Khost (Matun) District

Khost (Matun) District (Pashto: خوست ولسوالۍ) is situated in the central and eastern part of Khost Province, Afghanistan. The district center is the town of Khost. Khost Airfield is situated 2 miles (3.2 km) southeast of the town of Khost.

Khost District
District
Country Afghanistan
ProvinceKhost Province
District centerKhost
Population
 (2006.[1])
 • Total160,214
Time zoneUTC+4:30 (D† (Afghanistan Standard Time))

History

Nader Shah era

When Nader Shah was a general, he was responsible for putting down an uprising in the district, where the locals had rebelled against the Amir due to heavy taxation and robbery.[2]

British era

On 2 January 1879, General Roberts entered Matun from Hazir Pir in the Kurram valley, with a small armed contingent.[3] The intent was to pacify the district, which was described as "an unsophisticated country where the revenue had hitherto been collected in copper."[4]

Soviet–Afghan War

During the Soviet–Afghan War, the mujahideen guerrillas, blockaded Khost District, cutting off all lines of communication. The Soviets were forced to respond with Operation Magistral in 1987 to reopen the Khost–Gardez Road and bring relief to the District.[5] Khost District was the scene of intense fighting in 1987, with over 1,500 guerrillas and one American adviser killed by DRA troops, according to Tass, the official Soviet news agency.[6]

References
  1. Khost Provincial Assessment, MRRD
  2. Asia: journal of the American Asiatic Association, Volume 20.
  3. David Gillard, Great Britain. Foreign Office. British documents on foreign affairs--reports and papers from the Foreign Office confidential print: From the mid-nineteenth century to the First World War. The Near and Middle East, 1856-1914, Volume 12. University Publications of America, 1984
  4. Eliakim Littell. Living age ..., Volume 208. The Living Age Co. Inc., 1896
  5. Lester W Grau. The Bear Went Over the Mountain: Soviet Combat Tactics in Afghanistan. DIANE Publishing. ISBN 1-4289-8148-9, ISBN 978-1-4289-8148-5
  6. The Soviets Report American Killed in Afghanistan. The Dispatch, Lexington NC. 28 Dec 1987.

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