Military branches:
Afghan National Army, currently being trained by the US with the
assistance of the international community, is 7,000 strong; note -
the December 2001 Bonn Agreement called for all militia forces to
come under the authority of the central government, but regional
leaders have continued to retain their militias and the formation of
a national army remains a gradual process; Afghanistan's militia
forces continue to be factionalized, largely along ethnic lines
Military manpower - military age and obligation:
22 years of age (2004 est.)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 6,785,414 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,642,659 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 263,406 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$61 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1% (2003)
Transnational Issues Afghanistan
Disputes - international:
despite largely successful UN efforts at voluntary repatriation,
2-3 million Afghan refugees continue to reside in Iran and Pakistan,
many at their own choosing; Pakistan has sent troops into remote
tribal areas to control the border and stem organized terrorist and
other illegal cross-border activites; regular meetings between
Pakistani and coalition allies aim to resolve periodic claims of
boundary encroachments; occasional conflicts over water-sharing
arrangements with Amu Darya and Helmand River states
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 167,000 - 200,000 (mostly Pashtuns and Kuchis displaced in
south and west due to drought and instability) (2004)