Herat Province

Herat هرات
Province
Scenery around the city of Herat
Map of Afghanistan with Herat highlighted
Detail map of Herat province
Coordinates (Capital): 34°00′N 62°00′E / 34.0°N 62.0°E / 34.0; 62.0Coordinates: 34°00′N 62°00′E / 34.0°N 62.0°E / 34.0; 62.0
Country	Afghanistan
Capital	Herat
Area
• Total	54,778 km2 (21,150 sq mi)
Population [1][2]
• Total	1,762,157
• Density	32/km2 (83/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+4:30
ISO 3166 code	AF-HER
Main languages	Pashto and Dari

Herat (Pashto/Dari: هرات) is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan, located in the western part of the country. Together with Badghis, Farah, and Ghor provinces, it makes up the south-western region of Afghanistan. Its primary city and administrative capital is Herat City. The province of Herat is divided into about 17 districts and contains over 1,000 villages.^[3] It has a population of about 1,762,157 making it the second most populated province in Afghanistan behind Kabul Province.^[4] The population is multi-ethnic but largely Dari-speaking.

Herat province shares borders with Iran and Turkmenistan, making it an important trading province. The Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline is expected to pass through Herat from Turkmenistan in the north to Pakistan and India in the south. The province has two airports, one is the Herat International Airport in the capital of Herat and the other is at the Shindand Air Base, which is one of the largest military bases in Afghanistan. The Salma Dam which is fed by the Hari River is also located in this province.

History

The region of Herat was historically part of Greater Khorasan in Persia and was also controlled from the Middle Ages and on by the Tahirids followed by the Saffarids, Samanids, Ghaznavids, Ghurids, Ilkhanates, Timurids, and Safavids until the early-18th century when it became part of the Afghan Hotaki dynasty followed by the Iranian Afsharid Empire, and that followed by the Durrani Empire.

During the 19th century, the British arrived from southern Afghanistan as part of its imperialistic policies and backed up the Afghans during one Dari siege and one capture of the city, the former in 1838, and the latter in 1856 in order to prevent Dari or Russian influence reaching deeper in South Asia, and also, more importantly, Britain's colony India as part of the Great Game. In the process, parts of the city of Herat were destroyed. The province remained peaceful until the 1979 Soviet invasion.

The province saw a number of battles during the 1980s Soviet war, and remained an active area of guerrilla warfare throughout, with local mujahideen commander Ismail Khan leading resistance against the Soviet-backed Afghan government. This continued until the Soviet Union withdrew all its forces in 1989.

When the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan, Ismail Khan became the governor of the province, a position he retained until the Taliban forces from the south took control of the province in 1995. Following the ousting of the Taliban and establishment of the Karzai administration, led by Hamid Karzai, Ismail Khan once again became governor of Herat.

Ismail Khan become a figure of controversy when the media began reporting that he was attempting to restrict freedom of the people, and that he was becoming more of an independent ruler as a warlord. He lost a son Mirwais Sadiq in 2004 during a fight with forces of other warlords. In response to this, the central government began expanding into the provide with the newly trained Afghan National Security Forces (ANFS). Ismail Khan was ordered to leave his post to become a minister and live in Kabul.

After 2005, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) established presence in the area to help assist the Afghan government. It is led by Italy. A multi-national Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) was also established to help the local population of the province. The United States established a consulate in Herat, trained Afghan security forces, built schools, and clinics.

Herat was one of the first seven areas that transitioned security responsibility from NATO to Afghanistan. On July 21, 2011, Afghan security forces assumed lead security responsibility from NATO. On the occasion, Minister of Defense Wardak told the audience, “this is our national responsibility to take over our security and defend our country."

Politics and governance

The current governor of the province is Fazlullah Wahidi, and before him was Daud Shah Saba followed by Ahmad Yusuf Nuristani, Sayed Hussein Anwari, Gul Agha Sherzai, Sayed Muhammad Khairkhwa and Ismail Khan, who served before and after the Taliban government.

The provincial Police Chief, who leads the regular Afghan National Police (ANP) and the Afghan Border Police (ABP), is responsible for all law enforcement activities. The Police Chief represents the Ministry of the Interior in Kabull.

Economy

With international borders to Iran and Turkmenistan and an international airport trade could potentially play an important part in the economy of Herat Province.^[5] Due to the lack of urbanization in Herat Province, around 75% of the population lives in rural areas and economic activity is correspondingly heavily reliant on agriculture and horticulture production (saffron, rugs, cumin, marble, animal skins and wool^[5]) with around 82% of economic activity coming from these fields in 2011.^[6] Marble manufacturing and light industry comprised the remaining areas of economic activity.^[6]

The province is home to 90% of Afghanistan's Saffron production (a $12 million industry in 2014).^[7] In 2015 the World Bank noted that saffron cultivation had provided Herat Province's farmers a steady source of income, jobs for both men and women, and a decreased dependency on poppy cultivation.^[7]

Healthcare

The percentage of households with clean drinking water fell from 31% in 2005 to 28% in 2011.^[8] The percentage of births attended to by a skilled birth attendant increased from 24% in 2005 to 25% in 2011.^[8]

Education

The overall literacy rate (6+ years of age) fell from 36% in 2005 to 25% in 2011.^[8] The overall net enrolment rate (6–13 years of age) fell from 55% in 2005 to 52% in 2011.^[8] Herat University is Afghanistan's second largest university with over 10,000 students, 14 faculties and 45 departments in 2014.

Demographics

The total population of the province is about 1,780,000, which is mostly a rural society.^[4] According to Afghanistan's Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development:

"Around three quarters (77%) of the population of Hirat lives in rural districts while just under a quarter (23%) lives in urban areas. Around 50% of the population is male and 50% is female. Dari and Pashtu are spoken by 98% of the population and 97.7% of the villages. Languages spoken by the remaining population are Turkmeni and Uzbeki.^[2]
Hirat province also has a population of Kuchis or nomads whose numbers vary in different seasons. In winter 98,506 individuals, or 4.1% of the overall Kuchi population, stay in Hirat living in 166 communities. Around Three quarters (75%) of these are short-range partially migratory, 12% are long-range partially migratory and 13% are settled. Half of migratory communities of both categories migrate within the winter area, as well as in the summer area. The most important summer areas for the short range migratory Kuchi are Kushki Sangi, Farsi, Adreskan, Kushk Kohna, Kushk Robad, Pashtun Zarghun, Shindand, Guzara, Chisht Sharif, Obeh, Kohistan and Karukh districts of Herat province (in decreasing order of importance). The long-range migratory Kuchi are predominantly fully migratory. Their summer areas are in Ghor province. The Kuchi population in the summer is 112311 individuals."^[2]

According to the Naval Postgraduate School, the ethnic groups of the province are as follows: Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Aimak and others.^[1][9] About 84% follow Sunni Islam and the remaining 15% are Shias, with 1% being others.^[1]

Population by districts

The province is divided into about 17 districts and contains over 1,000 villages.^[3]

Districts of Herat Province

District	Capital	Population[3]	Area	Number of villages and ethnic groups
Adraskan		120,000	10,070 km2	270 villages. 95% Pashtun and 5% Tajik.[10]
Chishti Sharif		25,428
Farsi		28,252
Ghoryan		207,000	7,385 km2	311 villages.[11]
Gulran		106,983
Guzara		135,187
Herat	Herat	397,456		Tajik, Pashtun, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkmen and others.[12]
Injil		224,607
Karukh		58,594
Kohsan		57,782
Kushk		133,446	2,909 km2	158 villages. 40% Tajik, 58% Pashtun, and 2% Arab and Baloch.[13]
Kushki Kuhna		41,642	1,671 km2	142 villages. Tajik and Pashtun.[14]
Obe		75,175	2,634 km2	145 villages.[15]
Pashtun Zarghun		90,817		172 villages. Pashtun, Tajik, Agha, Mughul, Zori, Arab, Ghurya, Timani, Timori, Qabchaq, Khaja, Jamshidi, Baluch, Hazara and Jushan.[16]
Shindand	Shindand	785,418
Zinda Jan		54,976

Sport

Football (soccer) is the popular sport in Herat Province, and in recent years cricket is also growing in popularity. The Province is represented in domestic competitions by the Herat Province cricket team. Afghanistan's national sport Buzkashi and a number of other sports are also played in the region.

Future

In April 2011 it was announced that the Italian Minister of Economic Development, Paolo Romani, had pledged $85 million towards an upgrade of Herat International Airport, along with additional funds to develop a 28 kilometre road within the province. It was hoped that this, along with the standardisation of the airport to allow international flights, would encourage additional foreign investment in the region.^[17]

See also

• Provinces of Afghanistan
• Train Advise Assist Command - West
• Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT)
• Azizabad airstrike

References

External links

• Tribal Map of Herat on nps.edu

		Mary Province,  Turkmenistan	Badghis Province
	style="width:33% rowspan=3 | Razavi Khorasan Province,  Iran		Ghor Province
	Herat Province
	South Khorasan Province,  Iran	Farah Province

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

Herat Province Capital Herat Districts Adraskan Chishti Sharif Farsi Ghoryan Gulran Guzara Hirat Injil Karukh Kohsan Kushk Kushki Kuhna Obe Pashtun Zarghun Shindand Zinda Jan Cities Adraskan Azizabad Baluchi Bazargan Chisht Chishti Sharif Farsi Ghurian Gulran Guzara Herat Injil Islam Qala Karukh Kohsan Kushk Kushki Kuhna Obe Pashtun Zarghun Sabzawar Shindand Towraghondi Zendeh Jan Landmarks Herat citadel Khwaja 'Abd Allah Ansari shrine Friday Mosque of Herat Tomb of Queen Goharshad Mousallah Complex Herat City Old Fort

Districts of Afghanistan by province Badakhshan Arghanj Khwa Argo Baharak Darayim Maimay Nusay Fayzabad Ishkashim Jurm Khash Khwahan Kishim Kohistan Kuf Ab Kuran Wa Munjan Raghistan Shahri Buzurg Shighnan Shekay Shuhada Tagab Tishkan Wakhan Wurduj Yaftali Sufla Yamgan Yawan Zebak Badghis Ab Kamari Ghormach Jawand Muqur Murghab Qadis Qala i Naw Baghlan Andarab Baghlan Baghlani Jadid Burka Dahana i Ghuri Dih Salah Dushi Farang Wa Gharu Guzargahi Nur Khinjan Khost Wa Fereng Khwaja Hijran Nahrin Puli Hisar Puli Khumri Tala Wa Barfak Balkh Balkh Charbolak Charkint Chimtal Dawlatabad Dihdadi Kaldar Kholm Kishindih Marmul Mazar-e Sharif Nahri Shahi Sholgara Shortepa Zari Bamyan Bamyan Kahmard Panjab Sayghan Shibar Waras Yakawlang Daykundi Gizab Ishtarlay Kajran Khadir Kiti Miramor Nili Sangtakht Shahristan Farah Anar Dara Bakwa Bala Buluk Farah Gulistan Khaki Safed Lash Wa Juwayn Pur Chaman Pusht Rod Qala i Kah Shib Koh Faryab Almar Andkhoy Bilchiragh Dawlat Abad Gurziwan Khani Chahar Bagh Khwaja Sabz Posh Kohistan Maymana Pashtun Kot Qaramqol Qaysar Qurghan Shirin Tagab Ghazni Ab Band Ajristan Andar Bahrami Shahid Dih Yak Gelan Ghazni Giro Jaghori Khogyani Khwaja Umari Malistan Muqur Nawa Nawur Qarabagh Jaghatu Rashidan Waghaz Zana Khan Ghor Chaghcharan Charsada Dawlat Yar Du Layna Lal Wa Sarjangal Pasaband Saghar Shahrak Taywara Tulak Helmand Baghran Dishu Garmsir Kajaki Khanashin Lashkar Gah Musa Qala Nad Ali Nahri Saraj Nawa-I-Barakzayi Nawzad Sangin Washir Herat Adraskan Chishti Sharif Farsi Ghoryan Gulran Guzara Herat Injil Karukh Kohsan Kushk Kushki Kuhna Obe Pashtun Zarghun Shindand Zinda Jan Jowzjan Aqcha Darzab Fayzabad Khamyab Khaniqa Khwaja Du Koh Mardyan Mingajik Qarqin Qush Tepa Shibirghan Kabul Bagrami Chahar Asyab Deh Sabz Farza Guldara Istalif Kabul Kalakan Khaki Jabbar Mir Bacha Kot Mussahi Paghman Qarabagh Shakardara Surobi Kandahar Arghandab Arghistan Daman Ghorak Kandahar Khakrez Maruf Maywand Miyanishin Nesh Panjwayi Reg Shah Wali Kot Shorabak Spin Boldak Zhari Kapisa Alasay Hesa Awal Kohistan Hesa Duwum Kohistan Koh Band Mahmud Raqi Nijrab Tagab Khost Bak Gurbuz Zazi Maidan Khost (Matun) Mandozayi Musakhel Nadir Shah Kot Qalandar Sabari Shamal Spera Tani Tirazayi Kunar Asadabad Bar Kunar Chapa Dara Chawkay Dangam Dara-I-Pech Ghaziabad Khas Kunar Marawara Narang Aw Badil Nari Nurgal Shaigal Aw Shiltan Sirkanay Wata Pur Kunduz Ali Abad Archi Chahar Dara Imam Sahib Khan Abad Kunduz Qalay-I-Zal Laghman Alingar Alishing Dawlat Shah Mihtarlam Qarghayi Logar Azra Baraki Barak Charkh Kharwar Khoshi Mohammad Agha Pul-i-Alam Nangarhar Achin Bati Kot Bihsud Chaparhar Dara-I-Nur Dih Bala Dur Baba Goshta Hisarak Jalalabad Kama Khogyani Kot Kuz Kunar Lal Pur Momand Dara Nazyan Pachir Aw Agam Rodat Sherzad Shinwar Surkh Rod Nimruz Chahar Burjak Chakhansur Kang Khash Rod Zaranj Nuristan Bargi Matal Du Ab Kamdesh Mandol Nurgaram Paroon Wama Waygal Paktia Ahmadabad Tsamkani Dand Aw Patan Gardez Zazi Janikhel Lazha Ahmadkhel Sayid Karam Shwak Wuza Zadran Zurmat Paktika Barmal Dila Gayan Gomal Janikhel Mata Khan Nika Omna Sar Hawza Surobi Sharana Terwa Urgun Waza Khwa Wor Mamay Yahyakhel Yusufkhel Zarghun Shar Ziruk Panjshir Anaba Bazarak Darah Khenj Paryan Rokha Shotul Parwan Bagram Chaharikar Ghorband Jabul Saraj Kohi Safi Salang Sayed Khel Shekh Ali Shinwari Surkhi Parsa Samangan Aybak Dara-I-Sufi Balla Dara-I-Sufi Payan Feroz Nakhchir Hazarati Sultan Khuram Wa Sarbagh Ruyi Du Ab Sar-e Pol Balkhab Gosfandi Kohistanat Sancharak Sari Pul Sayyad Sozma Qala Takhar Baharak Bangi Chah Ab Chal Darqad Dashti Qala Farkhar Hazar Sumuch Ishkamish Kalafgan Khwaja Baha Wuddin Khwaja Ghar Namak Ab Rustaq Taluqan Warsaj Yangi Qala Urozgan Chora Deh Rawud Khas Urozgan Shahidi Hassas Tarinkot Wardak Chaki Wardak Day Mirdad Hisa-I-Awali Bihsud Jalrez Markazi Bihsud Maidan Shar Nirkh Saydabad Zabul Argahandab Atghar Dey Chopan Kakar Mizan Naw Bahar Qalat Shahjoy Shamulzayi Shinkay Tarnak Aw Jaldak