Takhar Province

Coordinates: 36°42′N 69°48′E / 36.7°N 69.8°E / 36.7; 69.8
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This article is about the province in Afghanistan. For other uses, see Takhar (disambiguation).

Takhar
Persian: تخار
Pashto: تخار ولايت
Province
View from atop a hill in Khawajah Bahawuddin, Takhar Province, Afghanistan.
View from atop a hill in Khawajah Bahawuddin, Takhar Province, Afghanistan.
Map of Afghanistan with Takhar highlighted
Map of Afghanistan with Takhar highlighted
Coordinates (Capital): 36°42′N 69°48′E / 36.7°N 69.8°E / 36.7; 69.8
CountryAfghanistan
CapitalTaloqan
Government
 • GovernorDr.fazlullah Mujaddedi
Area
 • Total12,333 km2 (4,762 sq mi)
Population
 (2012)[1]
 • Total933,700
 • Density76/km2 (200/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+4:30
Main languagesDari (Afghan Persian)

Takhar (Persian: تخار; Pashto: تخار ولايت) is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan, located in the northeast of the country next to Tajikistan. It is surrounded by Badakhshan in the east, Panjshir in the south, and Baghlan and Kunduz in the west. The city of Taloqan serves as its capital.

The province contains about 16 districts, over 1,000 villages, and approximately 933,700 people,[1] which is multi-ethnic and mostly a rural society.[2]

History

Part of a series on the
History of Afghanistan
Timeline
Ancient
Indus Valley Civilisation 2200–1800 BC
Oxus Civilization 2100–1800 BC
Gandhara Kingdom 1500–535 BC
Median Empire 728–550 BC
Achaemenid Empire 550–330 BC
Macedonian Empire 330–312 BC
Seleucid Empire 312–150 BC
Maurya Empire 305–180 BC
Greco-Bactrian Kingdom 256–125 BC
Parthian Empire 247 BC–224 AD
Indo-Greek Kingdom 180–130 BC
Indo-Scythian Kingdom 155–80? BC
Kushan Empire 135 BC – 248 AD
Indo-Parthian Kingdom 20 BC – 50? AD
Sasanian Empire 230–651
Kidarite Kingdom 320–465
Rob
Alchon Huns 380–560
Hephthalite Empire 410–557
Nezak Huns 484–711
Medieval
Kabul Shahi 565–879
Principality of Chaghaniyan 7th–8th centuries
Rashidun Caliphate 652–661
Tang China 660–669
Tibetan Empire 660–842
Umayyads 661–750
Zunbils 680–870
Lawik750-977
Abbasids 750–821
Tahirids 821–873
Saffarids 863–900
Samanids 875–999
Ghaznavids 963–1187
Ghurids before 879–1215
Seljuks 1037–1194
Khwarezmids 1215–1231
Mongol Invasion 1219–1226
Chagatai Khanate 1226–1245
Qarlughids 1224–1266
Ilkhanate 1256–1335
Kartids 1245–1381
Timurids 1370–1507
Arghuns 1520–1591
Modern
Mughals 1501–1738
Safavids 1510–1709
Hotak dynasty 1709–1738
Sadozai Sultanate 1716–1732
Afsharid Iran 1738–1747
Durrani Empire 1747–1823
Principality of Qandahar1818–1855
Emirate 1823–1926
Saqqawist Emirate 1929
Kingdom 1926–1973
Daoud coup 1973
Republic 1973–1978
Saur Revolution 1978
Democratic Republic 1978–1992
Tanai coup attempt 1990
Islamic State 1992–1996
Islamic Emirate 1996–2001
US invasion 2001
Islamic State (reinstated) 2001
Interim/Transitional Administration 2001–2004
Islamic Republic (politics) 2004–2021
Islamic Emirate (reinstated) since 2021
Related historical regions
Related topics
Further information: History of Afghanistan

Early history

Main article: Kushan Empire

7th to 16th centuries

Main article: Muslim conquests of Afghanistan

16th to 20th centuries

Between the early 16th century and the mid-18th century, the territory was ruled by the Khanate of Bukhara.

It was given to Ahmad Shah Durrani by Murad Beg of Bukhara after a treaty of friendship was reached in or about 1750, and became part of the Durrani Empire. It was ruled by the Durranis followed by the Barakzai dynasty, and was untouched by the British during the three Anglo-Afghan wars that were fought in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

1964–2001

It was established in 1964 when Qataghan Province was divided into three provinces: Baghlan, Kunduz and Takhar. During the 1980s Soviet–Afghan War, the area fell under the influence of Rabbani and Ahmad Shah Massoud. It was controlled by the Northern Alliance in the 1990s. It experienced some fighting between the Northern Alliance and the Taliban forces. Takhar holds notoriety as the location where Mujahideen Commander Ahmad Shah Massoud was assassinated on 9 September 2001 by suspected al-Qaeda agents.

2001–2015

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) took over security responsibility of the area in the early 2000s, which was led by Germany. The province also began to see some developments and the establishment of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). In a small incident in July 2008, the Afghan National Police killed Mullah Usman when several armed Taliban militants under his command raided a police checkpoint in the Kalafgan district. This was the first time since the fall of Taliban regime in 2001 that the Taliban insurgents engaged police in this province. Mullah Usman was the most senior Taliban commander in the northeast region of Afghanistan, according to the Afghan Interior Ministry.[3]

In May 2009, Taliban insurgents fighting Afghan government attacked the Baharak district in Takhar province.[4] A bomb attack on 28 May 2011 killed Mohammed Daud Daud and injured Governor Taqwa. Several German soldiers and Afghans were also killed.[5]

In April 2012, the water supply at the Rostaq district's school for girls was poisoned by unknown insurgents, sickening at least 140 Afghan schoolgirls and teachers ranging in age from 14 to 30, causing them to be hospitalized and some to partially lose consciousness, though there have been no deaths so far.[6]

2015 earthquake

On October 26, the 7.5 Mw Hindu Kush earthquake shook northern Afghanistan with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). This earthquake destroyed almost 30,000 homes, left several hundred dead, and more than 1,700 injured.[7]

Politics and governance

Further information: Politics of Afghanistan and List of governors of Takhar

The current governor is Abdul Jabbar Taqwa. The border with neighboring Tajikistan are monitored by the Afghan Border Police (ABP). All law enforcement activities throughout the province are handled by the Afghan National Police (ANP). A provincial Police Chief is assigned to lead both the ANP and the ABP. The Police Chief represents the Ministry of the Interior in Kabul. The ANP is backed by the military, including the NATO-led forces.

Demographics

Further information: Demography of Afghanistan
Ethnolinguistic groups in Afghanistan
Districts of Takhar

The population of the province is about 933,700,[1] which is mostly tribal and a rural society. The main inhabitants of Takhar province are Tajiks at 60% and Uzbeks at 35%. The remainders are Pashtun, Hazara, Pashai, Kho and Turkmen. There are also a population of Kuchis (nomads) whose numbers vary in different seasons.

District information

Districts of Takhar Province
District Capital Population[8] Area Number of villages and ethnic groups
Baharak 40,902 231 km2 74 villages 65% tajik 35% Uzbek.[9]
Bangi 28,197 566 km2 59 villages.[10]
Chah Ab 64,151 764 km2 63 villages 85% Tajik.[11]
Chal 24,596 330.8 km2 58 villages. Uzbek, Tajik, Pashtun, Hazara, Pashai and Gujjar.[12]
Darqad 25,771 393 km2 34 villages 80% tajik.[13]
Dashti Qala 35,347 280 km2 49 villages. 60% Uzbek, 35% Tajik, 5% Pashtun.[14]
Farkhar 79,864 1,214 km2 75 villages 95% Tajik.[15]
Hazar Sumuch 9,774 309 km2 28 villages.[16]
Ishkamish 51,153 806 km2 103 villages. 55% Tajik, 35% Uzbek and 10% Pashtun.[17]
Kalafgan 28,122 479 km2 42 villages 85% Tajik.[18]
Khawajah Bahawodin 26,280 178.2 km2 25 villages. Uzbek, Tajik, Pashtun.[19]
Khwaja Ghar 44,909 402 km2 62 villages.[20]
Namak Ab 11,563 584 km2 28 villages.[21]
Rustaq 248,780 1,939 km2 179 villages. 45%Uzbek, 40%Tajik, 15% Baloch.[22]
Taluqan Taluqan 194,471 85% Tajik- Warsaj 33,506 2705.3 km2 94 villages. 80%Tajik,10%Uzbek,Gujjar, Pashai and Hazara.[23]
Yangi Qala 39,398 247 km2 64 villages.[24]

Economy

Further information: Economy of Afghanistan

Agriculture and mining are the main industries of the province. Takhar has coal reserves of fairly good quality which are being exploited by hand in some villages and sold in the region. The local population considers gold the most relevant resource for the Province. Gold is being washed in Takhar River, and about 2 kg are being transported to the specific weekly markets in the city of Taloqan. Also the city is a main source of construction materials like: loam, sand, and different types of stones. Takhar province is known for its salt mountains and you can find large deposits of fine salt in the region. The Takcha Khanna salt mine is one of the growing number of salt supplier, for the population of Takhar and northern Afghanistan. While the mines offer economic opportunities in the region, the availability of iodized salt considerably reduces the prevalence of health problems related to iodine deficiency.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c "Settled Population of Takhar province by Civil Division, Urban, Rural and Sex-2012-13" (PDF). Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  2. ^ "Takhar provincial profile" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Takhar police kill Taliban commander"
  4. ^ "Taliban attack district in NE Afghanistan". Military-world.net. 24 May 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  5. ^ "Three German soldiers die in Afghan attack". Thepeninsulaqatar.com. 29 May 2011. Archived from the original on 31 May 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Masoud Popalzai, CNN (17 April 2012). "Extremists poison schoolgirls' water, Afghan officials say". CNN. Retrieved 22 May 2012. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ USGS. "M7.5 - 45km E of Farkhar, Afghanistan". United States Geological Survey.
  8. ^ "Takhar Province". Government of Afghanistan and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  9. ^ Baharak District
  10. ^ Bangi District
  11. ^ Chah Ab District
  12. ^ Chal District
  13. ^ Darqad District
  14. ^ Dasht e Qala Agha
  15. ^ Farkhar District
  16. ^ Hazar Smoch District
  17. ^ Eshkamish District
  18. ^ Baharak District
  19. ^ Khwaja Bahawodin District
  20. ^ Khwaja Ghar
  21. ^ Namak Ab District
  22. ^ Rostaq Agha
  23. ^ Warsaj District
  24. ^ Yangi Qala

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Takhar Province.
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