Question map
Consider the following countries : 1. Azerbaijan 2. Kyrgyzstan 3. Tajikistan 4. Turkmenistan 5. Uzbekistan Which of the above have borders with Afghanistan ?
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 3 (3, 4 and 5 only) because Afghanistan is a landlocked country in South-Central Asia that shares its northern borders specifically with three Central Asian republics: Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
Geographical breakdown of Afghanistan's borders:
- Tajikistan (3): Shares the longest northern border with Afghanistan along the Panj River and Pamir Mountains.
- Turkmenistan (4): Borders Afghanistan to the northwest.
- Uzbekistan (5): Shares a short border to the north, connected via the Friendship Bridge over the Amu Darya.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Azerbaijan (1): It is located in the Caucasus region, separated from Afghanistan by the Caspian Sea and Turkmenistan.
- Kyrgyzstan (2): While close, it is separated from Afghanistan by the territory of Tajikistan (the Gorno-Badakhshan region).
In addition to 3, 4, and 5, Afghanistan also shares borders with Iran (west), Pakistan (east/south), and China (northeast via the Wakhan Corridor).
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewHigh fairness. This is a classic 'Map-based' question triggered by the Afghanistan crisis (Taliban takeover). It tests mental visualization of the 'Stans' rather than rote text. If you rely on text without opening an Atlas for major news events, you will struggle.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Does Azerbaijan share a land border with Afghanistan?
- Statement 2: Does Kyrgyzstan share a land border with Afghanistan?
- Statement 3: Does Tajikistan share a land border with Afghanistan?
- Statement 4: Does Turkmenistan share a land border with Afghanistan?
- Statement 5: Does Uzbekistan share a land border with Afghanistan?
- Explicit listing of Afghanistan's land neighbors does not include Azerbaijan.
- Names all countries that border Afghanistan (Pakistan, Tajikistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, China), implying Azerbaijan is not a neighbor.
- Describes Uzbekistan as bordering Afghanistan, supporting the regional set of Afghan neighbors in Central Asia.
- Reinforces that Afghanistan's northern neighbors are the Central Asian states (e.g., Uzbekistan), not Azerbaijan.
Lists Afghanistan as one of India's land neighbours in the northwest and notes India’s very short border with Afghanistan (80 km), placing Afghanistan in the south‑central/ south‑west Asian neighbourhood.
A student can place Afghanistan on a world/regional map (south‑central Asia) and check whether Azerbaijan lies adjacent to that same area or separated by other states/seas.
States India shares land boundaries with Afghanistan in the northwest, reinforcing Afghanistan’s location relative to the Indian subcontinent.
Use this relative position (NW of India) on a map to compare distances and intervening countries between Afghanistan and Azerbaijan.
Describes the Durand Line and British contacts beyond the Indus, indicating Afghanistan’s long land frontier with territories west of the Indus (modern Pakistan region).
Combine this with a map to see that Afghanistan borders Pakistan/Iran regions, which could lie between Afghanistan and any country farther west like Azerbaijan.
Mentions Shortugai (Afghanistan) in relation to the Indus civilisation and locates Sutkagen-dor on the Pakistan–Iran border, giving clues about Afghanistan’s proximity to Pakistan and Iran.
A student can use these placements to infer that Iran/Pakistan occupy land between Afghanistan and countries further west, and then check whether Azerbaijan is contiguous or separated by Iran/the Caspian Sea.
- This passage lists all countries that share land borders with Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan is not included.
- Absence of Kyrgyzstan from Afghanistan's border list implies they do not share a land border.
- Describes rail and road connections that link Afghanistan (at Nizhny Panj/Dushanbe) to routes reaching the Kyrgyz Republic via Tajikistan.
- Implies Tajikistan lies between Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan rather than Kyrgyzstan directly bordering Afghanistan.
Identifies Kyrgyzstan as one of the Central Asian republics and states that 'Central Asia' is next to Afghanistan, linking Kyrgyzstan to the general neighbourhood of Afghanistan.
A student could check a political map of Central Asia to see which specific Central Asian states (e.g., Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan) actually touch Afghanistan and whether Kyrgyzstan is one of them.
Describes Central Asian states' geographic and strategic proximity to Afghanistan (mentions US bases, overflight), reinforcing that some Central Asian republics lie close to or border Afghanistan.
Use a map to compare where the countries that hosted bases lie relative to Afghanistan to infer which Central Asian states are contiguous with Afghanistan and whether Kyrgyzstan is contiguous.
Discusses historical boundary-making in the northwest frontier (Durand Line) and Afghanistan's borders with areas now in Pakistan, illustrating that Afghanistan's land borders lie to the south/west of Central Asian and South Asian regions.
Combine this with a map of modern states to see Afghanistan's northern neighbours and determine if Kyrgyzstan lies on that northern frontier or is separated by other states.
Notes Afghanistan's geographic relation to India (India shares a land boundary with Afghanistan in the northwest), giving contextual placement of Afghanistan in south/central Asia.
A student could place Afghanistan on a regional map relative to India and the Central Asian republics to judge whether Kyrgyzstan is directly adjacent or separated by other countries.
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- Explicitly lists Afghanistan's neighboring countries and names Tajikistan as one of them.
- Specifically states Afghanistan shares a border with Tajikistan to the northeast, directly answering the border question.
- Refers to connecting Dushanbe and Nizhny Panj "at the border with Afghanistan by rail," indicating a Tajik locality lies on that border.
- Uses concrete infrastructure context (rail link to Nizhny Panj) that implies a shared land border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
Mentions construction of roads and airfields in Tajikistan and Afghanistan by the same organisation, implying they are in the same broader region where cross-border infrastructure projects occur.
A student could use a map to check whether Tajikistan and Afghanistan are adjacent (making joint regional projects plausible) or separated by other countries.
Describes 'Central Asian states' as the region where the US sought bases during the Afghanistan wars and refers to Russian/Chinese interests in that region, linking Afghanistan with Central Asia.
A student could identify Tajikistan as one of the Central Asian states on a political map to see if it lies next to Afghanistan.
Lists 'Tajikistan' as an identifiable country in an exercise, signalling it is a distinct nation students are expected to recognise (useful for looking it up on a map).
A student could locate Tajikistan on a world map and then check its borders relative to Afghanistan.
References Shortugai (Afghanistan) as a northern boundary of an ancient civilisation, connecting Afghanistan with regions to its north (Central Asian direction).
A student could infer Afghanistan has northern neighbours in Central Asia and then check whether Tajikistan is among those northern neighbours on a map.
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- The passage explicitly lists Turkmenistan among countries that share land borders with Afghanistan.
- It specifies Turkmenistan is to the north-west of Afghanistan, indicating a contiguous land border.
Mentions 'Central Asian states' being geopolitically close to Afghanistan and used for bases/overflight after 2001, implying geographic proximity between Afghanistan and countries of Central Asia.
A student could take this rule (Central Asian states lie close to Afghanistan) and check a map/list of Central Asian states (including Turkmenistan) to see which actually touch Afghanistan.
Refers to Shortugai (Afghanistan) as a northern site of the Indus civilisation, showing Afghanistan extends northward toward regions associated with Central Asia.
Use this example to reason that Afghanistan's northern frontier reaches into Central Asian geography and then consult a map to see which Central Asian countries (e.g., Turkmenistan) lie along that frontier.
Describes drawing of a boundary (Durand Line) between Afghanistan and British Indian territories, illustrating that Afghanistan has multiple land borders formed by negotiated demarcations.
From the general pattern that Afghanistan has multiple land borders, a student can inspect modern maps to determine all neighbouring countries and test whether Turkmenistan is among them.
States India shares a land boundary with Afghanistan in the northwest, indicating Afghanistan's position relative to South and Central Asia.
Combine this orientation (Afghanistan northwest of India) with a regional map to trace Afghanistan's other neighbours in Central Asia and check if Turkmenistan is adjacent.
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- Explicitly lists Uzbekistan among countries that share land borders with Afghanistan.
- Direct statement that Afghanistan shares a border with Uzbekistan to the north.
- Identifies a city in southern Uzbekistan (Termez) as being 'at the border with Afghanistan', confirming a shared land border.
- Provides geographical evidence from an Uzbekistan-focused source linking the two countries at a border point.
Mentions Shortugai (Afghanistan) as a northern site of the Indus civilisation, indicating Afghanistan reaches into the northern/central Asian zone.
A student could use a world/region map to note that if Afghanistan extends northward into Central Asia, it may meet other Central Asian states (one could then check whether Uzbekistan lies immediately north of that part of Afghanistan).
Describes the Durand Line delimiting British and Afghan territories in the northwest of the subcontinent, showing Afghanistan has defined landfrontiers with neighbouring polities to its east and west.
Using the idea that Afghanistan has several land frontiers drawn with neighbouring regions, a student could consult a regional map to identify all countries bordering Afghanistan and see if Uzbekistan is among them.
Lists Afghanistan as one of India’s land-border neighbours and notes its relatively short frontier with India, which implies Afghanistan lies adjacent to South-Central Asian states.
Given Afghanistan’s placement adjacent to South/Central Asia, a student could look at a map of Central Asia to determine which Central Asian republics (e.g., Uzbekistan) lie next to Afghanistan.
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- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Solvable in 10 seconds via elimination if you know basic regional geography (Caucasus vs. Central Asia).
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Political Geography of Central Asia (India's 'Extended Neighborhood').
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'Stans' sandwich: Kazakhstan (Top), Uzbekistan & Kyrgyzstan (Middle), Turkmenistan & Tajikistan (Bottom/Bordering Afghanistan). Mnemonic for Caspian Sea borders: 'TARIK' (Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan).
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When a country dominates headlines (Afghanistan), do not just read the politics. Open the Atlas. Trace the border clockwise. Identify 'Buffer States' (e.g., Tajikistan separates Kyrgyzstan from Afghanistan).
This tab shows concrete study steps: what to underline in books, how to map current affairs, and how to prepare for similar questions.
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Adjacency is decided by whether two states share a contiguous land frontier; for example, India's frontier relationships include a short land border with Afghanistan.
High-yield for map questions and international relations: mastering adjacency lets aspirants quickly eliminate impossible pairings in MCQs and understand regional diplomacy. It links physical geography with geopolitics and helps answer questions about border disputes and bilateral ties.
- CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: India Size and Location > The number of Union Territories along the western and eastern coasts. > p. 4
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES OF INDIA > p. 28
The Durand Line is a key historical example of how a frontier between Afghanistan and its neighbours was formally drawn.
Important for questions on historical treaties, boundary formation, and contemporary border politics; it connects history, political geography, and security studies, enabling answers about legacy disputes and state boundaries.
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 5: Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India > British India and the North-West Frontier > p. 132
Very short frontiers (e.g., an 80 km boundary) represent narrow contact zones that can affect perceptions of adjacency and strategic access.
Useful for precision in map-based questions and understanding strategic chokepoints; helps aspirants evaluate claims about neighbouring countries and assess why some borders receive disproportionate attention despite short lengths.
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES OF INDIA > p. 28
Kyrgyzstan is one of the Central Asian republics, so mastering which countries border Central Asia helps determine bilateral land borders.
High-yield for UPSC geography and international relations: knowing the location and neighbouring states of Central Asian countries aids in answering border, connectivity and strategic questions. It connects to topics on regional security, trade routes, and great power competition in Asia.
- Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 1: The End of Bipolarity > Tensions and Conflicts > p. 10
- Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 1: The End of Bipolarity > Tensions and Conflicts > p. 11
Understanding the Durand Line and historical delimitation of Afghanistan's frontiers clarifies which neighbouring territories share land borders with Afghanistan.
Essential for UPSC sections on colonial-era boundary-making and contemporary geopolitics: explains legacy border disputes and informs questions on Afghanistan's relations with neighbouring states and border demarcation issues.
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 5: Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India > British India and the North-West Frontier > p. 132
Comparative knowledge of which countries have long or very short land borders with a given state (e.g., India–Afghanistan 80 km) aids in assessing plausibility of claimed borders.
Useful for quickly eliminating or validating options in map-based or border-related questions; links physical geography with political boundaries and bilateral relations.
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES OF INDIA > p. 28
Knowing which countries share land borders is the core skill needed to answer whether two countries are contiguous.
High-yield for geography and geopolitics questions: helps quickly eliminate or confirm possible neighbors, links to mapping, regional security and trade issues. Mastery enables correct answers on adjacency, border length comparisons, and questions on transit and cross-border connectivity.
- CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: India Size and Location > The number of Union Territories along the western and eastern coasts. > p. 4
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES OF INDIA > p. 28
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Uzbekistan is a 'Doubly Landlocked' country (it is surrounded entirely by other landlocked countries). The only other such country in the world is Liechtenstein. Also, the Wakhan Corridor connects Afghanistan to China.
Geographic outlier technique: Azerbaijan is in the Caucasus region, located WEST of the Caspian Sea. Afghanistan is EAST of Iran. They are separated by the entire Caspian Sea or the landmass of Iran. Eliminate (1). Options A, B, and D all contain (1). Therefore, (C) is the only possible answer.
Mains GS-3 (Internal Security): The geography of these borders defines the 'Golden Crescent' drug trade. The porous border with Tajikistan is a primary route for opiate trafficking into Russia and Europe.
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