Zabul Province

Zabul (زابل)
Province
Country Afghanistan
Capital Qalat
 - coordinates
Area 17,343 km2 (6,696 sq mi) [1][2]
Population 276,100 [3]
Timezone UTC+4:30
Main language Pashto
Map of Afghanistan with Zabol highlighted

Zabul (Pashto: زابل) (Persian: زابل) is a historic province of Afghanistan. Zabul became an independent province from neighbouring Kandahar in 1963, with Qalat being named the provincial capital. It should not be confused with the city Zabol, on the Iranian side of the border with Afghanistan.

Contents

Political and security situation.

With its sparse population, insecure border with Pakistan and little central authority, Zabul is a fertile ground for insurgents fighting against the current Afghan government, although the province is considered more secure than some of its southern neighbors.[4] The province has especially struggled with retaining NGO's and teachers in the face of Taliban attacks and threats. Until 2006, the only major international presence was an American Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul (PRT) based in Qalat , when it was joined by a UNAMA & USAID/DAI branch.

The current governor of the province is Muhammad Ashraf Nasari.

Demographics

The population of the province is estimated to be around 275,100 people. The major ethnic group in the province is Pashtun. The main Pashtun tribes are: Kakar, Nurzai, Hotak, Suleiman khel, Popalzai, Tokhi, Naser and Ludin.[5]

Geography

Zabul borders Oruzgan in the north, Kandahar in the west and in the south, Ghazni and Paktika in the east. It has an international border with Pakistan in the south. The province covers an area of 17293 km2. Two-fifths of the province is mountainous or semi mountainous terrain (41%) while more than one quarter of the area is made up of flat land (28%).[5]

The primary ecoregion of the province is the Central Afghan Mountains xeric woodlands. Common vegetation is listed as dry shrub-land and pistachio. The high mountains of the northern portion of the province are in the Ghorat-Hazarajat alpine meadow ecoregion, which is characterized by meadows, willows, and sea buckthorn.[6]

Sports

The province is represented in Afghan domestic cricket by the Zabul Province cricket team.

Districts

Districts of Zabul Province
District Capital Population[5] Area[7] Notes
Argahandab Sub-divided in 2005
Atghar 13,973
Daychopan
Kakar Created in 2005 within Argahandab District
Mizan 21,162
Naw Bahar 21,144 Created in 2005 from parts of Shamulzayi and Shinkay Districts
Qalat 36,560
Shah Joy 71,348
Shamulzayi. 33,351
Shinkay 28,344
Tarnak Wa Jaldak 19,017

Transportation

In 2006, the province's first airstrip was opened near Qalat, to be operated by the Afghan National Army, but also for use by commercial aviation. Twice weekly service was scheduled by PRT Air between Qalat and Kabul. The airstrip is not paved.[8] The ANA Chief in Zabul is Major General Jamaluddin Sayed[9]

Gallery

References

See also