Afghanistan (The Kalmar Union)

The Kingdom of Afghanistan, Afghanistan, is a authoritarian monarchy in Central Asia. Hemmed in by the Caliphate to the West and North, India to the south and the Chinese Empire to the East Afghanistan represents possibly the most lawless part of Asia. Indian and Caliphate armies have nominally faced off against each in the region numerous times however any attempt at outright conquest has usually ended in failure as the local populace and various strongmen reassert themselves.

Its capital is Kabul and the population is around 20 million.

The Head of State is King Mohammed Sher Khan.

The offical language is Pashtun.

It uses the Afghani Rupee (AFR).

History
Long a cross roads of Asia the territory now known as Afghanistan was once a staging post on the Silk Road and even an outer tributary to Alexander the Great's empire. Islam replaced Buddhism as the main religion by the mid-12th century while its great cities were destroyed by the Mongol invasion in the 13th. Divided, then reassembled, numerous times it formed parts of various Khanates until Babur used it as a launching board to conquer Hindustan in 1526. While the Western third (Kandahar) revolted against Caliphate rule in 1716, even invading and wresting a portion of Persia away from Baghdad's rule for a decade or two, the larger Mughal part remained peacefully loyal until the Marathan Empire dislodged the Mughals and Kandahar invaded and defeated Maratha in 1761.

Thereafter the Kandahar Afghans came to dominate the region breaking its loyalty to its neighbours, however their rule has never been anywhere near total, and is usually based on a shifting alliance of local strongmen.

The Maratha Empire, or rather Delhi, now that central authority has largely broken down, still regards Afghanistan as a renegade province and has made periodic attempts to bring it back into the fold. These usually follow the Caliphate's own attempts to impose its rule. Neither state has ever managed to achieve an overwhelming or lasting victory on Afghan soil.

On their part Afghan rulers make no claim to any areas outside of their own territory. It does however try and court other powers to balance out the two giants on its doorstep (China has little or no interest in the region). For its part the Kalmar Union, although recognising the state and it government, follows its normal protocol with regards to Asia - as long as Luxembourg isn't involved, neither is Kalmar.

Government
Royal authority is patchy throughout Afghanistan's nominal territory however when push comes to shove the local warlords defer to central authority rather than face revolt. There are no elections, rather the royal chamber is made up of hereditary tribal chiefs.