Asia.

• Position: Statistical data

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After nine years of what is now America's longest war, 100,000 U.S. troops are trying to stabilize Afghanistan. Its ineffectual and corrupt government makes fighting the Taliban--the radical Islamic group trying to take back power--even harder.

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With a population of 1.3 billion and a booming economy, China is fast becoming a superpower capable of challenging the U.S., both economically and politically. It recently bumped Japan to become the world's second-largest economy, behind the U.S.

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North Korea's unpredictable ruler Kim Jong Il continues to test nuclear weapons and threaten South Korea, where the U.S. has 28,000 troops stationed. Kim, who is believed to be ill, has named his 27-year-old son, Kim Jong Un, as his successor.

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Pakistan is a nuclear-armed U.S. ally threatened by Muslim extremists. Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who orchestrated the 9/11 attacks on the U.S., is thought to be hiding in the northwestern region that borders Afghanistan.

Asia URBAN AREA (SQ MI) POP. % COUNTRY CAPITAL POPULATION POP. RISE %/YEAR Afghanistan 251,772 22 Kabul 29,100,000 2.1 Armenia 11,506 6464 Yerevan 3,100,000 0.6 Azerbaijan 33,436 54 Baku 9,000,000 1.1 Bangladesh 55,598 25 Dhaka 164,400,000 1.5 Bhutan 18,147 32 Thimphu 700,000 1.7 Brunei 2,228 72 Bandar Seri 400,000 1.3 Begawan Cambodia 69,900 20 Phnom Penh 15,100,000 1.6 China 3,696,100 47 Beijing 1,338,100,000 0.5 Georgia 26,911 53 Tbilisi 4,600,000 0.3 India 1,269,340 29 New Delhi 1,188,800,000 1.5 Indonesia 735,355 43 Jakarta 235,500,000 1.4 Japan 145,869 86 Tokyo 127,400,000 0 Kazakhstan 1,049,151 54 Astana 16,300,000 1.4 Korea, North 46,541 60 Pyongyang 22,800,000 0.5 Korea, South 38,324 82 Seoul 48,900,000 0.4 Kyrgyzstan 76,641 35 Bishkek 5,300,000 1.6 Laos 91,429 27 Vientiane 6,400,000 2.1 Malaysia 127,317 63 Kuala 28,900,000 1.6 Lumpur Maldives 116 35 Male 300,000 1.9 Mongolia 604,826 60 Ulaanbaatar 2,800,000 1.9 Myanmar 261,228 31 Naypyidaw (Burma) 53,400,000 0.9 Myodaw Nepal 56,826 17 Kathmandu 28,000,000 1.9 Pakistan 307,375 35 Islamabad 184,800,000 2.3 Philippines 115,830 63 Manila 94,000,000 2.1 Russia (14) 6,592-819 73 Moscow 141,900,000 -0.2 Singapore 239 100 Singapore 5,100,000 0.6 Sri Lanka 25,332 15 Colombo 20,700,000 1.2 Taiwan 13,969 78 Taipei 23,200,000 0.2 Tajikistan 55,251 26 Dushanbe 7,600,000 2.4 Thailand 198,116 31 Bangkok 68,100,000 0.6 Timor-Leste 15,741...