Chagai District
Encyclopedia
Chaghi/Chagai is the largest district
of Pakistan and is located on the north west corner of Balochistan
, Pakistan
. It forms a triangular border with Afghanistan
and Iran
.
Pakistan
conducted a nuclear weapons test in 1998 at Ras Koh Hills Chagai District.
was the only sub division of the district with two tehsils, Nushki
and Dalbandin
. Naukundi
sub tehsil was upgraded to tehsil in 1950. Chagai district was attached to Kalat District
in 1957 but was detached after two years. The Police Department is still under the Superintendent of Police, Kalat. Dalbandin
Tehsil was upgraded to Sub-Division on 1 February 1978. Taftan
was created as sub tehsil in 1981. Chagai
sub-tehsil was created with effect from 1 October 1985. The Assistant Political Agent Nushki remained sub-Divisional Magistrate of Nushki Sub Division till September 1989 when an independent post of Additional Political Agent was created for the district. Very little is known about the ancient history of Chagai.1998 Pakistan
conducted their first ever nuclear weapons test at Ras Koh Hills Chagai District.
The earliest monuments are the ruins of terraced embankments. These are found at the foot of the Ras Koh
hills; they are ascribed to the fire-worshippers, who are said to have been the inhabitants of this area more than two thousand years ago. The next traces of ancient history are the square shaped tombs in the western areas of the district, which are attributed by the local traditions to the Kianian dynasty of Iran
. The remains of the ruined forts and karezes found in different parts of the district are assigned to the Arab
s. These are also sometimes attributed to the Mughals
and in any case indicate the presence of a richer civilisation than is now found among the Baloch
and Brahui
inhabitants of the district.
s:
is administratively subdivided into:
tribes in the district are , Sherzai
,Mandazai, Muhammadzai, Al Ahmad Mustafa As Saud, Kashani
, Sanjrani
, Mengal
, Notezai, Kubdani
and Damanis
near the Iran
ian border.
and comprises the belt which lies south of the Pakistan
-Afghanistan
boundary, from the Sarlath Hills on the east to Koh-i-Malik Siah on the west, with a length of about 576 kilometres and an average breadth of 80 kilometres. The district is bound on the north by the desert region of Afghanistan
(which lies south of the Helmand River
), on the east by the Sarlath hilly range and Kalat District
, on the south by Kharan District
and on the west by Iran
. The northern boundary of the district, which separates it from Afghanistan
, was demarcated in 1896 by a joint Afghan-British Commission. The western border with Iran was demarcated by a joint Pakistan-Iran Commission in 1959. The total area of the district is 50,545 km².
Districts of Pakistan
The Districts of Pakistan are the second order administrative divisions of Pakistan. Districts were the third order of administrative divisions, below provinces and "divisions", until the reforms of August 2000, when "divisions" were abolished...
of Pakistan and is located on the north west corner of Balochistan
Balochistan (Pakistan)
Balochistan is one of the four provinces or federating units of Pakistan. With an area of 134,051 mi2 or , it is the largest province of Pakistan, constituting approximately 44% of the total land mass of Pakistan. According to the 1998 population census, Balochistan had a population of...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. It forms a triangular border with Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
conducted a nuclear weapons test in 1998 at Ras Koh Hills Chagai District.
History
Chaghi/Chagai District was created in 1896. NushkiNushki
Nushki , is a town in Balochistan, Pakistan. The town lies southwest of Quetta, and is situated in a plain at the base of the Quetta plateau, 2900 ft above sea level...
was the only sub division of the district with two tehsils, Nushki
Nushki
Nushki , is a town in Balochistan, Pakistan. The town lies southwest of Quetta, and is situated in a plain at the base of the Quetta plateau, 2900 ft above sea level...
and Dalbandin
Dalbandin
Dalbandin is a town and Union council of Balochistan, Pakistan. Dalbandin is famous for fruit orchards.On 19th January, 2011, it was struck by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. At that time it was a sparsely populated area with a population of 15,000. It is located at 28°52'60N 64°25'0E at an altitude...
. Naukundi
Naukundi
Naukundi is a small town in Chagai District, Balochistan, Pakistan. There are several tribes in Naukundi, such as Sanjrani, Notezai,Mohammad Hassani and many others . Naukundi is the second biggest city in the Chagai District....
sub tehsil was upgraded to tehsil in 1950. Chagai district was attached to Kalat District
Kalat District
Kalat or Qalat is a district in Balochistan, Pakistan. It is one of 26 in that province, and encompasses an area of 6,621 km². The population of the district is estimated to be over 400,000 in 2005. The district is governed from the city of Kalat....
in 1957 but was detached after two years. The Police Department is still under the Superintendent of Police, Kalat. Dalbandin
Dalbandin
Dalbandin is a town and Union council of Balochistan, Pakistan. Dalbandin is famous for fruit orchards.On 19th January, 2011, it was struck by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. At that time it was a sparsely populated area with a population of 15,000. It is located at 28°52'60N 64°25'0E at an altitude...
Tehsil was upgraded to Sub-Division on 1 February 1978. Taftan
Taftan
Taftan may refer to:* Taftan volcano is located in Sistan and Baluchestan province of Iran.* Taftan, Balochistan is a town in Balochistan province of Pakistan.* Taftan is a leavened flour bread from Persian cuisine....
was created as sub tehsil in 1981. Chagai
Chagai
Chagai may refer to:* Chagai District, the largest district of Pakistan* Chagai Hills, the mountainous region north of Balochistan Province, Pakistan* Chagai, Pakistan, the capital of Chagai District*Chagai-I, the codename first nuclear weapon tests...
sub-tehsil was created with effect from 1 October 1985. The Assistant Political Agent Nushki remained sub-Divisional Magistrate of Nushki Sub Division till September 1989 when an independent post of Additional Political Agent was created for the district. Very little is known about the ancient history of Chagai.1998 Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
conducted their first ever nuclear weapons test at Ras Koh Hills Chagai District.
The earliest monuments are the ruins of terraced embankments. These are found at the foot of the Ras Koh
Ras Koh
The Ras Koh Hills is a range of granite hills forming part of the Sulaiman Mountain Range in the Chagai District in Pakistan's Balochistan province. The word "Ras" means "gateway" and the word "Koh" means "mountain" in Urdu...
hills; they are ascribed to the fire-worshippers, who are said to have been the inhabitants of this area more than two thousand years ago. The next traces of ancient history are the square shaped tombs in the western areas of the district, which are attributed by the local traditions to the Kianian dynasty of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. The remains of the ruined forts and karezes found in different parts of the district are assigned to the Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
s. These are also sometimes attributed to the Mughals
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
and in any case indicate the presence of a richer civilisation than is now found among the Baloch
Baloch people
The Baloch or Baluch are an ethnic group that belong to the larger Iranian peoples. Baluch people mainly inhabit the Balochistan region and Sistan and Baluchestan Province in the southeast corner of the Iranian plateau in Western Asia....
and Brahui
Brahui people
The Brahui or Brohi are ethnic Baloch group of about 2.2 million people with the majority found in Kalat, Baluchistan, Pakistan, but they are also found in smaller numbers in neighboring Afghanistan and Iran. The Brahuis are almost entirely Sunni Muslims.-Origins:The ethnonym "Brahui" is a very...
inhabitants of the district.
Administration
Chagai, is administratively subdivided into the following tehsilTehsil
A Tehsil or Tahsil/Tahasil , also known as Taluk and Mandal, is an administrative division of some country/countries of South Asia....
s:
- ChagaiChagai, PakistanChagai is the capital of Chagai District in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. It is located at 29°18'0N 64°42'0E and has an elevation of 850m .-References:...
- SaindakSaindakSaindak |Balochistan]], Pakistan. Large deposits of Copper and Gold have been discovered at Saindak. The Saindak Copper Gold Project has created economic prosperity in the town. Saindak is also regional headquarters of Pakistan Frontier Corps.-External links:...
- Nokundi
- TaftanTaftanTaftan may refer to:* Taftan volcano is located in Sistan and Baluchestan province of Iran.* Taftan, Balochistan is a town in Balochistan province of Pakistan.* Taftan is a leavened flour bread from Persian cuisine....
- Yakmach
Nushki District
The newly formed Nushki DistrictNushki District
Nushki District is one of the districts of Balochistan province, Pakistan. The administration of the Nushki district was taken over from the Khan of Kalat by the Indian government in 1896, and was leased from him on a perpetual quit rent in 1899....
is administratively subdivided into:
- DalbandinDalbandinDalbandin is a town and Union council of Balochistan, Pakistan. Dalbandin is famous for fruit orchards.On 19th January, 2011, it was struck by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. At that time it was a sparsely populated area with a population of 15,000. It is located at 28°52'60N 64°25'0E at an altitude...
- NushkiNushkiNushki , is a town in Balochistan, Pakistan. The town lies southwest of Quetta, and is situated in a plain at the base of the Quetta plateau, 2900 ft above sea level...
Demography
According to the 1998 census the population of Chagai District was 202,562, along with approximately 53,000 Afghan refugees. The population of Chagai District was estimated to be over 250,000 in 2005. Over 99% of the people of the area are Muslims. The major BalochBaloch people
The Baloch or Baluch are an ethnic group that belong to the larger Iranian peoples. Baluch people mainly inhabit the Balochistan region and Sistan and Baluchestan Province in the southeast corner of the Iranian plateau in Western Asia....
tribes in the district are , Sherzai
Sherzai Baloch
Sherzai is a Baloch tribe principally settled in the Pakistani province of Balochistan as well as found in large numbers in its many urban centres such as Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi/Islamabad and Quetta. Other members of the Sherzai tribe can also be found in neighbouring Iran and Afghanistan,...
,Mandazai, Muhammadzai, Al Ahmad Mustafa As Saud, Kashani
Kashani
Kashani often shortened to Kashi or al-Kashi is a surname meaning a person who comes from Kashan, Iran. It may refer to:-People:*Abbas Hosseini Kashani , Iranian Grand Ayatollah...
, Sanjrani
Sanjrani
Sanjrani is a Baloch tribe settled in Balochistan and Sindh provinces of Pakistan and also in Afghanistan and Iran.Sanjrani tribe living in Sindh speak Sindhi, Seraikis and Balochi....
, Mengal
Mengal
Mengal is a Brahui / Baloch tribe in Balochistan, Pakistan- Demographics :The Mengal tribe is one of the largest Baloch tribe. Mengal people speak Brahui, a Dravidian language that has been heavily influenced by other Iranian languages spoken in the area, especially Balochi...
, Notezai, Kubdani
Kubdani
Kubdani is a Rakhshani Baloch tribe which is populated in Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan.-Distribution:* Chief of the Kubdani, Sardar Haji Nadir Khan Kubdani, lives in Iran.* In Pakistan, most Kubdanis are populated in Kharan....
and Damanis
Damanis
Damanis a Baloch tribe Balochistan region of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Majority of them living in Balochistan, Kerman, Khorasan and Hormongan of Iran. Minority of them lives in Eastern Balochistan in Southern Afghanistan and the Chagai District of the Pakistani Balochistan province...
near the Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian border.
Topography
The district lies between 27°-55' to 29°-50' north latitudes and 60°-45' to 66°-22' east longitudes. It is located in the extreme west of PakistanPakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and comprises the belt which lies south of the Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
-Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
boundary, from the Sarlath Hills on the east to Koh-i-Malik Siah on the west, with a length of about 576 kilometres and an average breadth of 80 kilometres. The district is bound on the north by the desert region of Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
(which lies south of the Helmand River
Helmand River
The Helmand River is the longest river in Afghanistan and the primarily watershed for the endorheic Sistan Basin....
), on the east by the Sarlath hilly range and Kalat District
Kalat District
Kalat or Qalat is a district in Balochistan, Pakistan. It is one of 26 in that province, and encompasses an area of 6,621 km². The population of the district is estimated to be over 400,000 in 2005. The district is governed from the city of Kalat....
, on the south by Kharan District
Kharan District
Kharan is a district in the north-west of Balochistan province of Pakistan. Kharan was notified as a district in 1951 and the Deputy Commissioner’s office started functioning on March 15, 1952. The Deputy Commissioner directly supervises all activities in the district and the functions of all...
and on the west by Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. The northern boundary of the district, which separates it from Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, was demarcated in 1896 by a joint Afghan-British Commission. The western border with Iran was demarcated by a joint Pakistan-Iran Commission in 1959. The total area of the district is 50,545 km².