Pakistan and Afghanistan are two autonomous South Asian sovereign Islamic countries. They have a common border that spans around 2430 km on the southern and eastern sides of Afghanistan.
Key Takeaways
- Pakistan is a South Asian country with a parliamentary democratic system, while Afghanistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia with an Islamic republic government.
- The official language of Pakistan is Urdu, while Afghanistan has two official languages: Pashto and Dari.
- Pakistan’s economy is more diversified, with agriculture, industry, and services sectors, while Afghanistan’s economy heavily relies on agriculture and foreign aid.
Pakistan vs Afghanistan
Pakistan is a South Asian country that was created because of its separation from India. Its capital is Islamabad, and Urdu is the official language of the country. Afghanistan is an ancient Asian country that is landlocked, its capital is Kabul, and the official currency of the country is Afghani.
The bifurcation caused the Muslim majority to move to Pakistan while the Hindu majority inhabited India. The event was convoyed with extensive violence and bloodshed.
Meanwhile, the prehistoric evaluation suggests that the land, which is now Afghanistan, was inhabited by people at least 50,000 years ago. However, the origin of Modern Afghanistan can only be dated back to 1709.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Pakistan | Afghanistan |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | The country was formed as a result of its partition from India. | The country was formed way before Pakistan in the 18th century. |
| Area | It encompasses an area of 881,913 Km Sq. | It encompasses an area of 652,864 Km Sq. |
| Capital | Islamabad is the capital city. | Kabul is the capital city. |
| Official Language | Urdu is its official language. | Pashto is its official language. |
| Economy | The country has a semi-industrialized and developing economy. | The country is poor and has a major liquidity crisis. |
| Currency | Their official currency is the Pakistani Rupee which has the acronym PKR. | Their official currency is ‘Afghani’, which has the acronym AFN. |
| Agriculture | The country is agriculturally prosperous due to favourable weather patterns and land quality. | The country is not agriculturally prosperous due to a lofty amount of barren land. |
What is Pakistan?
Pakistan is an Islamic country located to the east of its neighbour, Afghanistan. It has a population of more than 225.2 million and encompasses an area of 881,913 Km Sq, making it the 33rd largest country.
Pakistan has a very rich ancient culture, being the bearer of the 5,800-year-old Neolithic community of Mehrgarh. This was also where the Indus Valley civilization in the Bronze Age hailed.
However, Pakistan only got its statehood after the partition of the British Indian Empire in 1947. This was when India and Pakistan were divided based on religious lines, making India a Hindu-majority state and Pakistan a Muslim-majority one.
There was another subsequent partition of East Pakistan which created the new country of Bangladesh as well as western Punjab.
What is Afghanistan?
Afghanistan is landlocked to the west of its neighbour, Pakistan. It is officially known as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The country encompasses an area of 652,864 Km Sq, with a population of over 31.4 million.
The country has a lush ancient history that began way back in the Middle Paleolithic Era. It was also the frugal land situated along the course of the Silk Road.
The levels of terrorism, poverty and child malnutrition are at a staggering high. Moreover, the per-capita GDP is one of the lowest-ranked out of 186 countries across the world.
Main Differences Between Pakistan and Afghanistan
- Pakistan’s currency is the Pakistani Rupee (PKR), whereas Afghanistan’s currency is ‘Afghani’ (AFN).
- Pakistan is agriculturally prosperous due to favourable weather patterns and land quality, whereas Afghanistan is not agriculture friendly due to too much barren land.
- https://www.jstor.org/stable/2755184
- https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/%28ASCE%29WR.1943-5452.0001262
Last Updated : 13 July, 2023
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Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.
The demographic changes of the region since Pakistan’s separation from India are significant and have affected both countries to this day.
It’s curious to see the differences in GDP and agriculture between these two countries. Their history seems rich but the present is not so bright.
I didn’t realize how Pakistan and Afghanistan have such different official languages. This is important information for anyone interested in the region.
The event that caused the bifurcation of Pakistan from India was a significant point in history and has shaped the region to this day.
The lush ancient history of Afghanistan contrasts starkly with the current levels of poverty and terrorism in the country.
It’s interesting to note how much the regions have changed since their partition, with the formation of multiple new countries since then.
The differences and similarities between Pakistan and Afghanistan are both intriguing and important to understand for anyone interested in the region.
I found it enlightening to learn that the region that is currently Afghanistan had historical inhabitants for tens of thousands of years.