Located in the central part of Asia, Afghanistan is a country that is full of land. It has borders with Pakistan, Iran and China. Afghanistan’s history is very interesting due to the fact that it is filled with wars and due to the important geographic nature. Many countries have tried to occupy this land but couldn’t do for a long a sustainable period. The story of its flag is also very interesting, not many people would know this but Afghanistan’s national flag has changed number of times in the past 100 years. Most flags remain the same for centuries but Afghanistan’s flag has changed most number of times as compared to other countries. Afghanistan’s current flag was introduced in 2004, 7th December at the inauguration ceremony of its president Hamid Karzai.
Afghanistan Flag consists of 3 colours black, red and green. These colours are in equal proportion and their width is exactly half their length. In the centre, there is a national emblem and a mosque. Except for the Taliban government this emblem has been there since the start of nation. The mosque in the middle shows a Mehrab and Pulpit. On the top is written a sacred holy phrase of Islam, also known as the first Kalima “LA ILAHA ILL ALLAH MUHAMMADUR RASOOL ALLAH” its meaning “THERE IS NO GOD ONLY ALLAH, MUHAMMAD IS THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH”. Below the Kalima is written “ALLAHU AKBAR” meaning “GOD IS GREAT”. In between these two is a rising sun. At the bottom the emblem, name of the country “Afghanistan” is written. White colour is used to represent the whole emblem. Branches of wheat are circulating the whole emblem like a garland.
All the colours in the flag represent different periods in the history of Afghanistan. Black represents the time of its occupation by foreign regimes in the 19th century. Colour of red represents the blood it spelt during the time of their fight for independence and the green is the colour of freedom. There was another symbolism of colours which was used before during 1928 to 1978. According to this theory black was used for sovereign, red was used for progress and prosperity and green was used because it is a colour represented for Islam. However, whichever way you take this these colours remain the most important part of for the country savaged by wars. One just hopes that the people of Afghanistan can find peace in their country and get rid of all the problems they are facing right now.