Paktika (Pashto: پکتیکا) is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the south-east of the country and overwhelmingly conservative Sunni Pashtun people. Its capital is Sharan.

Political and military situation

As one of the most remote provinces in Afghanistan, and in an area that saw a lot of devastation in previous years, Paktika suffers from a severe lack of critical infrastructure. Reconstruction in the province after the fall of the Taliban has been slow in comparison to that in nearby provinces such as Khost and Zabul, in large part due to the remoteness of the region and repeated attacks on aid workers. 21 November of 2004, members of the Utah and Iowa National Guard helped establish a Provincial Reconstruction Team base in Sharana, capital of the province, to lead the development effort.

While the province hasn't witnessed the outright fighting in the last few years that has affected provinces like Helmand, there is a constant low level of tribal violence accompanied by criminal and Taliban activity. The last serious fighting in the province took place in 2004, amid reports that then-Governor Muhammad Ali Jalali was collaborating with Taliban forces, and that the Taliban had effectively annexed eastern portions of the province. Jalali, and many of his allied officials, were replaced, U.S. Special Forces were dispatched to fight the Taliban while the Pakistan forces fought with the Taliban's allies in neighbouring South Waziristan [1].

On 1 November 2004, a civil affairs convoy was ambushed between Shkin firebase and Orgun-E. U.S. Army Spc. James Kearney, a turret gunner, died of a head shot from a sniper, which initiated the ambush. After countless RPGs, PKM rounds and an IED, two vehicles were destroyed and several injuries were sustained. The Provincial Reconstruction Team base was named Camp Kearney to honor the sacrifice of Spc. James Kearney.^{[citation needed]}

Politicians

The current Governor of the province is Akram Khpalwak. In 2006, a previous Governor of the province, Muhammad Ali Jalali, was killed by Taliban millitants while driving in neighbouring Ghazni Province [2]. In 2004, Ghulabuddin Mangal was appointed Governor of Paktika Province replacing Muhammad Ali Jalali who left the governor's compound as ordered, but only after firing two rockets at it as a goodbye present.

History

Paktika was once part of a greater province Paktia, that has itself now further split into Khost province. The province was the site of many battles during the Soviet occupation of the country and the lawless years that followed.

Geography

Paktika is bordered on the north by Paktia Province and Khost Province on the east, as well as South Waziristan, a Pakistani-administered tribal area. The southern border is shared with Zabul Province, while Ghazni Province is on its western flank.

Like many areas of the country, Paktika has been heavily deforested. This has been one of the causes of devastating flooding in recent years

Districts

Districts of Paktika.

• Barmal District
• Dila District
• Gayan District
• Gomal District
• Mata Khan District
• Nika District
• Omna District
• Sar Hawza District
• Sarobi District
• Sharan District
• Urgun District
• Waza Khwa District (alternate spelling: Wazi Khwa
• Wor Mamay District
• Zarghun Shahr District
• Ziruk District

Panjshir Province

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Panjshir (Persian: پنجشیر, literally "Five Lions", also spelled as Panjsher) is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. Containing the Panjshir Valley, it was established from the Parwan Province in April 13, 2004. Its population is 328,620, and its area is 3,610 square kilometers. Its capital is the town of Bazarak.

At the province is a NATO-ISAF Provincial Reconstruction Team based which is led by the US.

Districts

Hisa-I-Awali Panjsher District

• Anaba
• Hisa-I-Awali Panjshir
• Hisa-I-Dowom Panjshir
• Rokha
• Shootul

Parwan Province

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Parwān (Persian: پروان, also spelled Parvān), once also the name of an ancient town in the Hindu Kush mountains,^[1] is today an administrative province in northern Afghanistan, directly north of Kabul Province. Its capital is Charikar and it is one of the most secure provinces in the country.

History

In 329 BC, Alexander the Great founded the settlement of Parwan as his Alexandria of the Caucasus. It was conquered by the Arabs in 792.^[1] In 1221, the town was the site of the battle between the invading Mongols and the Khwarezmian Empire led by Jalal ad-Din, where the Mongols were defeated.^[1] In 1840, Parwan was also the site of a major battle in the First Anglo-Afghan War where the invading British were defeated.^[1] Parwan's modern history began with the construction of a new textile factory in the town of Jabal Saraj in 1937.^[1] Since then, Parwan was involved in the Soviet war in Afghanistan as some of the fiercest fighting took place in the area.^[2] In the 1990s it was the site of heavy resistance against the Taliban. Today at Parwan, an ISAF Provincial Reconstruction Team led by the United States has been active in reconstruction in the province since 2006.

Districts

Districts of Parwan

• Bagram District
• Chaharikar District
• Ghorband District
• Jabul Saraj District
• Kohi Safi District
• Salang District
• Shekh Ali District
• Shinwari District
• Surkhi Parsa District

Other notable towns and villages

• Bagram
• Ghorband
• Golbahar
• Jabal Saraj
• Koh-i-Safi
• Sayed Khel
• Shekh-Ali
• Shenwari
• Surkh-Parsa
• Turkmun

Samangan Province

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Samangan (Persian: سمنگان) is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. The province covers 6,425 square miles and has a population of approximately 406,000 people.

Its capital Samangan is known for its ancient ruins including notably the Takht e Rostam. Archaeologists are desperate to work in this province as wars and the Taliban have destroyed many of these artifacts.

A series of earthquakes struck the province on March 3, 2002, causing the loss of thousands of lives and homes.

Nowadays people call the province Samangan, but the capital town of the province is Aybak.

Since November 2007, the governor is Qazi Enayatullah Enayat.

[edit] Districts

• Aybak District
• Dara-i-Suf District
• Hazrati Sultan District
• Khuram Wa Sarbagh District
• Ruyi Du Ab District

Sar-e Pol, also spelled Sari Pul (Persian: سر پل), is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the north of the country. Its capital is the city of Sar-e Pol.

[edit] Under the Taliban

Aminullah Amin, the first senior member of the Taliban to be captured, was the former Governor of the Province.^[1][2]

Districts

• Balkhab District
• Kohistanat District
• Sangcharak District
• Sari Pul District
• Sayyad District
• Sozma Qala District

Takhar Province

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Takhar (Persian: تخار) is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. It was established in 1964 when Qataghan Province was divided into three provinces: Baghlan, Kunduz and Takhar. It is in the north-east of the country. Its capital is Taloqan. Its salt mines are one of Afghanistan's major mineral resources.

Districts

• Bangi District
• Chah Ab District
• Chal District
• Darqad District
• Farkhar District
• Ishkamish District
• Kalafgan District
• Khwaja Ghar District
• Rustaq District
• Taluqan District
• Warsaj District
• Yangi Qala District

Districts of Takhar.

Wardak Province

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Wardak (in Pashto ‎وردګ; also spelled: Wardag, Vardag, or Vardak) is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the centre of the country. Its capital is Meydan Shahr.

The population, about 70,000, is a mixture of 50% Pashtuns, 40% Hazaras and 10% others.

Districts

• Chaki Wardak
• Day Mirdad
• Jaghatu
• Jalrez
• Hisa-I-Awali Bihsud
• Da Bihsud Markaz
• Maydan Shahr
• Nirkh
• Saydabad

Zabul Province

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Zabul (Pashto: زابل) is a historic province of Afghanistan. Zabul became an independent province from neighbouring Kandahar in 1963, with Qalat being named the provincial capital. It should not be confused with a new small city Zabol in Irani Afghan border.

Political and security situation.

With its sparse population, insecure border with Pakistan and little central authority, Zabul is a fertile ground for insurgents fighting against the current Afghan government, although the province is considered more secure than some of its southern neighbours [1]. The province has especially struggled with retaining NGO's and teachers in the face of Taliban attacks and threats. Until 2006, the only major international presence was an American Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) based in Qalat, when it was joined by a UNAMA branch.

The current governor of the province is Del Bar Jan Arman.

Geography and population

The population of the province was reported to be 365,920 in 2004, and the province covers an area of 6,590 square miles [2].

Districts

• Argahandab District
• Atghar District
• Dey Chopan District
• Mizan District
• Qalat District
• Shahjoy District
• Shamulzayi District
• Shinkay District
• Tarnak Wa Jaldak District

Cities

• Qalat
• Shajuiy

Transportation

In 2006, the province's first airstrip was opened near Qalat, to be operated by the Afghan National Army, but also for use by commercial aviation. Twice weekly service was scheduled by PRT Air between Qalat and Kabul. The airstrip is not paved.