Paktika Province

Paktika (Pashto: پکتیکا) is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the south-east of the country. Most of the population is Pashtun. Its capital is Sharan.

Political and military situation

As one of the most remote provinces in Afghanistan, and in an area that saw much 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. This is primarily due to the remoteness of the region and repeated attacks on aid workers and NATO forces.

In June 2004, members of the Utah and Iowa National Guard helped Army Reserve Civil Affairs Soldiers from Oregon establish a Provincial Reconstruction Team base in Sharan, capital of Paktika, to lead the development effort. The first full contingent of eight Civil Affairs Soldiers, from the U.S. Army Reserve's 450th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), based in Riverdale Park, Maryland, arrived in September 2004.

In an article in Time Magazine, the U.S. base was described as:

"The U.S. firebase looks like a Wild West cavalry fort, ringed with coils of razor wire. A U.S. flag ripples above the 3-ft.-thick mud walls, and in the watchtower a guard scans the expanse of forested ridges, rising to 9,000 ft., that mark the border. When there's trouble, it usually comes from that direction."

The Shkin firebase is composed of special operations forces. They target and are constant targets for al-Qa'ida and Taliban fighters who launch frequent strikes from nearby Pakistan. The area is an unforgiving, where the enemy can hide at close range while remaining invisible. A hunter can become prey very quickly. As U.S. Army Colonel Rodney Davis puts it, "Shkin is the evilest place in Afghanistan."

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.

On 1 November 2004, a civil affairs convoy was ambushed near Sarobi, 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 three other Soldiers were wounded. The Provincial Reconstruction Team base was named Camp Kearney on 21 November 2004 to honor the sacrifice of Spc. James Kearney.

On Jun 18, 2008 in Zeruk District center 2 members of the Provincial Reconstruction Team were killed due to rockets. the Mess hall is named after one and the hospital is named after the other person.

Kearney Base became the nucleus of what was to become Forward Operating Base Sharana, now the major U.S. military base in the region.

Incidents

Eight civilians including a pregnant women and a baby died when a Polish soldier shelled the village of Nangar Khel where a wedding celebration was taking place. Seven Polish soldiers have been charged with war crimes for allegedly opening fire in revenge.

Main article: Nangar Khel incident

U.S. Army PFC Bowe Bergdhal was captured by enemy forces on or near July 4, 2009 near the town of Yahya Kehl in the Paktika Province. He is the only American P.O.W of the Afghanistan conflict.

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 militants while driving in neighbouring Ghazni Province. 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.

The Sulaimankhel are one of the largest sub-tribes of the Ghilzai Pashtuns. The Sulaimankhel tribe is mainly located in the southern and eastern portions of Afghanistan, however, they also have a strong presence in the northern and western portions of Afghanistan.

The second largest Sulaimankhel population is located in Pakistan. Not only are they located in the province of Baluchistan and the North-West Frontier Province, but also located in Karachi and other parts of Pakistan.

New official Sulaimankhel Social Tribal Council has been established in Kabul Afghanistan. Ayoub Khalikyar is the president of Sulaimankhel social Tribal Council.the other largest ethnic group of paktika is Kharoti.kharoti tribesmen live in karachi as well where they are engaged in carpets and fabric business. they have made a committee called kharoti committee led by Haji Juma Gul Kharoti.

The Khan of the Kharoti tribe living in Paktika is Mohammad Ayub, son of famous Khan Sahib Jan Khan. Some Kharoti tribesmen are living in Karachi, Pakistan. Another tribe of Paktika is Sulemankhel, who are the majority.

History

Paktika was once part of a greater province Paktia, which 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, and by North Waziristan and South Waziristan in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan to the east. The western border is shared with Ghazni Province and Zabul Province, while Balochistan, Pakistan is on its southern 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.

Demographics

The population of this province is 393,800 people in which over 96% people are Pashtuns. The main Pashtun tribes are:

• Ghilzai
  • Ibrahimzai
    • Alizai
    • Sulaimanzai
    • Jalalzai
    • Alikhel
  • Boran
    • Sulaimankhel
  • Toran
    • Kharoti
  • Andar
• Karlanri
  • Zadran
  • Wazir

15000 people (1.8%) are Uzbeks; and about 5,000 people speak some other languages. There was a small group of Tajiks in 19th century who practiced ironmongery, mostly in Urgun.

Districts

Districts of Paktika.

Districts of Paktika Province

District	Capital	Population	Area	Notes
Barmal		88,028
Dila		50,203
Gayan		42,495
Gomal		64,275
Jani Khel		35,251		Created in 2005 within Zarghun Shahr District
Mata Khan		19,758
Nika		15,103
Omna		25,690
Sar Hawza		36,236
Sarobi		48,291
Sharan		54,416
Terwa		15,332		Created in 2005 within Waza Khwa District
Urgun		89,718
Waza Khwa		50,818		Sub-divided in 2005
Wor Mamay		30,135
Yahya Khel		30,161		Created in 2005 within Zarghun Shahr District
Yosuf Khel		32,648		Created in 2005 within Zarghun Shahr District
Zarghun Shahr		38,024		Sub-divided in 2005
Ziruk		43,190

Cities

The city of Sharan is the capital. Serowza is one of the biggest districts.

See also

• Tribal Map of Paktika on nps.edu
• ISAF
• Provincial Reconstruction Team
• Pakthas