Question 67 from UPSC CSE 2022 - Geography

Question

Consider the following countries:
1. Azerbaijan
2. Kyrgyzstan
3. Tajikistan
4. Turkmenistan
5. Uzbekistan
Which of the above have borders with Afghanistan?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. 3, 4, and 5 only

Strategy: Focus on geographic recall to identify countries immediately north of Afghanistan. Eliminate Azerbaijan, which is far west and borders the Caspian Sea, not Afghanistan. Also eliminate Kyrgyzstan, which is northeast of Afghanistan but separated by Tajikistan. The correct bordering countries north of Afghanistan are Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Key Info: Afghanistan is a landlocked country in South-Central Asia. To its north, it shares borders with the three Central Asian countries:

- Turkmenistan (border length approx. 804 km)
- Uzbekistan (approx. 144 km)
- Tajikistan (approx. 1,206 km)

These borders hold historical significance due to their location along the Amu Darya River and the legacy of Russian and British imperial frontiers. Kyrgyzstan, though also in Central Asia, is separated from Afghanistan by Tajikistan and does not share a border. Azerbaijan is situated west of the Caspian Sea and is entirely separate from Afghanistan, sharing no boundary. Afghanistan's northern borders are strategically important for regional security, energy pipelines, and cross-border ethnic groups such as Uzbeks and Tajiks.

Answer

Option A: 1, 2, and 5 only

Answer

Option B: 1, 2, 3, and 4 only

Answer

Option D: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5

Consider the following countries: Azerbaijan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Which of the above have borders with Afghanistan?

Consider the following countries:

Azerbaijan

Kyrgyzstan

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Uzbekistan
Which of the above have borders with Afghanistan?