UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 18
Consider the following countries :
- Azerbaijan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
Which of the above have borders with Afghanistan ?
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: C
Correct Option: C (3, 4 and 5 only)
Explanation: Afghanistan directly borders Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan among the five named Central Asian/Caucasus countries.
Statement / Pair / Item-wise Analysis:
1. False / does not qualify - Azerbaijan does not share a land border with Afghanistan.
2. False / does not qualify - Kyrgyzstan is separated from Afghanistan by Tajikistan/China and does not border it.
3. True / qualifies - Tajikistan borders Afghanistan along the Amu/Panj river system.
4. True / qualifies - Turkmenistan has a northern border with Afghanistan.
5. True / qualifies - Uzbekistan shares a short border with Afghanistan near Termez.
Option-wise Analysis:
A. Incorrect-includes 1 even though Azerbaijan does not share a land border with Afghanistan.; includes 2 even though Kyrgyzstan is separated from Afghanistan by Tajikistan/China and does not border it.; omits 3 even though Tajikistan borders Afghanistan along the Amu/Panj river system.; omits 4 even though Turkmenistan has a northern border with Afghanistan.
B. Incorrect-includes 1 even though Azerbaijan does not share a land border with Afghanistan.; includes 2 even though Kyrgyzstan is separated from Afghanistan by Tajikistan/China and does not border it.; omits 5 even though Uzbekistan shares a short border with Afghanistan near Termez.
C. Correct-selects exactly the correct statements/items identified above.
D. Incorrect-includes 1 even though Azerbaijan does not share a land border with Afghanistan.; includes 2 even though Kyrgyzstan is separated from Afghanistan by Tajikistan/China and does not border it.