Introduction of Afghanistan

Afghanistan is an ethnically diverse country. In July of 2007, the population was about 32 million. The official languages are Pashtu and Dari and about 95% of the people speak it. About 99% of the population are Muslims. 84% of Muslims are Sunni. Afghanistan has a long history of ethnic hiearchy within Afghanistan. It created imblanaces in wealth, influence, and education. The Pashtuns have dominated the country and are the majority of the population.

Hosseini 'wanted to write about Afghanistan before the Soviet war because that is largely a forgotten period in modern Afghan history. He wanted to remind people that Afghans had managed to live in peaceful anonymity for decades, that the history of the Afghans in the 20th century has been largely peaceful and harmonious.'