Laghman Province

Laghman (لغمان)
Province
Country	Afghanistan
Capital	Mehtar Lam
- coordinates
Area	3,843 km² (1,484 sq mi)
Population	382,280 (2008) [1]
Timezone	UTC+4:30
Main languages	Pashto Pashai Dari (Persian)
Map of Afghanistan with Laghman highlighted

Laghman (Pashto: لغمان; Persian: لغمان laγmān) is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. Located in the eastern portion of Afghanistan, the capital is Mehtar Lam. The province is composed of several districts including: Alingar, Alishang, Dowlat Shah, Mehtar Lam, and Qarghayee.

History

Buddhism

Illustration of Xuan Zang who traveled to Laghman.

During the invasions of Alexander the Great, the area was formerly known as Lampaka.^[2] In the seventh century, Xuan Zang, visited the area and reported that "very few" of the inhabitants of Laghman followed Buddhism,^[3] while some followed Hinduism.^[4]

Laghman was a centre of Mahayanist Buddhism and Huen Tsang records

In the country of Lampa (Laghman) there were about 10 Buddhist Monasteries

—^[5]

Islam

After the introduction of Islam into the region, the Ghaznavids, led by Abu Mansur Sebük Tigin, won one of their greatest battles in Laghman against the Hindu Shahis whose ruler, Jayapala, had amassed an army for the battle that numbered 100,000.^[6] Later, during the Mughal era, Laghman was recognized as a dependent district of Kabul province.^[7]

Located currently at the Kabul Museum, are Aramaic inscriptions that were found in Laghman which indicated an ancient trade route from India to Palmyra.^[8] Aramaic was the bureaucratic script language of the Achaemenids whose influence had extended toward Laghman.^[9]

During the Soviet-Afghan war and the battles that followed between the rivaling warlords, many homes and business establishments in the province were destroyed. In addition, the Soviets employed a "barbarism" strategy that targeted and destroyed the agricultural infrastructure of Laghman.^[10]

As of 2007, there is a ISAF Provincial Reconstruction Team based at Mehtar Lam which is led by the US.

Politics and recent events

Lutfullah Mashal is the present Governor of Laghman Province. The governor of Laghman was previously Shah Mahmood Safi, until he was replaced by Gulab Mangal. The Taliban narrowly missed killing Mangal in a bomb attack in late 2006 [1]. Gulab Mangal was replaced as governor by Lutfullah Mashal in March, 2008.

On June 20, 2005, three Pakistanis were arrested in Laghman for plotting to kill the U.S. Ambassador, Zalmay Khalilzad while he was visiting the province for reconstruction efforts. The three men were found with various armaments. [2]

In February 2006, demonstrations were held in Mehtar Lam District against the editors of a Danish newspaper who published caricatures depicting Muhammad. Laghman was the first area of Afghanistan to protest the cartoons.^[11]

On April 20, 2007, coalition forces killed Gul Haqparast, a top Taliban commander in Laghman who had strong ties with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. Governor Gulab Mangal stated that Haqparast's death was "very good for the people of Laghman and for progress in our province."^[12]

On April 24, 2007, six Afghan intelligence officers were killed after a roadside bomb destroyed their vehicle in Laghman. It was also reported that one of the intelligence officers was beheaded.^[13]

On September 2, 2009, a suicide bombing in the area killed 23 people, including the deputy intelligence chief of Afghanistan.[3]

Economy

Spodumene gemstones like these are often found in various areas within Laghman

The Alingar and Alinshang rivers pass through Laghman, as the province is known for its lushness. Laghman has sizable amounts of irrigated land as one can find scores of fruits and vegetables from Laghman in Kabul, notably cucumbers. Other main crops in Laghman include rice, wheat and cotton as many people living in the area are involved in agricultural trade and business.

Laghman also has an array of precious stones and minerals,^[14] as it is well known for being a relatively untapped source of the Tourmaline and Spodumene gemstones which are reported to be in abundance at the northern portions of the province.^[15]

Demographics

Pashtuns are the majority and are 58% of the population. Pashais and Nuristanis are also native here, and are 33% of the population. There is also a Tajik minority of 9%.^[1] However, According to estimates published by NPS Pashtuns are 51%, Pashais are 27%. and Tajiks are 21%^[16] The people of Laghman are overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim.

Districts

Notable people

• Abdul Zahir – former Prime Minister of Afghanistan
• Zalmay Hewadmal – author and political and cultural adviser to Hamid Karzai
• Mohammad Hanif Atmar – Interior Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
• Namahaq Zirak- Director and producer of Afghan BBC radio and television

Singers and poets

• Gul Pacha Ulfat
• Ahmad Zahir
• Mangal
• Shafiq Mureed

See also

• Kakazai
• Provincial Reconstruction Team

References

External links

• official website

Provinces of Afghanistan Badakhshan · Badghis · Baghlan · Balkh · Bamyan · Daykundi · Farah · Faryab · Ghazni · Ghor · Helmand · Herat · Jowzjan · Kabul · Kandahar · Kapisa · Khost · Kunar · Kunduz · Laghman · Logar · Nangarhar · Nimruz · Nuristan · Oruzgan · Paktia · Paktika · Panjshir · Parwan · Samangan · Sar-e Pol · Takhar · Wardak · Zabul