UPSC Prelims 2022 Q27: Geography – World Political Geography & Borders
Consider the following countries:
1. Azerbaijan
2. Kyrgyzstan
3. Tajikistan
4. Turkmenistan
5. Uzbekistan
Which of the above have borders with Afghanistan?
- (a) 1, 2 and 5 only
- (b) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only
- (c) 3, 4 and 5 only
- (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Answer: (c) 3, 4 and 5 only
Explanation
Afghanistan's neighbours (6 countries)
| Direction | Neighbour |
|---|---|
| North | Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan |
| North-east | China (through the Wakhan Corridor) |
| East and south | Pakistan (Durand Line) |
| West | Iran |
Checking the list:
| Country | Borders Afghanistan? |
|---|---|
| 1. Azerbaijan | No — in the Caucasus, west of the Caspian Sea |
| 2. Kyrgyzstan | No — separated by Tajikistan and the Wakhan |
| 3. Tajikistan | Yes — longest northern border, along the Amu Darya (Panj) |
| 4. Turkmenistan | Yes |
| 5. Uzbekistan | Yes — short border at Termez on the Amu Darya |
India also claims a border with Afghanistan through PoK (Gilgit-Baltistan).
Answer: (c) 3, 4 and 5 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan do not border Afghanistan.
- (b) Incorrect. It wrongly includes Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan and leaves out Uzbekistan.
- (c) CORRECT. Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are Afghanistan's Central Asian neighbours.
- (d) Incorrect. Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan have no border with Afghanistan.
Key point
Afghanistan borders Iran, Pakistan, China, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan. Not Kyrgyzstan or Azerbaijan.
Remember
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan border Afghanistan.
Common mistakes
- Including Kyrgyzstan because it is a Central Asian 'stan'; Tajikistan lies between them.
- Including Azerbaijan, which is in the Caucasus.
- Forgetting the short Uzbekistan border at Termez.
Exam tip
Three 'stans' touch Afghanistan: Turkmen-, Uzbek-, Tajik-. Kazakh- and Kyrgyz- do not.
Sources
- Oxford School Atlas — Asia (political)
- Ministry of External Affairs — India–Afghanistan relations brief