what does the "stan" in Afghanistan mean?

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.

"Land of"

Afghanistan mean "land of" (or "home of") the Afghans...

It's a Persian & Urdu word...

state. like Kazakh- Uzbeki- Turkmeni-

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.

In parts of SE Asia they use 'shan' as the same reason

see
http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/stan.htm
Chetak

Basically A-stan.