Afghanistan is struggling to recover from more than a quarter century of conflict, with violence still raging in the south and southeast. It is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world and home to a booming narcotics trade. The country's infant mortality rates are among the highest in the world.

• Millions fled during the conflict
• 1,000 children die every day
• More than 40,000 foreign troops

Billions of dollars have poured into rebuilding Afghanistan since the fall of the hardline Taliban regime in 2001. But many Afghans are frustrated at the pace of reconstruction, which has been dogged by security problems and allegations of corruption and mismanagement.

The Taliban were toppled by U.S. and mujahideen forces after they refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, architect of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

Remnants of the Taliban fighting to oust thousands of foreign troops and Afghanistan's new Western-backed government have launched a campaign of bomb attacks, ambushes and raids. NATO and Afghan forces have carried out major offensives in Helmand province, the heartland of the Taliban insurgency.

Aside from the Taliban, security officials also blame land disputes, banditry, the drugs trade and clan feuds for rising violence.

There is some good news. Millions of former refugees have streamed back, the judiciary and army are being reconstituted and roads and hospitals rebuilt. Women, who were barred from education and jobs during the Taliban years, are now allowed to vote and have seats in parliament.

There is, nevertheless, mounting anger among ordinary Afghans at the slow pace of reconstruction combined with the number of civilians who are getting killed by foreign forces.

Average life expectancy (2005)	42.9 years (U.N. Human Development Report 2007/08)
Infant mortality rate out of 1,000 (2006)	165 (UNICEF State of the World's Children 2008)
Under five mortality rate out of 1,000 (2006)	257 (UNICEF State of the World's Children 2008)
Percentage of underweight under fives 2000-2006	39 (UNICEF, 2008)
People killed or injured by mines every month	62 (U.N. Mine Information Network)
Refugees still in Pakistan and Iran in 2007	3 million (UNHCR)