Afghan rugs or Afghan carpets are primarily wool-based hand-woven carpets. They are woven in Afghanistan, particularly in the country's north and west, by numerous ethnic groups and native Afghans, as well as Turkmen ethnic groups, the majority of whom immigrated to Afghanistan in the 1920s. Afghan rugs are also known as Afghan carpets or Afghan rugs. A number of Afghan carpets have been woven by Afghan refugees currently living in Pakistan. The weaving of carpets and the manufacturing of Afghan carpets is one of the most important means of subsistence for rural residents, especially women. The following cities specialize in carpet weaving: The majority of hand-woven carpets in Afghanistan are woven in the northern areas. The cities of Andkhoi in Faryab, Balkh, Kunduz, Samangan, and Shabarghan manufacture the majority of the rugs created by the Afghan Turkmen. Weavers in the provinces of Kandahar, Nimroz, and Farah, located in the southwest of the country, create Baluch or Baluchi carpets. Afghan carpets are weaved in the countryside by women. Weavers in the provinces of Bamyan and Ghazni, which are located in the heart of Afghanistan, make the majority of contemporary carpets and rugs. 
In addition, over the past few years, when Afghan immigrants who had resided in Iran returned to Afghanistan, carpet artists from Iran carried mementos with them. Because Afghanistan is home to a population comprised of numerous various nationalities and ethnicities, each of these groupings has its own own carpet weaving and design technique. Because of this, it is impossible to select a particular carpet pattern that is uniquely characteristic of Afghan carpets. Despite the fact that Afghanistan and Iran share a western border, the colors, designs, and weaving techniques of Afghan carpets more closely resemble those of Central Asian tribal textiles than those of Iranian carpets. Pakistan, Iran, and other Central Asian nations produce carpets that are naturally quite similar to those produced in Afghanistan, and vice versa. Afghanistan was conquered by soldiers from the former Soviet Union in December 1358 in order to provide support for the communist regime that was in charge. A significant number of rural people's forces participated in the armed resistance against the occupying army and the governing regime. As a result of the war, both the weaving and marketing and distribution of Afghan carpets in Afghanistan were affected. Prior to the conflict, the majority of descriptions pertaining to the production and sale of Afghan carpets are related to pre-conflict eras. After the fall of the communist rule in Afghanistan, the country's carpet production was interrupted for a variety of reasons, including internal issues regarding Afghanistan's sovereignty, the rise and fall of the Taliban, and other political unrest. Afghan carpets won international gold at the Hamburg show in 2008, 2013, and 2014 due to the beauty of their designs and the fact that their colors are totally derived from natural sources. Generally, carpets from Afghanistan can be divided into two categories: Turkmen carpets and Balochi carpets. These two styles of rugs have similar color palettes, designs, and weaving techniques with Central Asian tribal garments. 
The majority of Baloch carpets are prayer rugs and feature geometric patterns. Balochistani weavers produce a vast variety of carpets in numerous sizes. The majority of the time, the background color of an Afghan carpet is a deep shade of red or blue (sometimes ivory or green), with black or blue motifs. The designs on Baloch carpets are more varied than those on Afghani rugs, while the bulk of Baloch carpets include geometric patterns and are primarily dark brown, charcoal, rust, and black. Shindand or Adreskan, one of the most well-known and identifiable rugs in Afghanistan, is produced in the province of Herat. Each of these names is derived from a city in Afghanistan. This Afghan carpet is distinguished by the presence of weirdly fashioned and anthropomorphic animal and human motifs. Characteristics and weaving techniques of Afghan carpets Texture-wise, the quality of an Afghan carpet can range from fairly coarse to quite medium. The majority of Afghan carpets need at least six months to weave, and they are available in a range of forms, such as those made of felted wool, flat-woven carpets without piles, and piled and knotted carpets made of wool, cotton, and silk. Afghan carpets, which are comprised of Iranian knots, employ the asymmetric knot more frequently than any other style. These rugs are made from Afghan wool that has been hand-spun and colored with natural colours. Wool yarn that has previously been dyed is commonly substituted for or used in conjunction with natural dyes. The major color of an antique Afghan rug is a very dark red and copper, whereas the primary color of a modern Afghan rug is often wine red. Approximately 27% of the wool used in the creation of Afghan carpets is self-dyed, while the carpets themselves are colored using plants and indigenous dyes. Shine often reflects off the weave and texture of wool. In Kabul, Afghan carpets are usually woven on horizontal looms, but vertical looms have also been used in recent years. Afghan carpets and rugs are available in a variety of sizes, with the majority of products being on the smaller side. 
Wool rugs from Afghanistan
Typically, the carpets that are weaved in Afghanistan and exported from this country are composed of sheep's wool. This section discusses the sorts of sheep wool used to make rugs. Wool types in Afghan carpets Typically, four types of wool are utilized in Afghan carpets. Each of these wool types determines the carpet's durability, amount of knots per square inch, and softness. The following wools are the most prevalent:
- Ghazni wool
- Provincial wool Merino wool
- Belgian wool
- Ghazni wool
Ghazni wool is a renowned wool utilized in the production of Afghan carpets. The Ghazni region produces wool, but it is not exclusive to this region. The spinning technique distinguishes this wool from other varieties of wool. After being cut and washed, wool is hand-spun. In the process of hand spinning, craftsmen attempt to thin the yarn by spinning a great deal of wool. After the wool is spun into yarn, the yarn is colored with natural patterns. Due to the human spinning process, different portions of the thread absorb less and more color. This flaw produces a unique effect known as cloud effect. Afghani rugs manufactured from Ghazni wool are resilient, elegant, and have a distinct appearance, although their surface is not as smooth as that of other wool carpets. In addition, as the carpet is woven by hand, the quantity of knots cannot be excessive. Afghan carpet with wool from Ghazni Merino wool Merino wool, often known as Pakistani wool, is a variety of merino wool that is frequently utilized in the production of Afghan carpets. 
Spun by machine, the merino wool yarn absorbs all hues. Following is a description of the types of designs utilized in these designs: It indicates that it does not have a rubbing impact. Merino wool undergoes a particular treatment to become smooth and soft, but it lacks the durability of Ghazni wool. Regional wool Kunar, one of Afghanistan's eastern hilly and forested regions, has been a trading hub for jewelry, wool, and agricultural goods since the ninth century. This province's wools are likewise of great quality and are used to make Afghan carpets. Belgian wool Belgian wool is a high-quality wool brought to Afghanistan from Belgium. This wool possesses all four essential qualities for carpet yarn: softness, silky sheen, low weight, and durability. It also enables weavers to create rugs with a large number of knots per square inch, which increases the rug's quality. In recent years, this wool has become widespread in handwoven Afghan carpets. Belgian wool carpets are therefore the most expensive. Afghan carpet designs The vast majority of Afghan tufted carpets feature classic Turkmen flower patterns and red geometric patterns. Numerous varieties of lint-free fabrics, such as those used for nomads' bags, animal tools, and harnesses, are also manufactured. In the 1350s, Afghanistan's carpet export grew because to the mass manufacture of low-quality and inexpensive rugs. Single-weave and flat-weave Afghan carpets are referred to as "single weft," whereas double-weave and loop-weave carpets are referred to as "double-weave." Afghan carpets feature a variety of patterns, including elephant and octagonal patterns, frequently with curving flowers (the well-known Bukhara pattern), and hues of dark blue, mustard, and beige. Khalmohammadi and Agcheh carpets are two popular types of Afghan carpets. Khal Mohammadi rugs and Aqche are frequently woven by the Turkmens of northern and central Afghanistan, and their backgrounds are frequently a dark red color. 
Afghan carpets are woven in over thirty distinct styles and patterns. Turkmen, Kazakh, Bamiani, Mazari, Aqcheh, Jozjani and Chobrang designs, Golbargesteh, Zahir Shahi, Mashwani, Khal Mohammadi, Gol Mori, Qarqin, Chobbash, Herati, Balochi, Qezel Aiyag, Dotar Gol, Adreskan, Saroqi, Qala Zali, Andkhoi , Was Berkli, Gol Plitdar carpet, Daulatabadi, Tatharang, Khajah Sangheh, Baghcheh Kundzi are among the most famous and elegant styles of Afghan carpets. Afghan war carpet The designs and motifs of war on Afghan carpets have represented social displeasure with war, resulting in the term "war carpets." Patterns of grenades, tanks, and other military weapons are woven into these rugs, demonstrating how war has impacted the lives of people. The tank parade, grenade border, and Kalashnikov symmetry stand out in these rugs. Typically, Afghan war rugs depict military imagery in the form of helicopters, arrays of weapons, and tanks against traditional rug backgrounds. They provide a genuine peek into the life of a war-ravaged artistic society. Afghan carpets are currently among the world's finest carpets. Each one is a one-of-a-kind work of art with its own color palette, created through an original design process. In the early 1980s, under the influence of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, a distinctive Afghan carpet was woven that was distinct from the traditional Iranian pattern. According to reports, the production and export of Afghan carpets remained stagnant for many years due to Soviet authority and the authorized mistreatment of the people. After the fall of Soviet government, repeated wars and a lack of peace and security hampered the formation of a carpet weaving industry and the export of Afghan carpets and rugs.