Takhar Province

Takhar (Dari: تخار) 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.

Takhar
تخار
Province
View from atop a hill in Khawajah Bahawuddin, Takhar Province, Afghanistan.
Map of Afghanistan with Takhar highlighted
Coordinates (Capital): 36.7°N 69.8°E / 36.7; 69.8
CountryAfghanistan
CapitalTaloqan
Government
 • GovernorQari Mohammad Ismail Turkman[1]
 • Deputy GovernorHaji Kazim[2]
 • Police ChiefHabibullah Shakir [3]
Area
 • Total12,333 km2 (4,762 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[4]
 • Total1,113,173
 • Density90/km2 (230/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+4:30 (Afghanistan Time)
Main languagesPersian
Websitehttp://takhar.gov.af/en/
Persian language

The province contains 17 districts, over 1,000 villages, and approximately 1,113,173 people,[4] which is multi-ethnic and mostly a rural society.[5]

The city was attacked during the 2021 Taliban offensive (which coincided with the withdrawal of United States troops).

On May 2, 2021, PiramQul Ziayi, the most influential anti-Taliban figure in Takhar, was assassinated in Rustaq district.[1]

Following the fall of several districts of Takhar to the Taliban [2], on June 20, 2021, a group of Takhar elders led by Mohibullah Noori, a Resistance leader, announced at a press conference in Kabul that will mobilize people resistance in support of security forces in Takhar. Mohibullah Noori led the group entered the Taloqan City on June 26, 2021 and united the Takhar commanders to resist against Taliban.[3]

The Taliban tried to take the city in July 2021, however the attack was repulsed. Later during the huge Taliban offensive Haji Agha Gul was killed by Taliban and Khair Mohammad Teymour injured and all forces, including provincial officials, retreated to the Versaj district. On August 8, 2021, the Taliban gained control of the province during the 2021 Taliban offensive. However, National Resistance Front fighters have still maintained a presence in the province.[6][7][8]

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
Seleucid Empire 330–150 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
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
Umayyads 661–750
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
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Islamic Emirate 1996–2001
US invasion 2001
Islamic State (reinstated) 2001
Interim/Transitional Administration 2001–2004
Islamic Republic 2004–2021
Islamic Emirate (reinstated) since 2021
Related historical regions
  • Arachosia
  • Aria
  • Ariana
  • Bactria
  • Gandhara
  • Iran
  • Kabulistan
  • Kafiristan
  • Khorasan
  • Kushanshahr
  • Paropamisadae
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  • Zabulistan
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Further information: History of Afghanistan

Early history
Main article: Kushan Empire

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.[9]

In May 2009, Taliban insurgents fighting Afghan government attacked the Baharak district in Takhar province.[10] A bomb attack on 28 May 2011 killed General Shahjahan Noori, Mohammed Daud Daud and injured Governor Taqwa. Several German soldiers and Afghans were also killed.[11][12]

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.[13]

2015 earthquake

On 26 October, 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.[14]

Demographics
Ethnolinguistic groups in Afghanistan
Districts of Takhar

As of 2021, the total population of the province is about 1,113,173[4] which is mostly tribal and a rural society. The main inhabitants of Takhar province are Uzbeks, Tajiks and few Pashtuns.

District information
Districts of Takhar Province
District Capital Population[4] Area Number of villages and ethnic groups
Baharak35,552231 km274 villages 80% Tajik 20% Uzbek.[15]
Bangi40,419566 km259 villages 90% Tajik.[16]
Chah Ab91,767764 km263 villages 85% Tajik.[17]
Chal32,443330.8 km258 villages. Uzbek, Tajik.[18]
Darqad30,956393 km234 villages 85% Uzbeks.[19]
Dashti Qala36,769280 km249 villages 85% uzbek[20]
Farkhar53,9981,214 km275 villages 99% Tajik.[21]
Hazar Sumuch15,816309 km228 villages Uzbeks.[22]
Ishkamish67,860806 km2103 villages majority Uzbeks[23]
Kalafgan40,554479 km242 villages 95% Uzbeks.[24]
Khwaja Bahauddin26,765178.2 km225 villages Uzbek, Tajik, Pashtun.[25]
Khwaja Ghar77,516402 km262 villages 80% Tajik.[26]
Namak Ab14,058584 km228 villages 50% Tajik 50% Uzbek.[27]
Rustaq189,4951,939 km2179 villages Majority Uzbek.[28]
TaluqanTaluqan263,800Majority Uzbek.
Warsaj43,6632705.3 km294 villages Majority Tajik.[29]
Yangi Qala51,742247 km264 villages 85% Uzbeks.[30]

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
  • Tokharistan
  • Taloqan

Footnotes
  1. کاکړ, جاويد هميم (14 March 2022). "سرپرست حکومت په وزارتونو، ولایتونو او قول اردو ګانو کې نوې ټاکنې وکړې".
  2. "جمهور - تعیینات جدید از سوی رهبر طالبان انجام شد". 14 March 2022.
  3. "د نږدې شلو ولایاتو لپاره نوي والیان او امنیې قوماندانان وټاکل شول". 7 November 2021.
  4. "Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2021-22" (PDF). National Statistic and Information Authority (NSIA). April 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  5. "Takhar provincial profile" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  6. Kohzad, Nilly (15 December 2021). "What Does the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan Have to Offer?". The Diplomat. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  7. Filmer, Antonia (4 September 2021). "Resistance Front in Panjshir geared up for defending Afghanistan against Taliban". The Sunday Guardian. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  8. Yousafzai, Shahabullah (24 November 2021). "Taliban's Takhar district governor killed in roadside explosion". Express Tribune. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  9. "Takhar police kill Taliban commander"
  10. "Taliban attack district in NE Afghanistan". Military-world.net. 24 May 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  11. "Three German soldiers die in Afghan attack". Thepeninsulaqatar.com. 29 May 2011. Archived from the original on 31 May 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  12. Gambrell, Jon (29 May 2011). "Taliban suicide bomb hits Afghan governor's complex". Boston.com. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  13. Masoud Popalzai, CNN (17 April 2012). "Extremists poison schoolgirls' water, Afghan officials say". CNN. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  14. USGS. "M7.5 - 45 km E of Farkhar, Afghanistan". United States Geological Survey.
  15. "Baharak District" (PDF).
  16. "Bangi District" (PDF).
  17. "Chah Ab District" (PDF).
  18. "Chal District" (PDF).
  19. "Darqad District" (PDF).
  20. "Dasht e Qala Agha" (PDF).
  21. "Farkhar District" (PDF).
  22. "Hazar Smoch District" (PDF).
  23. ww1.mrrd-nabdp.org http://ww1.mrrd-nabdp.org/. Retrieved 14 August 2020. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  24. "Baharak District" (PDF).
  25. "Khwaja Bahawodin District" (PDF).
  26. "Khwaja Ghar" (PDF).
  27. "Namak Ab District" (PDF).
  28. "Rostaq Agha" (PDF).
  29. "Warsaj District" (PDF).
  30. "Yangi Qala" (PDF).
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