Background Notes: South Asia, May, 2011

Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs country background notes for international travelers to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.  Each country's brief, factual background note summarizes its geography, people (population, ethnic groups, languages, health, and religion), history, culture, government and political conditions (type, political parties and principal government officials), economy (GDP; land, climate, and demographics; agriculture and natural resources; trade, industry, and investment; and transportation), defense, human rights, and foreign relations.  Each country's background note also provides travel and business information, including principal U.S. officials (ambassador, public affairs officer, counselor for economic affairs, etc.); embassy location, telephone, and fax numbers; and passport information.   Note:  The sections on Afghanistan and Pakistan were last updated in late 2010 and do not include mention of the death of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a U. S. Navy SEAL raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on May 2, 2011.