Paktika Province
Encyclopedia
Paktika is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan
. It is in the south-east of the country. Most of the population is Pashtun
. Its capital is Sharan
.
and Zabul. This is primarily due to the remoteness of the region and repeated attacks on aid workers and NATO forces.
In June 2004, members of the Utah
and Iowa
National Guard helped Army Reserve
Civil Affairs
Soldiers from Oregon
establish a Provincial Reconstruction Team
base in Sharan, the provincial capital, to lead the development effort. The first full contingent of eight Civil Affairs Soldiers from the U.S. Army Reserve's 450th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), based in Riverdale Park
, Maryland
, arrived in September 2004.
In an article from Time Magazine, the U.S. base was described as:
The Shkin firebase is composed of special operations forces. They target, and are constant targets themselves for the Al-Qa'ida and Taliban fighters who launch frequent strikes from nearby Pakistan
. The area is unforgiving, where the enemy can hide at close range while remaining invisible. A hunter can become prey very quickly. As U.S. Army Colonel Rodney Davis puts it, "Shkin is the evilest place in Afghanistan."
While the province hasn't witnessed the outright fighting in the last few years that has affected provinces like Helmand
, there is a constant low level of tribal violence, accompanied by criminal and Taliban activity. The last serious fighting in the province took place in 2004, amid reports that then-Governor Muhammad Ali Jalali
was collaborating with Taliban forces, and that the Taliban had effectively annexed eastern portions of the province. Jalali and many of his allied officials, were replaced and U.S. Special Forces were dispatched to fight the Taliban while the Pakistani forces fought with the Taliban's allies in neighbouring South Waziristan
.
On 1 November 2004, a civil affairs convoy was ambushed near Sarobi, between the Shkin firebase and Orgun-E. U.S. Army Spc. James Kearney, a turret gunner, died of a head shot from a sniper, which initiated the ambush. After countless RPGs, PKM rounds and an IED, two vehicles were destroyed and three other Soldiers were wounded. The Provincial Reconstruction Team base was named Camp Kearney on 21 November 2004 to honor the sacrifice of Spc. James Kearney.
On Jun 18, 2008 in the Ziruk District
Governor's compound, 2 members of the Provincial Reconstruction Team, HMN Mark Retmier and CM1 Ross Toles, were killed due to rocket attacks. The Mess hall on Forward Operating Base Sharana is named after CM1 Toles and the hospital is named after HMN Retmier.
Kearney Base became the nucleus of what is now Forward Operating Base Sharana.
In late July 2011, foreign troops and Afghan special forces killed more than 50 insurgents during an operation in eastern Paktika to clear a training camp the Haqqani network
used for foreign fighters, NATO said. Disenfranchised insurgents told security forces where the camp was located, the coalition said.
On or close to November 9, 2011, an estimated 60 to 70 Taliban militants were killed in an abortive attack on a joint Afghan-ISAF base in the Margha area of Barmal. No international troops were killed or injured in the incident. It is believed the militants crossed over from Pakistan.
In a separate incident the governor of Sar Hawza district died late Tuesday after his vehicle struck a roadside bomb.
Eight civilians including a pregnant women and a baby died when a Polish soldier shelled the village of Nangar Khel, where a wedding celebration was taking place. Seven Polish soldiers have been charged with war crimes for allegedly opening fire in revenge.
U.S. Army PFC Bowe Bergdahl was captured by enemy forces on July 4, 2009 near the town of Yahya Khel. This incident occurred as a result of the Soldier leaving his unit without permission and venturing into the local area. He is the only American P.O.W of the Afghanistan conflict.
was appointed as the Governor
of Paktika Province, Afghanistan on 20 April 2010.
The previous Governor of the province was Akram Khpalwak. In 2006, a previous Governor of the province, Muhammad Ali Jalali
, was killed by Taliban militants while driving in neighbouring Ghazni Province
. In 2004, Gulabuddin Mangal was appointed Governor of Paktika Province, replacing Muhammad Ali Jalali who left the governor's compound as ordered, but only after firing two rockets at it.
New official Sulaimankhel Social Tribal Council licensed and registered with The Afghanistan Ministry of Justice and The Ministry of Borders and Tribal Affairs has been established in Kabul Afghanistan. Ayoub Khalikyar is the president of Sulaimankhel social Tribal Council of Afghanistan.
, Loya Paktia
and Pre-Islamic scripts in Afghanistan
Paktika is the western-most part of a historical region known as "Loya" or "Greater" Paktia (Pashto: لویه پکتیا), that was once a unified province with Paktia and Khost, along with parts of Ghazni and Logar. The tribes that reside in this area were mentioned by the Greek historian Herodotus
, who called them the "Pactyans" as early as the 1st millennium BCE.
In the 1970s, the provincial capital of the largely undeveloped and remote province of Paktika was moved from the town of Urgun to Sharan due to its proximity with the main highway, connecting it to the larger cities and commercial centres of Kabul
, Ghazni and Kandahar
.
Paktika was the site of many battles during the Soviet occupation of the country and the lawless years that followed.
The Siege of Urgun
took place between 1983 and 1984.
and Paktia provinces to the north.
Both the North Waziristan
and the South Waziristan
Agencies are to the east.
The western border is shared with the provinces of Ghazni and Zabul, while Balochistan, Pakistan is on its southern flank.
Paktika, like many other areas of Afghanistan, has been severely deforested. This has been a cause of devastating floods in recent years.
Paktika Province is mainly hilly and interspersed with seasonal river valleys. In the north, the terrain gains elevation and becomes more rugged. In the west, the Rowd-e Lurah River originates in the mountainous Omna District
and flows southwest to the Ghazni Province, forming a shallow river valley that dominates the topography in the Zarghun Shahr
, Jani Khel
, and Dila
Districts. The terrain in Omna becomes more hilly further east in proximity to Pakistan. The sparsely populated southern districts are also hilly, with descending elevation towards the south and west.
The Gomal River
, which has a varied flow depending on season, runs from its origin in the mountains of the Sar Hawza District
and flows south, before turning southeast to the Pakistani border, forming the broad river valley that defines the topography of the Gomal District
, before flowing east through Pakistan and eventually running to the powerful Indus River
.
.
15000 people (1.8%) are Uzbeks
; and about 5,000 people speak some other languages. These are most probably Hazaras or Baloch
.
In the 19th century, there was a small group of Tajiks who practiced ironmongery, mostly in Urgun.
The overwhelming majority of Paktika's popultion (around 99%) live in rural districts. The capital city, Sharan, has around 54,400 inhabitants. The majority of Pakikta's Districts have between 25,000 and 55,000 inhabitants. Only two districts, Nika and Turwo have less than 20,000 inhabitants, with a little more than 15,000 apiece. Two of the least mountainous districts, Urgun and neighboring Barmal have nearly 90,000 inhabitants each. There are around 115,000 households, with eight members apiece, in the Province.
Most of the Population is Sunni Muslim, and belongs to the Hanafi
School.
Some tribes in Paktika may be pastoral
.
Tribes=
The main Pashtun tribes that live in Paktika are:
The Sulaimankhel are one of the largest sub-tribes of the Ghilzai Pashtuns. The Sulaimankhel tribe is mainly located in the southern and eastern portions of Afghanistan; however, they also have a strong presence in the northern and western portions of Afghanistan.
The second largest Sulaimankhel population is located in Pakistan. Not only are they located in the province of Baluchistan and the North-West Frontier Province, but also located in Karachi and other parts of Pakistan.
The Kharoti and Suleimankhel tribes are traditional rivals, although they co-exist together in several districts. The larger, influential and more powerful Suleimankhel have historically had the upper hand in this rivalry. There is also rivalry between the Jalalzai and the Suleimankhel.
The Wazir, Kharoti and Furmali are involved in a land dispute.
There is often ethnic tension, especially in multi-ethnic districts like Barmal, where both the Kharotis and the Wazir tribes live. This rivalry is one of the most violent amongst all Pashtuns.
Paktika’s population of 393,800 cannot be correct.
World Food Programme puts Paktika’s Population at 809,772.
The Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan IEC (iec.org.af) reported 268,238 registered voters for 2004 Afghanistan Presidential Election in Paktika.
Provinces of Afghanistan
The provinces of Afghanistan are the primary administrative divisions of Afghanistan. As of 2004, there are thirty-four provinces in the country. Each province is further divided into smaller districts....
. It is in the south-east of the country. Most of the population is Pashtun
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
. Its capital is Sharan
Sharan, Paktika
Sharan, or Sharana , is the capital of Paktika province, Afghanistan. Its population was estimated to be 2,200 in 2006....
.
Political and military situation
As one of the most remote provinces in Afghanistan and an area that saw much devastation in previous years, Paktika suffers from a severe lack of critical infrastructure. Reconstruction in the province after the fall of the Taliban has been slow compared to that in nearby provinces such as KhostKhost
Khost or Khowst is a city in eastern Afghanistan. It is the capital of Khost province, which is a mountainous region near Afghanistan's border with Pakistan...
and Zabul. This is primarily due to the remoteness of the region and repeated attacks on aid workers and NATO forces.
In June 2004, members of the Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
and Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
National Guard helped Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
Civil Affairs
Civil Affairs
Civil Affairs is a term used by both the United Nations and by military institutions , but for different purposes in each case.-United Nations Civil Affairs:...
Soldiers from Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
establish a Provincial Reconstruction Team
Provincial reconstruction team
A Provincial Reconstruction Team is a unit introduced by the United States government, consisting of military officers, diplomats, and reconstruction subject matter experts, working to support reconstruction efforts in unstable states. PRTs were first established in Afghanistan in late 2001 or...
base in Sharan, the provincial capital, to lead the development effort. The first full contingent of eight Civil Affairs Soldiers from the U.S. Army Reserve's 450th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), based in Riverdale Park
Riverdale Park, Maryland
Riverdale Park is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 6,690 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Riverdale Park is located at ....
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, arrived in September 2004.
In an article from Time Magazine, the U.S. base was described as:
- "The U.S. firebase looks like a Wild West cavalry fort, ringed with coils of razor wire. A U.S. flag ripples above the 3-ft.-thick mud walls, and in the watchtower a guard scans the expanse of forested ridges, rising to 9,000 ft., that mark the border. When there's trouble, it usually comes from that direction."
The Shkin firebase is composed of special operations forces. They target, and are constant targets themselves for the Al-Qa'ida and Taliban fighters who launch frequent strikes from nearby 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...
. The area is unforgiving, where the enemy can hide at close range while remaining invisible. A hunter can become prey very quickly. As U.S. Army Colonel Rodney Davis puts it, "Shkin is the evilest place in Afghanistan."
While the province hasn't witnessed the outright fighting in the last few years that has affected provinces like Helmand
Helmand Province
Helmand is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the southwest of the country. Its capital is Lashkar Gah. The Helmand River flows through the mainly desert region, providing water for irrigation....
, there is a constant low level of tribal violence, accompanied by criminal and Taliban activity. The last serious fighting in the province took place in 2004, amid reports that then-Governor Muhammad Ali Jalali
Muhammad Ali Jalali
Muhammad Ali Jalali was Governor of Paktika Province from the Taliban's fall in 2001 to 2005, when he quit for an unsuccessful run at a parliamentary seat. In 2006 he was killed by Taliban militants while travelling in Ghazni province...
was collaborating with Taliban forces, and that the Taliban had effectively annexed eastern portions of the province. Jalali and many of his allied officials, were replaced and U.S. Special Forces were dispatched to fight the Taliban while the Pakistani forces fought with the Taliban's allies in neighbouring South Waziristan
South Waziristan
South Waziristan is the southern part of Waziristan, a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering some 11,585 km² . Waziristan comprises the area west and southwest of Peshawar between the Tochi River to the north and the Gomal River to the south, forming...
.
On 1 November 2004, a civil affairs convoy was ambushed near Sarobi, between the Shkin firebase and Orgun-E. U.S. Army Spc. James Kearney, a turret gunner, died of a head shot from a sniper, which initiated the ambush. After countless RPGs, PKM rounds and an IED, two vehicles were destroyed and three other Soldiers were wounded. The Provincial Reconstruction Team base was named Camp Kearney on 21 November 2004 to honor the sacrifice of Spc. James Kearney.
On Jun 18, 2008 in the Ziruk District
Ziruk District
Ziruk District is a district of Paktika Province, once was a part of Paktia, Afghanistan....
Governor's compound, 2 members of the Provincial Reconstruction Team, HMN Mark Retmier and CM1 Ross Toles, were killed due to rocket attacks. The Mess hall on Forward Operating Base Sharana is named after CM1 Toles and the hospital is named after HMN Retmier.
Kearney Base became the nucleus of what is now Forward Operating Base Sharana.
In late July 2011, foreign troops and Afghan special forces killed more than 50 insurgents during an operation in eastern Paktika to clear a training camp the Haqqani network
Haqqani network
The Haqqani Network is an insurgent group fighting against US-led NATO forces and the government of Afghanistan. Originating from Afghanistan during the mid-1970s, it was nurtured by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence during the 1980s Soviet war in...
used for foreign fighters, NATO said. Disenfranchised insurgents told security forces where the camp was located, the coalition said.
On or close to November 9, 2011, an estimated 60 to 70 Taliban militants were killed in an abortive attack on a joint Afghan-ISAF base in the Margha area of Barmal. No international troops were killed or injured in the incident. It is believed the militants crossed over from Pakistan.
In a separate incident the governor of Sar Hawza district died late Tuesday after his vehicle struck a roadside bomb.
Incidents
See Nangar Khel incidentNangar Khel incident
The Nangar Khel incident, sometimes called the Nangar Khel massacre , took place in the Afghanistan village of Nangar Khel on August 16, 2007...
Eight civilians including a pregnant women and a baby died when a Polish soldier shelled the village of Nangar Khel, where a wedding celebration was taking place. Seven Polish soldiers have been charged with war crimes for allegedly opening fire in revenge.
U.S. Army PFC Bowe Bergdahl was captured by enemy forces on July 4, 2009 near the town of Yahya Khel. This incident occurred as a result of the Soldier leaving his unit without permission and venturing into the local area. He is the only American P.O.W of the Afghanistan conflict.
Politicians
Mohibullah SamimMohibullah Samim
Mohibullah Samim was appointed as the Governor of Paktika Province, Afghanistan on 20 April 2010. He was born in the Waghaz district of southern Ghazni province....
was appointed as the Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Paktika Province, Afghanistan on 20 April 2010.
The previous Governor of the province was Akram Khpalwak. In 2006, a previous Governor of the province, Muhammad Ali Jalali
Muhammad Ali Jalali
Muhammad Ali Jalali was Governor of Paktika Province from the Taliban's fall in 2001 to 2005, when he quit for an unsuccessful run at a parliamentary seat. In 2006 he was killed by Taliban militants while travelling in Ghazni province...
, was killed by Taliban militants while driving in neighbouring Ghazni Province
Ghazni Province
Ghazni is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. Babur records in his Babur-Nama that Ghazni is also known as Zabulistan It is in the east of the country. Its capital is Ghazni City...
. In 2004, Gulabuddin Mangal was appointed Governor of Paktika Province, replacing Muhammad Ali Jalali who left the governor's compound as ordered, but only after firing two rockets at it.
New official Sulaimankhel Social Tribal Council licensed and registered with The Afghanistan Ministry of Justice and The Ministry of Borders and Tribal Affairs has been established in Kabul Afghanistan. Ayoub Khalikyar is the president of Sulaimankhel social Tribal Council of Afghanistan.
History
(See PakthasPakthas
For the present-day Afghan provinces of , see Paktia Province, Paktika Province and Khost Province.Pakthas are an ancient people, that find reference in Sanskrit and Greek sources and as a people living in the areas now in Afghanistan, as well as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan...
, Loya Paktia
Loya Paktia
Loya Paktia is historically a region of Afghanistan, comprising the modern Afghan provinces of Paktia, Paktika and Khost.Loya Paktia generally coincides with the Zadran Arc, depicting the range of the Pashtun Zadran tribe....
and Pre-Islamic scripts in Afghanistan
Pre-Islamic scripts in Afghanistan
Afghanistan possesses a rich linguistic legacy of pre-Islamic scripts, which existed before being displaced by the Arabic alphabet, after the Islamic conquest of Afghanistan.Among these scripts are Sanskrit, Sharda, Gandhari, Kharosthi, Bactrian and Brāhmī ....
Paktika is the western-most part of a historical region known as "Loya" or "Greater" Paktia (Pashto: لویه پکتیا), that was once a unified province with Paktia and Khost, along with parts of Ghazni and Logar. The tribes that reside in this area were mentioned by the Greek historian Herodotus
Herodotus
Herodotus was an ancient Greek historian who was born in Halicarnassus, Caria and lived in the 5th century BC . He has been called the "Father of History", and was the first historian known to collect his materials systematically, test their accuracy to a certain extent and arrange them in a...
, who called them the "Pactyans" as early as the 1st millennium BCE.
In the 1970s, the provincial capital of the largely undeveloped and remote province of Paktika was moved from the town of Urgun to Sharan due to its proximity with the main highway, connecting it to the larger cities and commercial centres of Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
, Ghazni and Kandahar
Kandahar
Kandahar is the second largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of about 512,200 as of 2011. It is the capital of Kandahar Province, located in the south of the country at about 1,005 m above sea level...
.
Paktika was the site of many battles during the Soviet occupation of the country and the lawless years that followed.
The Siege of Urgun
Siege of Urgun
The Siege of Urgun was a military engagement that took place during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. Between August 1983 and January 1984 Mujahideen forces laid siege to the town of Urgun, that was defended by a garrison of troops loyal to the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan...
took place between 1983 and 1984.
Geography and topography
Paktika sits very close to the Durrand Line, the poorly marked border between Afghanstan and Pakistan. It is bordered by the KhostKhost
Khost or Khowst is a city in eastern Afghanistan. It is the capital of Khost province, which is a mountainous region near Afghanistan's border with Pakistan...
and Paktia provinces to the north.
Both the North Waziristan
North Waziristan
North Waziristan is the northern part of Waziristan, a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering . Waziristan comprises the area west and south-west of Peshawar between the Tochi river to the north and the Gomal river to the south, forming part of Pakistan's...
and the South Waziristan
South Waziristan
South Waziristan is the southern part of Waziristan, a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering some 11,585 km² . Waziristan comprises the area west and southwest of Peshawar between the Tochi River to the north and the Gomal River to the south, forming...
Agencies are to the east.
The western border is shared with the provinces of Ghazni and Zabul, while Balochistan, Pakistan is on its southern flank.
Paktika, like many other areas of Afghanistan, has been severely deforested. This has been a cause of devastating floods in recent years.
Paktika Province is mainly hilly and interspersed with seasonal river valleys. In the north, the terrain gains elevation and becomes more rugged. In the west, the Rowd-e Lurah River originates in the mountainous Omna District
Omna District
Omna District is a district of Paktika Province, Afghanistan....
and flows southwest to the Ghazni Province, forming a shallow river valley that dominates the topography in the Zarghun Shahr
Zarghun Shahr
Zarghun Shahr is a town in and administrative seat of Zarghun Shahr District, Paktika Province, in eastern Afghanistan....
, Jani Khel
Jani Khel
Jani Khel is a town and union council in Bannu District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. It is located at 32°47'55N 70°30'23E and has an elevation of 336 metres ....
, and Dila
Dila District, Afghanistan
Dila District is a district of Paktika Province, Afghanistan.All information is as of 2007.It has a population of approximately 20000 Afghans and an area of approximately 600 km2. The seat of the district capital is Dila village, with a couple of hundred families. There are a number of...
Districts. The terrain in Omna becomes more hilly further east in proximity to Pakistan. The sparsely populated southern districts are also hilly, with descending elevation towards the south and west.
The Gomal River
Gomal River
Gomal River is a river in the historical region of Pashtunistan, consisting of areas in Afghanistan and Pakistan, inhabited by the Pashtuns...
, which has a varied flow depending on season, runs from its origin in the mountains of the Sar Hawza District
Sar Hawza District
Sari-roza or Sar Hawza is a district of Paktika Province, Afghanistan.- Overview :Sarouza is one of the main districts of Paktika.Sar Hawza and Urgun District are strongholds of the Kharoti tribe....
and flows south, before turning southeast to the Pakistani border, forming the broad river valley that defines the topography of the Gomal District
Gomal District
Gomal District is a district of Paktika Province, Afghanistan.It is named after the Gomal River....
, before flowing east through Pakistan and eventually running to the powerful Indus River
Indus River
The Indus River is a major river which flows through Pakistan. It also has courses through China and India.Originating in the Tibetan plateau of western China in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar in Tibet Autonomous Region, the river runs a course through the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir and...
.
Demographics
The population of this province is 393,800 people in which over 96% people are PashtunsPashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
.
15000 people (1.8%) are Uzbeks
Uzbeks
The Uzbeks are a Turkic ethnic group in Central Asia. They comprise the majority population of Uzbekistan, and large populations can also be found in Afghanistan, Tajikstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Pakistan, Mongolia and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China...
; and about 5,000 people speak some other languages. These are most probably Hazaras or 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....
.
In the 19th century, there was a small group of Tajiks who practiced ironmongery, mostly in Urgun.
The overwhelming majority of Paktika's popultion (around 99%) live in rural districts. The capital city, Sharan, has around 54,400 inhabitants. The majority of Pakikta's Districts have between 25,000 and 55,000 inhabitants. Only two districts, Nika and Turwo have less than 20,000 inhabitants, with a little more than 15,000 apiece. Two of the least mountainous districts, Urgun and neighboring Barmal have nearly 90,000 inhabitants each. There are around 115,000 households, with eight members apiece, in the Province.
Most of the Population is Sunni Muslim, and belongs to the Hanafi
Hanafi
The Hanafi school is one of the four Madhhab in jurisprudence within Sunni Islam. The Hanafi madhhab is named after the Persian scholar Abu Hanifa an-Nu‘man ibn Thābit , a Tabi‘i whose legal views were preserved primarily by his two most important disciples, Abu Yusuf and Muhammad al-Shaybani...
School.
Some tribes in Paktika may be pastoral
Pastoral
The adjective pastoral refers to the lifestyle of pastoralists, such as shepherds herding livestock around open areas of land according to seasons and the changing availability of water and pasturage. It also refers to a genre in literature, art or music that depicts such shepherd life in an...
.
Tribes=
The main Pashtun tribes that live in Paktika are:
- GhilzaiGhilzaiGhilzai are the largest Pashtun tribal confederacy found in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They are also known historically as Ghilji, Khilji, Ghalji, Ghilzye, and possibly Gharzai...
- Ibrahimzai
- Alizai
- Sulaimanzai
- JalalzaiJalalzaiJalalzai is a Pashtun tribe settled in Southern Pashtunkhwa and Afghanistan. It is a sub tribe of Kakar Sanzarkhail and its further branches include Karimzai, Kamaludinzai, Shabozai, Shahizai, Mehmanzai, Khwajezai, Babakarzai, Khudizai, Talkhanzai ....
- Alikhel
- Boran
- Suleimankhail
- Toran
- KharotiKharotiKharoti is a Pashtun tribe of Ghilzai origin. The tribe has an estimated population of about 2.5 million ....
- Kharoti
- AndarAndar tribeThe Andar are a Ghilzai Pashtun sub-tribe. The Andar had been known for their skill and usage of large karez . More concentrated in Ghazni Province, they have also a significant presence in Paktia. During the 19th century they joined in the Ghilzai revolt and many were summarily sent into internal...
- Ibrahimzai
- Karlanri
- Zadran (Gayan Khel Clan)
- WazirWazir (tribe)Wazirs or Waziris are a Pashtun tribe settled in the North Waziristan and South Waziristan agencies of Pakistan as well in the urban cities of Tank, F.R Bannu,i.e Domel and adjacent villages, Karachi and Lahore. Across the border, they can also be found in Paktia, Khost and Paktika provinces of...
- MahsudMahsudMahsud is a Pashtun tribe in South Waziristan, a tribal region in Pakistan. Mahsud are considered to be one of the bravest and toughest Pashtun Tribes. The Mahsud tribe lives in the centre of South Waziristan valley, surrounded on three sides by the Darwesh Waziris, and being shut off by the...
(Menzai Clan) - Sail Ahmad (Furmuli Tajik)
The Sulaimankhel are one of the largest sub-tribes of the Ghilzai Pashtuns. The Sulaimankhel tribe is mainly located in the southern and eastern portions of Afghanistan; however, they also have a strong presence in the northern and western portions of Afghanistan.
The second largest Sulaimankhel population is located in Pakistan. Not only are they located in the province of Baluchistan and the North-West Frontier Province, but also located in Karachi and other parts of Pakistan.
The Kharoti and Suleimankhel tribes are traditional rivals, although they co-exist together in several districts. The larger, influential and more powerful Suleimankhel have historically had the upper hand in this rivalry. There is also rivalry between the Jalalzai and the Suleimankhel.
The Wazir, Kharoti and Furmali are involved in a land dispute.
There is often ethnic tension, especially in multi-ethnic districts like Barmal, where both the Kharotis and the Wazir tribes live. This rivalry is one of the most violent amongst all Pashtuns.
Districts
| District | Capital | Population | Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barmal Barmal District Barmal District is a district of Paktika Province, Afghanistan,near the border with North Waziristan, one of Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas.According to Syed Saleem Shahzad... |
88,028 | |||
| Dila Dila District, Afghanistan Dila District is a district of Paktika Province, Afghanistan.All information is as of 2007.It has a population of approximately 20000 Afghans and an area of approximately 600 km2. The seat of the district capital is Dila village, with a couple of hundred families. There are a number of... |
50,203 | |||
| Gayan Gayan District Gayan District is a district of Paktika Province, Afghanistan.... |
42,495 | |||
| Gomal Gomal District Gomal District is a district of Paktika Province, Afghanistan.It is named after the Gomal River.... |
64,275 | |||
| Jani Khel Jani Khel District Jani Khel is a district in Paktika Province, in eastern Afghanistan. It was created in 2004 out of part of Zarghun Shahr District.-Demographics & population:Like in the rest of Afghanistan, no exact population numbers are available... |
35,251 | Created in 2004 within Zarghun Shahr District Zarghun Shahr District Zarghun Shahr District is a district of Paktika Province, Afghanistan., the district had an estimated population of over 75,000. However, by June 2004 the post-Taliban government separated off three new districts from the large Zarghun Shahr District... |
||
| Mata Khan Mata Khan District Mata Khan District is a district of Paktika Province, Afghanistan.... |
19,758 | |||
| Nika Nika District Nika District, also known as Naka, is one of the most remote districts in Paktika Province, Afghanistan. It lies in a bowl-shaped valley and is only accessible by a few rocky river beds and a single dirt road, the latter of which is not passable in winter. The valley's economy is rudimentary and... |
15,103 | |||
| Omna Omna District Omna District is a district of Paktika Province, Afghanistan.... |
25,690 | |||
| Sar Hawza Sar Hawza District Sari-roza or Sar Hawza is a district of Paktika Province, Afghanistan.- Overview :Sarouza is one of the main districts of Paktika.Sar Hawza and Urgun District are strongholds of the Kharoti tribe.... |
36,236 | |||
| Sarobi | 48,291 | This is NOT the same District as Surobi District in Kabul Province. | ||
| Sharan Sharan District Sharan District is home to the city of Sharan, which is the capital of Paktika Province, Afghanistan. The Paktika Governor's compound is in Sharana, attached to the police headquarters for the province.-City of Sharana:... |
54,416 | |||
| Terwa | 15,332 | Created in 2004 within Waza Khwa District Waza Khwa District Waza Khwa District is a district of Paktika Province, Afghanistan.... |
||
| Urgun Urgun District Urgun is a district of the remote Paktika Province in Afghanistan.-Administrative seat:The administrative seat of this district is the like-named town/village of Urgun, also known as Urgun-e Kalan, meaning "Greater Urgun".-History:... |
89,718 | |||
| Waza Khwa Waza Khwa District Waza Khwa District is a district of Paktika Province, Afghanistan.... |
50,818 | Sub-divided in 2004 | ||
| Wor Mamay Wor Mamay District Wor Mamay District is a district of Paktika Province, Afghanistan.... |
30,135 | |||
| Yahya Khel Yahya Khel District Yahya Khel District is a district of Paktika Province, Afghanistan.... |
30,161 | Created in 2004 within Zarghun Shahr District Zarghun Shahr District Zarghun Shahr District is a district of Paktika Province, Afghanistan., the district had an estimated population of over 75,000. However, by June 2004 the post-Taliban government separated off three new districts from the large Zarghun Shahr District... |
||
| Yosuf Khel Yosuf Khel District Yosuf Khel District is a district of Paktika Province, Afghanistan.... |
32,648 | Created in 2004 within Zarghun Shahr District Zarghun Shahr District Zarghun Shahr District is a district of Paktika Province, Afghanistan., the district had an estimated population of over 75,000. However, by June 2004 the post-Taliban government separated off three new districts from the large Zarghun Shahr District... |
||
| Zarghun Shahr Zarghun Shahr District Zarghun Shahr District is a district of Paktika Province, Afghanistan., the district had an estimated population of over 75,000. However, by June 2004 the post-Taliban government separated off three new districts from the large Zarghun Shahr District... |
Zarghun Shahr Zarghun Shahr Zarghun Shahr is a town in and administrative seat of Zarghun Shahr District, Paktika Province, in eastern Afghanistan.... |
38,024 | Sub-divided in 2004 | |
| Ziruk Ziruk District Ziruk District is a district of Paktika Province, once was a part of Paktia, Afghanistan.... |
43,190 |
Paktika’s population of 393,800 cannot be correct.
World Food Programme puts Paktika’s Population at 809,772.
The Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan IEC (iec.org.af) reported 268,238 registered voters for 2004 Afghanistan Presidential Election in Paktika.