Numerous countries in Central Asia have a name that ends in "stan," including:

Afghanistan

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Pakistan

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Uzbekistan

As a generally accepted explanation, the suffix "stan" is an ancient Persian and/or Farsi word meaning country, nation, land, or place of, so, the country name of Afghanistan would then mean "homeland" of the Afghans, or place of the Afghans.

Russian History

Until late in the 20th century, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were all part of the former Soviet Union. They all became independent states (countries) in 1991 when the U.S.S.R. dissolved.

Maps

Countries of the Middle East

Country Name Definitions