Formal Name: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (Dowlate EslamiyeAfghanestan). Short Form: Afghanistan. Term for Citizen(s): Afghan(s). Capital: Kabul. Major Cities: Herat (Hirat), Jalalabad, Kandahar (Qandahar), Kondoz (Kunduz), and Mazare Sharif. Independence: Afghanistan recognizes its independence day as August 19, the date in 1919 when the country became fully independent of British rule.