Khost Province

Khost
خوست
Province

U.S. soldiers in Khost province (June 2013)

Map of Afghanistan with Khost highlighted
Coordinates (Capital): 33°24′N 69°54′E / 33.4°N 69.9°E / 33.4; 69.9Coordinates: 33°24′N 69°54′E / 33.4°N 69.9°E / 33.4; 69.9
Country  Afghanistan
Capital Khost
Government
 • Governor Hukam Khan Habibi
Area
 • Total 4,151.5 km2 (1,602.9 sq mi)
Population (2015)[1]
 • Total 574,582
 • Density 140/km2 (360/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+4:30
Area code(s) AF-KHO
Main languages Pashto

Khost (Pashto: خوست‎, Persian: خوست‎‎) is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the eastern part of the country next to Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Khost province used to be part of Paktia province in the past. The city of Khost serves as the capital of Khost province. The population of the province is around 546,800,[2] which is mostly a tribal society. Khost Airport serves the province for domestic flights to Afghanistan's capital, Kabul.

History

Recent history

In September 2011, work on the construction of Khost International Airport began. It is estimated the airport will cost $2.5 million. The funds for the project are being provided by the Afghan government. The airport will be located in a desert between Ismailkhel and Tani District.[3][4]

Politics and governance

The current governor of the Province is Abdul Jabbar Naeemi.[5] The city of Khost is the capital of Khost province. All law enforcement activities throughout the province are controlled by the Afghan National Police (ANP). The border of Afghanistan's Khost province with neighboring Pakistan's FATA is monitored and protected by the Afghan Border Police (ABP), which is part of the ANP. The border is called the Durand Line and is known to be one of the most dangerous in the world due to heavy militant activities and illegal smugglings. A provincial police chief is assigned to lead both the ANP and ABP. The police chief represents the Ministry of the Interior in Kabul. The ANP is backed by other Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), including the NATO-led forces.

Healthcare

The percentage of households with clean drinking water increased from 34% in 2005 to 35% in 2011.[6] The percentage of births attended to by a skilled birth attendant increased from 18% in 2005 to 32% in 2011.[6]

Education

The overall literacy rate (6+ years of age) fell from 28% in 2005 to 15% in 2011.[6] The overall net enrolment rate (6–13 years of age) fell from 38% in 2005 to 37% in 2011.[6]

Demographics

Ethnolinguistic groups in Afghanistan
Districts of Khost (not showing the Shamal District)

The population of Khost province is around 546,800.[2] The Pashtun people make up 99% of the population, with the remaining 1% being Tajiks and others.[5]

Districts

Districts of Khost province
District Capital Population (2015) Area[7] Notes
Bak 22,561
Gurbuz 26,762
Zazi Maidan 23,197
Khost Matun|Capital 140,642
Mandozayi 57,602
Musakhel 41,882
Nadir Shah Kot 32,522
Qalandar 10,440
Sabari 72,364
Shamal 13,920 Shifted from Paktia Province in 2005
Spera 24,841
Tani 60,842
Tirazayi 45,602

Water

Khost Province 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".[8]

Photos

mosque
Mosque in the city of Khost
mosque
Pashtun children
mosque
A U.S. Marine, assigned to Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, provides security while in the Khowst-Gardez Pass.
mosque
Khost city
mosque
Tanio area

See also

References

  1. ↑ Afghanistan at GeoHive Archived 2015-07-21 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. 1 2 "Settled Population of Khost province by Civil Division, Urban, Rural and Sex-2012-13" (PDF). Islamic Republic of Afghanistan: Central Statistics Organization. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  3. ↑ Muhammad Haroon, ed. (December 7, 2013). "Official wants Khost Airport contract reconsidered". Pajhwok Afghan News. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  4. ↑ Muhammad Haroon, ed. (September 10, 2014). "Delay in completion of airport deplored". [Pajhwok Afghan News. Archived from the original on October 30, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Khost Province" (PDF). Program for Culture & Conflict Studies. Naval Postgraduate School. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Archive, Civil Military Fusion Centre, https://www.cimicweb.org/AfghanistanProvincialMap/Pages/Khost.aspx
  7. ↑ Afghanistan Geographic & Thematic Layers
  8. ↑ Imperial gazetteer of India: provincial series, Volume 20. Publisher Supt. of Govt. Print., 1908
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