This is the way I explain Afghanistan to the historically challenged:
The first Sherlock Holmes story appeared in 1887. In it, Dr. Watson was described as a recent veteran of an expeditionary war in Afghanistan. No readers complained that this was implausible.
In 2010 the BBC updated the Sherlock Holmes stories to the 21st Century. In them, Dr. Watson was described as a recent veteran of an expeditionary war in Afghanistan. No viewers complained that this was implausible.
Afghanistan, the Graveyard of Empires.
Earl