Test: Afghanistan, Bhutan , Pakistan and Myanmar - 1 - UPSC MCQ

The attan dance, performed in the open air, has long been a prominent feature of Afghan life and eventually became the national dance of Afghanistan.

Khushḥāl Khan Khaṭak, a great Afghan chieftain and poet, founded Pashto literature in the 17th century, contributing to the rich literary heritage of Afghanistan.

The world-renowned ancient statues of Buddha in the caves of Bamiyan in central Afghanistan were destroyed in 2001 under the Taliban regime. The Taliban considered them idolatrous and condemned their existence.

Buzkashi is considered the Afghan national pastime. It is a rugged contest where horsemen, either in teams or as individuals, compete to secure the headless carcass of a goat or calf and carry it to a goal while fending off competitors.

Traditionally, the regimes that have ruled Afghanistan, especially under the Taliban, have shown little tolerance for a free press. However, since the Taliban's demise, the local press has seen an increase in publications.

Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) peoples likely roamed Afghanistan as early as 100,000 years ago, according to archaeological evidence.

During the Bronze Age, the main export from the Afghan area was lapis lazuli, a deep blue precious stone mined in Badakhshān.

Afghanistan has historically served as a meeting place for four cultural and ecological areas: the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, and East Asia.

Arman is the only regularly appearing daily newspaper in Afghanistan. It is a state-owned publication, and although there has been an increase in the number of publications, production costs and limited printing facilities remain a challenge.

The earliest definite evidence of human occupation in Afghanistan was found in the cave of Darra-i-Kur in Badakhshān. The discovery included Mousterian-type tools and a transitional Neanderthal skull fragment, dating back approximately 30,000 years to the Middle Paleolithic Period.