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

History of Afghanistan
Timeline
Ancient Indus valley civilization 2200–1800 BC Oxus civilization 2100–1800 BC Aryans 1700–700 BC Median Empire 728–550 BC Achaemenid Empire 550–330 BC Seleucid Empire 330–150 BC Maurya Empire 305–180 BC Greco-Bactrian Kingdom 256–125 BC Parthian Empire 247 BC–224 AD Indo-Greek Kingdom 180–130 BC Indo-Scythian Kingdom 155–80? BC Kushan Empire 135 BC – 248 AD Indo-Parthian Kingdom 20 BC – 50? AD Sasanian Empire 230–651 Kidarite Kingdom 320–465 Hephthalite Empire 410–557
Medieval Kabul Shahi 565–879 Principality of Chaghaniyan 7th–8th centuries Rashidun Caliphate 652–661 Umayyads 661–750 Abbasids 750–821 Tahirids 821–873 Saffarids 863–900 Samanids 875–999 Ghaznavids 963–1187 Ghurids before 879–1215 Seljuqs 1037–1194 Khwarezmids 1215–1231 Qarlughids 1224–1266 Ilkhanate 1258–1353 Chagatai Khanate 1225–1370 Khiljis 1290–1320 Karts 1245–1381 Timurids 1370–1507 Arghuns 1479–1522 Mughals 1501–1738 Safavids 1510–1709 Afsharids 1738-1747
Modern Hotaki Empire 1709–1738 Durrani Empire 1747–1826 Emirate of Afghanistan 1826–1919 Kingdom of Afghanistan 1919–1973 Republic of Afghanistan 1973–1978 Democratic Republic of Afghanistan 1978–1992 Islamic State of Afghanistan 1992–2001 Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan 1996–2001 Interim/Transitional Administration 2001–2004 Islamic Republic of Afghanistan since 2004
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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

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 in the city of Khost

Pashtun children

A U.S. Marine, assigned to Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, provides security while in the Khowst-Gardez Pass.

Khost city

Tanio area

See also

• Battle for Hill 3234
• Forward Operating Base Chapman attack
• Forward Operating Base Salerno

References

• Blowback: The Costs and Consequences of American Empire, by Chalmers Johnson, ISBN 0-8050-6239-4
• "Ghost Wars"

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Khost Province.

• Khost Province by the Naval Postgraduate School
• Khost Province by the Institute for the Study of War

	Paktia Province
			Federally Administered Tribal Areas,  Pakistan
		Khost Province
	Paktika 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 Paktia Paktika Panjshir Parwan Samangan Sar-e Pol Takhar Urozgan Zabul