Zhari District
Encyclopedia
Zhari is a new district
in Kandahar Province
, Afghanistan
.
Alternate spellings include Zheley (due to transliteration from Pashto) or Zharey. The district was created from territories taken from Maywand
and Panjwai districts. The population is estimated at 80,700 (2010) .
that runs east to west through Kandahar Province. The general area is sometimes referred to as the Arghandab Valley. The built-up and farmed area of Zhari is approximately 30 km east to west by 8 km north to south between the Arghandab and Highway 1. Most buildings are single story mud and brick structures, with narrow, winding roads and walkways. The exceptions are the grape-drying hut that are larger buildings as high as 20m, and which are scattered throughout the countryside. Grapes, poppies
and marijuana are the most common crops. The farmlands are irrigated by a complex system of wadi
s running parallel with the Arghandab. The area North of Highway 1 is more desert-like with abrupt mountain ranges of approximately 200-400m in height.
s. There are no less than a dozen tribes, the most prevalent of which are the Alizai, Achakzai, Noorzai and Ghilzai
. There are many nomad
ic tribes that also pass through the northern areas of Zhari between Maywand and Arghandab districts.
continue their efforts to support the Karzai government and quell an insurgency. The Taliban is deeply rooted in Zhari's history and still attempt to exert control from abroad through the system of mullahs and elders. See Resurgence of Taliban. The situation is complicated by the warlords and criminals who also attempt to minimize the government's power in the area to further their own ends..
A 2 a.m. raid on October 18 2006 by NATO helicopters, hunting Taliban fighters, was only half a mile from the scene of September's 2006 Operation Medusa
, one of the most ferocious battles between Western forces and insurgent
s since the ouster of the Taliban regime in 2001.
Districts of Afghanistan
The provinces of Afghanistan are divided into Wolaswalei or districts. The number of districts in Afghanistan has fluctuated over the years, with new districts created by splitting or merging parts of others. Prior to 1979, there were 325 districts. This was increased to 329 and, in 2004, a major...
in Kandahar Province
Kandahar Province
Kandahar or Qandahar is one of the largest of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. It is located in southern Afghanistan, between Helmand, Oruzgan and Zabul provinces. Its capital is the city of Kandahar, which is located on the Arghandab River. The province has a population of nearly...
, 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...
.
Alternate spellings include Zheley (due to transliteration from Pashto) or Zharey. The district was created from territories taken from Maywand
Maywand District
Maiwand District is situated in the western part of the Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. It borders Helmand Province to the west, Ghorak District to the north, Khakrez District to the northeast, Zhari District to the east, and Panjwai District to the south. The population is 51,900 . The district...
and Panjwai districts. The population is estimated at 80,700 (2010) .
Terrain
Zhari is located on the north bank of the Arghandab RiverArghandab River
Arghandab is a river in Afghanistan, about in length. It rises in the Hazarajat country north-west of Ghazni, and flows south-west falls into the Helmand below Girishk. In its lower course it is much used for irrigation, and the valley is cultivated and populous; yet the water is said to be...
that runs east to west through Kandahar Province. The general area is sometimes referred to as the Arghandab Valley. The built-up and farmed area of Zhari is approximately 30 km east to west by 8 km north to south between the Arghandab and Highway 1. Most buildings are single story mud and brick structures, with narrow, winding roads and walkways. The exceptions are the grape-drying hut that are larger buildings as high as 20m, and which are scattered throughout the countryside. Grapes, poppies
Poppy
A poppy is one of a group of a flowering plants in the poppy family, many of which are grown in gardens for their colorful flowers. Poppies are sometimes used for symbolic reasons, such as in remembrance of soldiers who have died during wartime....
and marijuana are the most common crops. The farmlands are irrigated by a complex system of wadi
Wadi
Wadi is the Arabic term traditionally referring to a valley. In some cases, it may refer to a dry riverbed that contains water only during times of heavy rain or simply an intermittent stream.-Variant names:...
s running parallel with the Arghandab. The area North of Highway 1 is more desert-like with abrupt mountain ranges of approximately 200-400m in height.
Politics
The Shurah is the basic mechanism of government in Zhari. The tribal nature of the district is inseparable from politics, making the decision-making process difficult and time-consuming.Tribes
Most people in Zhari are ethnic PashtunPashtun 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...
s. There are no less than a dozen tribes, the most prevalent of which are the Alizai, Achakzai, Noorzai and Ghilzai
Ghilzai
Ghilzai are the largest Pashtun tribal confederacy found in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They are also known historically as Ghilji, Khilji, Ghalji, Ghilzye, and possibly Gharzai...
. There are many nomad
Nomad
Nomadic people , commonly known as itinerants in modern-day contexts, are communities of people who move from one place to another, rather than settling permanently in one location. There are an estimated 30-40 million nomads in the world. Many cultures have traditionally been nomadic, but...
ic tribes that also pass through the northern areas of Zhari between Maywand and Arghandab districts.
Sub-Districts
The political geography of Zhari changes over time. Many of the smaller villages bear the name of the local elder. A collection of these smaller villages can be loosely described as a sub-district. Zhari currently has the following sub-districts:- Nar Kariz,
- Nalgham,
- Sangsar,
- Kolk,
- Siah Choy,
- Sablaghay,
- Pashmul,
- Asequeh,
- Sanzari
Conflict
NATO and ISAFInternational Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
continue their efforts to support the Karzai government and quell an insurgency. The Taliban is deeply rooted in Zhari's history and still attempt to exert control from abroad through the system of mullahs and elders. See Resurgence of Taliban. The situation is complicated by the warlords and criminals who also attempt to minimize the government's power in the area to further their own ends..
A 2 a.m. raid on October 18 2006 by NATO helicopters, hunting Taliban fighters, was only half a mile from the scene of September's 2006 Operation Medusa
Operation Medusa
Operation Medusa was a Canadian-led offensive by major elements of the International Security Assistance Force, Afghan National Army and an A-Team from the 3rd Special Forces Group, as part of the ongoing war in Afghanistan. It aimed to establish government control over an area of Kandahar...
, one of the most ferocious battles between Western forces and insurgent
Insurgent
Insurgent, insurgents or insurgency can refer to:* The act of insurgency-Specific insurgencies:* Iraqi insurgency, uprising in Iraq* Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, uprising in India* Insurgency in North-East India...
s since the ouster of the Taliban regime in 2001.