puls. There are coins of 25 and 50 puls and 1, 2, and 5 afghanis, and notes of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 afghanis. Af1 = $0.0211 (or $1 = AF47.3) as of May 2003. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: The metric system is the legal standard, although some local units are still in use. HOLIDAYS: Now Rooz (New Year’s Day), 21 March; May Day, 1 May; Independence Day, 18 August. Movable religious holidays include First Day of Ramadan, ‘Id al-Fitr, ‘Id al-‘Adha’, ‘Ashura, and Milad an-Nabi. The Afghan calendar year begins on 21 March; the Afghan year 1376 began on 21 March 1997. TIME: 4:30 PM = noon GMT.