Takhar Province

This article is about the province in Afghanistan. For other uses, seeTakhar (disambiguation).

Takhar تخار
Province
From the top,Warsaj District,View from atop a hill inKhawajah Bahawuddin,Darqad District
Map of Afghanistan with Takhar highlighted
Coordinates (Capital):36.7°N 69.8°E/36.7; 69.8
Country	Afghanistan
Capital	Taloqan
Government
•Governor	Mawlawi Zia ur Rahman Madani
• Deputy Governor	Haji Kazim
• Police Chief	Habibullah Shakir
Area
• Total	12,333 km2(4,762 sq mi)
Population (2021)
• Total	1,113,173
• Density	90/km2(230/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+4:30(Afghanistan Time)
Postal code	37xx
Main languages	Persian
Website	http://takhar.gov.af/en/
Persian language

Takhar(Persian:تخار) is one of the thirty-fourprovinces of Afghanistan,located in the northeast of the country next toTajikistan.It is surrounded byBadakhshanin the east,Panjshirin the south, andBaghlanandKunduzin the west. The city ofTaloqanserves as its capital. The province contains 17districts,over 1,000 villages, and approximately 1,113,173 people,which ismulti-ethnicand mostly a rural society.

History

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 theKhanate of Bukhara.

It was given toAhmad Shah DurranibyMurad BegofBukharaafter a treaty of friendship was reached in or about 1750, and became part of theDurrani Empire.It was ruled by theDurranisfollowed by theBarakzai dynastyand was untouched by theBritishduring the threeAnglo-Afghan warsthat were fought in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

1964–2001

It was established in 1964 whenQataghan Provincewas divided into three provinces: Baghlan, Kunduz and Takhar. During the 1980sSoviet–Afghan War,the area fell under the influence ofRabbaniandAhmad Shah Massoud.It was controlled by theNorthern Alliancein the 1990s. It experienced some fighting between the Northern Alliance and theTalibanforces. Takhar holds notoriety as the location whereMujahideenCommander Ahmad Shah Massoud was assassinated on 9 September 2001 by suspectedal-Qaedaagents.

2001–2021

Following the September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, and amidst the United States' intervention, General Mohamad Daud and General Shajahan Noori, both widely recognized figures, played instrumental roles in leading the Afghanistan government forces to reclaim control of the northeastern province from the Taliban.

International Security Assistance Force(ISAF) took over security responsibility of the area in the early 2000s, which was led byGermany.The province also began to see some developments and the establishment ofAfghan National Security Forces(ANSF). In a small incident in July 2008, theAfghan National Policekilled Mullah Usman when several armed Taliban militants under his command raided a police checkpoint in theKalafgan district.This was the first time since the fall ofTaliban regimein 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 theAfghan Interior Ministry.

In May 2009, Taliban insurgents fighting Afghan government attacked theBaharak districtin Takhar province.A bomb attack on 28 May 2011 killedGeneral Shahjahan Noori,Mohammed Daud Daudand injured Governor Taqwa. Several German soldiers and Afghans were also killed.

In April 2012, the water supply at theRostaq 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 were no deaths as a result of the incident.

During the 2021 Taliban offensive, Takhar Province experienced attacks as the withdrawal of US troops took place. In response, Mohibullah Noori emerged as a prominent figure, leading the second resistance to support security forces and prevent the Taliban from taking control of Taluqan city. Despite the Taliban eventually gaining control of the province on August 8, 2021, the Resistance Forces have remained present in the area.

2015 earthquake

On 26 October, the 7.5MwHindu Kush earthquakeshook northernAfghanistanwith a maximumMercalli intensityof VIII (Severe). This earthquake destroyed almost 30,000 homes, left several hundred dead, and more than 1,700 injured.

Demographics

Further information:Demography of Afghanistan

Ethnolinguisticgroups in Afghanistan

Districts of Takhar

As of 2021, the total population of the province is about 1,113,173which is mostly tribal and a rural society. The main inhabitants of Takhar province are majorityTajiksandUzbekswith a sizeablePashtunminority. Other smaller ethnic groups includeHazaras,GujarsandBalochi.

District information

Districts of Takhar Province

District	Capital	Population	Area in km2	Pop. density	Number of villages and ethnic groups
Baharak		34,942	379	92	74 villages.Uzbeks,Tajiks,Pashtuns,Hazaras
Bangi		39,725	434	92	59 villages. 50%Uzbek,40%Tajik,6%Hazara,4%Pashtun.
Chah Ab		90,011	833	108	63 villages. 100%Tajik,
Chal		31,885	404	79	58 villages. 60%Tajiks32%Uzbek,6%Hazara,1%Pashtun,1%Gujar.
Darqad		30,424	310	98	TajiksUzbek
Dashti Qala		36,137	314	115	49 villages. 65%Tajiks,30%Uzbek,5%Pashtuns
Farkhar		53,051	1,306	41	Tajik
Hazar Sumuch		15,545	265	59	28 villages. PredominantelyPashtun,fewTurkmen,Tajik,Uzbek.
Ishkamish		66,695	948	70	103 villages. 65%Tajik,15%Uzbek,10%Pashtun,10%Gujar.
Kalafgan		39,858	526	76	42 villages 60%Uzbek,2%Hazara,37%Tajik,1%Pashtun.
Khwaja Bahauddin		26,306	182	144	25 villages. PredominantelyUzbek.
Khwaja Ghar		76,132	404	188	62 villages. 40%Uzbek,25%Pashtun,35%Tajik,<1%Hazara.
Namak Ab		13,817	431	32	Tajik.
Rustaq		186,144	1,824	102	179 villages 60%Tajiks,38%Uzbeks<1%Pashtun,<1%Baloch
Taluqan	Taluqan	258,724	833	311	60%Tajik,30%Uzbeks10%Pashtun,5%Hazara,5% others
Warsaj		42,914	2,668	16	Tajik.
Yangi Qala		50,782	360	141	64 villages 40%Uzbeks,23%Pashtun,35%Tajik,2%Hazara.
Takhar		1,093,092	12,458	88	50%Tajiks,38.1Uzbeks,Pashtuns,2.1%Hazaras,0.6%Gujar,<0.1%Balochi,<0.1%Turkmens,1.2% others.

Economy

Further information:Economy of Afghanistan

Agricultureandminingare the main industries of the province. Takhar hascoalreserves which are being exploited by hand in some villages and sold in the region. The local population considersgoldthe 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

• Tokharistan
• Taloqan

External links

• Naval Postgraduate School-Takhar Province
• Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development-Takhar Province
• Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System-Takhar Province
• Takhar(pictures of Takhar province)