Kunduz
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coordinates: 36°44′N 68°52′E / 36.73°N 68.86°E
| Kunduz کندز |
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|---|---|
  Kunduz |
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| Province | Kunduz |
| Coordinates | 36°44′N 68°52′E / 36.73°N 68.86°E |
| Population (2006[update]) | 264,100 (5th) |
| Area - Elevation |
397 m (1,302 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC+4:30 Kabul |
Kunduz (Pashto: کندز; Persian: قندوز) also known as Kundûz, Qonduz, Qondûz, Konduz, Kondûz, Kondoz, or Qhunduz is a city in northern Afghanistan, the capital of Kunduz Province. It is linked by highways with Mazari Sharif to the west, Kabul to the south and Tajikistan's border to the north. In the 1979 census, Kunduz had a population of 53,251 people, which is now estimated to have risen to 95,000 (2002 official estimate). Kunduz is located at 36.73°N, 68.86°E, at an elevation of 397 meters above sea level.
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[edit] History
The city was known in antiquity as Drapsaka, and was a place of importance visited by Alexander the Great. Under the governance of Sher Khan Nasher, Kunduz became one of the wealthiest Afghan provinces in the early 20th century. This was mainly due to Nasher's founding of the Spinzar Cotton Company, which continues to exist in post-war Afghanistan.
Kunduz was the last major city held by the Taliban before its fall to US-backed Afghan Northern Alliance forces on November 26, 2001. Over a thousand people, including Al Qaeda, Taliban, and Pakistani army officers, were safely airlifted into Pakistan before the fall of Kunduz in the so-called Airlift of Evil.
Kunduz is the most important agricultural province which produces wheat, rice, millet, and other products and obtained the nickname of "the hive of the country."
Kunduz is the centre for the north east provinces, and was the stronghold of the Taliban during its regime. The city is strategically important because it is the only way connecting Takhar and Badakhshan provinces, which play a critical role in the existing government.
[edit] Ethnography
Several different ethnicities live in the city, namely the Pashtuns, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Arabs The arrival of the Pashtun tribes into the region are of relatively recent date, stretching back only into the early 19th century. But this has been a trend in all of Afghanistan where the Pashtun tribe loyal to the rulers in Kabul had been sent to distant regions of Afghanistan to act as margraves of the Kingdom of Afghanistan. Emir Abdur Rahman Khan was most active in this regard when he sent tens of thousands of Pashtun tribesmen into northern Afghanistan and the Amu Darya basin in the 1880s and 1890s to guard the borders against the Russian incursions as well as to form military outposts for Kabul in the recently acquired territories of Badakhshan and Mazar-i Sharif.
The Kunduz "Arabs" are all Persian-speaking and have been so since time immemorial. However, they claim an Arab identity. There are other such Persian-speaking "Arabs" to the north and west, between Kholm, Mazar-i Sharif and Shibarghan. Their self-identification as Arabs is largely based on their tribal identity and may in fact point to the 7th and 8th centuries migration to this and other Central Asian locales of many Arab tribes from Arabia in the wake of the Islamic conquests of the region.
Thomas J. Barfield, The Central Asian Arabs of Afghanistan: Pastoral Nomadism in Transition. 1982.
[edit] Administration
The city is divided into 6 districts: Khan Abad, Ali Abad, Char Dara, Dashti Archi, Qala -e-Zal and Imam Sahib.
Kunduz has 9 representatives in the lower house and 2 in the upper house and has a provincial council.Mohammad Omer also know as Zeeb Noor is the Governor. A famous figure from the Kunduz area was Haji Nazikmir the leader and the Grand Malik of the Zakheil tribe. Haji Nazkmir was the wealthiest person in the Kunduz province. He owned thousands of acres of farmland , apartment buildings, commercial stores, commercial buildings, Russian car agency, and many hotels. His children now live in around the world including back home in Kunduz. It is said by the people in Kunduz if you put all of His land together it would be as big as a country.
Haji Nazikmir's family is from the Mohmand Pashtun tribe. Mohammad Omer is also from the Mohmand tribe as well. The Zakheil tribe and the descendants of Haji Nazikmir are still the most richest tribe living in Kunduz. It is also have said that Haji Nazikmeer's sons have sold their properties and been alcoholic.Nowadays Mohammad Omar is the wealthies and Leader of all 65% pashtuns.Mohammad Omar is the brother of Arif Khan who was assasinated in Peshawar Pakistan in 2000.
[edit] See also
- Afghanistan
- Farhad Darya
- International Security Assistance Force
- Provincial Reconstruction Team
- Arif Khan
[edit] References
Dupree, Nancy Hatch (1977): An Historical Guide to Afghanistan. 1st Edition: 1970. 2nd Edition. Revised and Enlarged. Afghan Tourist Organization.
Thomas J. Barfield, The Central Asian Arabs of Afghanistan: Pastoral Nomadism in Transition. 1982.
[edit] External links
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