Conventional Long Form Name of country: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Capital City(ies): Kabul Type of Government: Islamic republic Date of Independence: 19 August 1919 National Holiday(s): Independence Day, 19 August Executive Branch/Powers: Legislative Branch/Powers: Judicial Branch/Powers: Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Ambassador to U.S.: Ambassador Eklil Ahmad HAKIMI Embassy in U.S.: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 Consulates in U.S.: Los Angeles, New York U.S. Ambassador: Ambassador James B. CUNNINGHAM U.S. Embassy: The Great Masood Road, Kabul U.S. Consulates: Representative to U.N.:
three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), red, and green, with the national emblem in white centered on the red band and slightly overlapping the other two bands; the center of the emblem features a mosque with pulpit and flags on either side, below the mosque are numerals for the solar year 1298 (1919 in the Gregorian calendar, the year of Afghan independence from the UK); this central image is circled by a border consisting of sheaves of wheat on the left and right, in the upper-center is an Arabic inscription of the Shahada (Muslim creed) below which are rays of the rising sun over the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great"), and at bottom center is a scroll bearing the name Afghanistan; black signifies the past, red is for the blood shed for independence, and green can represent either hope for the future, agricultural prosperity, or Islam note:Afghanistan had more changes to its national flag in the 20th century than any other country; the colors black, red, and green appeared on most of them