By Sebastian Sosman (4/7/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

BACKGROUND: Afghanistan\'s greatest historical challenge in the modern era has been establishing effective centralized administrative systems. The rugged Hindu Kush rises up in the center of the country, creating a \"ring\" of major economic hubs and arable regions. This ring system, by its very shape, acts to discourage centralization around one administrative hub.

By Alima Bissenova (4/7/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

BACKGROUND: While benefiting from the positive consequences of soviet rule in terms of industrialization, universal literacy, public education, and medical care, Kazakhs also suffered the downside of the Soviet regime. As a nation, they paid a great human and cultural cost for ‘socialism building’ and ‘progress’ of the Soviet era. During the forced collectivization and sedentarization of the 1920 and 1930s, almost half of the Kazakh population died of starvation.

By Rahimullah Yusufzai (4/7/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

BACKGROUND: South Waziristan, the largest of the seven tribal agencies in FATA in terms of area, has always been difficult to govern. It is also one of the biggest in terms of population and has, therefore, been given two seats in the country\'s National Assembly compared to one for most of the other tribal regions. Maulana Abdul Malik and Maulana Merajuddin, the two parliamentarians from South Waziristan, are clergymen and are affiliated with the pro-Taliban religious alliance, MMA.