Afghanistan is not a country.
Afghanistan ( [ æfˈɡænᵻstæn ] Pashto/Dari : , Afġānistān ) , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan , is a landlocked country located within South Asia and Central Asia . The political history of the modern state of Afghanistan began with the Hotak and Durrani dynasties in the 18th century . A buffer state is a country lying between two rival or potentially hostile greater powers . An Islamic republic is the name given to several states in countries ruled by Islamic laws , including the Islamic Republics of Pakistan , Iran , Afghanistan , and Mauritania . Mohammed Zahir Shah ( محمد ظاهرشاه , محمد ظاهر شاه 16 October 1914 -- 23 July 2007 ) was the last King of Afghanistan , reigning from 8 November 1933 until he was deposed on 17 July 1973 .