| Khost District | |
|---|---|
| — District — | |
| Country | Afghanistan |
| Province | Khost Province |
| District center | Khost |
| Population (2006.[1]) | |
| • Total | 160,214 |
| Time zone | D† (Afghanistan Standard Time) (UTC+4:30) |
Khost (Matun) District 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 southeast of the town of Khost.
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Khost District is traversed by the Kurram River, which rises from the Rokian Defile, passes through the district, and then enters the "country of the Turis or the Kurram Valley".[2]
When Nadir 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.[3]
On 2 January 1879, General Roberts entered Matun from Hazir Pir in the Kurram valley, with a small armed contingent.[4] The intent was to pacify the district, which was described as "an unsophisticated country where the revenue had hitherto been collected in copper."[5]
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.[6] Khost District was the scene of intense fighting in 1987, with over 1500 guerrillas and one American adviser killed by DRA troops, according to Tass, the official Soviet news agency.[7]