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Badakhshan Province

بدخشان
Badakhshan Province بدخشان
Province
	Wakhan District Fayzabad Shiwa Lake Badakhshan mountains
	Map of Afghanistan with Badakhshan highlighted
	Coordinates: 38°0′N 71°0′E / 38.000°N 71.000°E
Country	Afghanistan
Capital	Fayzabad
Government
• Governor	Mohammad Ayub Khalid
• Deputy Governor	Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi
Area
• Total	44,835 km2 (17,311 sq mi)
Population (2021)
• Total	1,072,785
• Density	24/km2 (62/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+4:30 (Afghanistan Time)
Postal code	34XX
ISO 3166 code	AF-BDS
Main languages	Persian, Pashto, Khowar, Kyrgyz, Shughni, Ishkashimi, Wakhi

Badakhshan Province (Pashto/Dari: بدخشان) is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the northeastern part of the country. It is bordered by Tajikistan's Gorno-Badakhshan in the north and the Pakistani regions of Lower and Upper Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan in the southeast. It also has a 91-kilometer (57-mile) border with China in the east.

It is part of a broader historical Badakhshan region, parts of which now also lie in Tajikistan and China. The province contains 22 districts, over 1,200 villages and approximately 1,055,000 people.^[5]^[6] Fayzabad serves as the provincial capital. Resistance activity has been reported in the province since the 2021 Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.^[7]^[8]

Etymology

During the Sassanids' reign it was called "bidix", and in Parthian times "bthšy". In Sassanid manuscripts found in Ka'ba-ye Zartosht it was called "Bałasakan". In Chinese sources from the 7th century onwards it was called "Po-to-chang-na".

Geography

Badakhshan is bordered by Takhar Province to the west, Panjshir Province to the south west, Nuristan Province to the south, Tajikistan to the north and east (that nation's Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province and Khatlon Province), China through a long spur called the Wakhan Corridor to the east, and Pakistan to the south-east (Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan). The total area of Badakhshan is 44,059 square kilometres (17,011 sq mi), most of which is occupied by the Hindu Kush and Pamir mountain ranges.

According to the World Wildlife Fund,^{[citation needed]} Badakhshan contains temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands, as well as Gissaro-Alai open woodlands along the Pamir River. Common plants found in these areas include pistachio, almond, walnut, apple, juniper, and sagebrush.

Montane grasslands and shrublands are existent in the province, with the Hindu Kush alpine meadow in the high mountains in the northern and southwestern regions.

The Wakhan corridor contains two montane grassland and shrubland regions: the Karakoram-West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe and in the Pamir Mountains and Kuh-e Safed Khers in Darwaz region.

South of Fayzabad the terrain becomes dominated by deserts and xeric shrublands. Common vegetation includes thorny bushes, zizyphus, acacia, and Amygdatus. Paropamisus xeric woodlands can be found in the province's northwestern and central areas. Common vegetation includes almond, pistachio, willows, and sea-buckthorn.

History

Badakhshan was an independent country until late 18th century before it was ruled by the Durranis followed by the Barakzai dynasty, and was untouched by the British during the three Anglo-Afghan Wars that were fought in the 19th and 20th centuries, which allowed the Emanzai Tribe to rise in regional control. It remained peaceful for about 100 years until the 1980s Soviet–Afghan War at which point the Mujahideen began a rebellion against the central Afghan government.

During the 1990s, much of the area was controlled by forces loyal to Burhanuddin Rabbani and Ahmad Shah Massoud,^[9] who were de facto the national government until 1996. Badakhshan was the only province that the Taliban did not conquer during their rule from 1996 to 2001. However, during the course of the wars a non-Taliban Islamic emirate was established in Badakhshan by Mawlawi Shariqi, paralleling the Islamic Revolutionary State of Afghanistan in neighboring Nuristan. Rabbani, a Badakhshan native, and Massoud were the last remnants of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance during the peak of Taliban control in 2001.

Badakhshan was thus one of the few provinces of the country that witnessed little insurgency in the Afghan wars – however, during the 2010s Taliban insurgents managed to attack and take control of several districts in the province.^[10]

On 26 October 2015, the 7.5 Mw Hindu Kush earthquake shook northern Afghanistan with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). This earthquake destroyed almost 30,000 homes, left several hundred dead, and more than 1,700 injured.^[11]

Transportation

Fayzabad Airport serves the province with regular direct flights to Kabul.

Healthcare

The percentage of households with clean drinking water increased from 13% in 2005 to 21% in 2011.^[12] The percentage of births attended to by a skilled birth attendant increased from 1.5% in 2003 to 2% in 2011.^[12]

Education

Badakhshan University is located in Fayzabad, a city which also has a number of public schools including an all-girls school.

The overall literacy rate (6+ years of age) fell from 31% in 2005 to 26% in 2011.^[12] The overall net enrolment rate (6–13 years of age) increased from 46% in 2005 to 68% in 2011.^[12]

Economy

Classic lazurite specimen from Sar-e-Sang district

Despite massive mineral reserves, Badakhshan is one of the most destitute areas in the world. Opium poppy growing is the only real source of income in the province and Badakhshan has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the world, due to the complete lack of health infrastructure, inaccessible locations, and bitter winters of the province.

Lapis lazuli has been mined in the Sar-e-Sang mines, located in the Kuran wa Munjan District of Badakhshan, for over 6,000 years. The mines were the largest and most well-known source in ancient times.^[13]^[14] Most recent mining activity has focused on lapis lazuli, with the proceeds from the lapis mines being used to fund Northern Alliance troops, and before that, anti-Soviet Mujahideen fighters.^[15] Recent geological surveys have indicated the location of other gemstone deposits, in particular rubies and emeralds.^[16] It is estimated that the mines at Kuran wa Munjan District hold up to 1,290 tonnes of azure (lapis lazuli).^[17] Exploitation of this mineral wealth could be key to the region's prosperity.^[16]

On 5 October 2018 in Washington, D.C., Afghan officials signed a 30-year contract involving a $22 million investment by investment group Centar and its operating company, Afghan Gold and Minerals Co., to explore and develop an area of Badakhshan for gold mining.^[18]

Sport

The province is represented in Afghan domestic cricket competitions by the Badakhshan Province cricket team BORNA Cricket Club which belongs to BORNA Institute of Higher Education is coming up with its own team and will be groomed by the experts in the field of cricket.

Demographics

As of 2020, the population of the province is about 1,054,087, constituting a multi-ethnic rural society.^[6] Dari-speaking Tajiks make up the majority followed by a few Uzbeks, Kyrgyz, Qizilbash, and others.^[19] There are also speakers of the following Pamiri languages: Shughni, Munji, Ishkashimi, and Wakhi.

The inhabitants of the province are mostly Sunni Muslims, although there are also some Ismaili Shia Muslims.

60.1% of the population lived below the national poverty line, one of the higher figures in the country.^[20]

**Districts of Badakhshan Province**
District	Capital	Population^[4]	Area in km²	Pop. density	Villages Ethnic groups
Arghanj Khwa		18,201	2,327	8	Majority Farsiwan (Tajiks, Aimaqs).^[21]
Argo		88,616	1,059	84	145 villages. Majority Tajik, minority Turkmens.^[21]
Baharak	Baharak	32,551	324	101	51 villages. 100% Tajik.^[21]
Darayim		69,618	585	119	101 villages. 100% Tajik.^[21]
Fayzabad	Fayzabad	77,154	497	155	175 villages. 100% Tajik.^[21]
Ishkashim	Ishkashim	15,677	1,415	11	43 villages. Predominantly Pamiris (Ishkashimi), few Tajik.^[22]
Jurm	Jorm	42,671	1225	35	75 villages. 100% Tajik^[21]
Khash		43,046	243	177	21 villages. Majority Turkmen, minority Tajik^[21]
Khwahan	Khwahan	18,734	698	27	46 villages. Predominantly Tajik.^[23]
Kishim	Mashhad	91,407	767	119	100 villages. 100% Tajik^[21]
Kohistan		18,733	494	38	13 villages. 100% Tajik^[21]
Kuf Ab	Qal`eh-ye Kuf	25,243	1,439	18	Predominantly Tajik, some Aimaq.
Keran wa Menjan	Keran wa Menjan	10,761	4,712	2	42 villages. Predominantly Pamiri (Munji), few Tajiks.
Maimay (Darwaz-e Payin)	Jamarj-e Bala	29,893	1,217	25	Predominantly Tajik, some Aimaq.
Nusay (Darwaz-e Bala)	Nusay	26,173	1,589	16	16 villages. Tajik.^[24]
Raghistan	Ziraki	44,773	1,321	34	25 villages. 100% Tajik.^[21]
Shahri Buzurg	Shahri Buzurg	59,123	942	63	74 villages. 100% Tajik.^[25]
Sheghnan	Shughnan	31,487	1,968	16	28 villages. Predominantly Pamiri (Shughni).
Shekay	Jarf	29,760	635	47	38 villages. Tajik, etc.^[26]
Shuhada		39,061	1,244	31	62 villages. Predominantly Farsiwan (Tajik, Aimaq), few Pamiri (Ishkashimi).^[27]
Tagab		31,753	1,401	23	Mixed Tajik and Baloch.
Tishkan		33,746	821	41	57 villages. 100% Tajik.^[21]
Wakhan	Khandud	16,873	10,930	2	110 villages. Majority Pamiri (Wakhi), minority Kyrgyz.
Warduj		24,712	684	36	45 villages. 100% Tajik.^[21]
Yaftali Sufla		59,654	606	98	93 villages. 100% Tajik.^[21]
Yamgan		29,096	1,744	17	39 villages. 100% Tajik^[28]
Yawan		36,669	431	85	100% Tajik.
Zebak	Zebak	8,902	2,057	4	62 villages. Majority Pamiri, minority Tajik.
Badakhshan		1,054,087	44,836	24	90.2 Tajiks, 5.8% Pamiris (Ishkashimi, Munji, Shughni, Wakhi), 2.4% Turkmens, 1.1% Baloch, 0.5% Kyrgyz.^{[note 1]}

Notable people from Badakhshan

Zoroaster, Zarathustra, Avestan prophet of zoroastrianism who lived in a land that was very likely modern day badaxšân.
Makhfi Badakhshi, Persian poet, lived and died in Badakhshan
Nūr al-Dīn Jaʿfar Badakhshī, 14th-century disciple of the eminent Central Asian Ṣūfī shaykh Sayyid ʿAlī Hamadānī^[29]
Mullah Shah Badakhshi, 17th-century Muslim Sufi of the Qadiri order, from Araska in Rustaq area in Badakhshan^[30]
Tahir Badakhshi, political activist
Nāsir Khusraw Qubādiyānī Balkhi, 11th-century Persian poet, philosopher and Isma'ili scholar, died in Yamgan, Badakhshan
Bairam Khan, 16th-century important military commander, and later commander-in-chief of the Mughal army, a powerful statesman and regent at the court of the Mughal Emperors, Humayun and Akbar
Fawzia Koofi, noted Afghan women's rights activist, member of Parliament and 2014 presidential candidate
Qamaruddin Maziar Kouhyar, professional footballer, and the first Afghan to play professionally in Great Britain
Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, Chief architect of the Taj Mahal
Miri Maftun, Afghan musician from Badakhshan.
Zulmai Mujadidi, Member of Parliament representing Badakhshan
Latif Pedram, political activist and candidate for Afghanistan's presidency
Burhanuddin Rabbani, leader of the Jamiat-e Islami political party and former president of Afghanistan
Qari Fasihuddin, Army Chief, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

References

^ "Mohammad Ayub Khalid was introduced as the governor of Badakhshan". 14 September 2023.
^ Ahmadi, Esmatullah (22 August 2021). "Drug addicts' collection campaign starts in Badakhshan".
^ "Afghanistan Provinces". www.statoids.com.
^ ^a ^b "Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2021-22" (PDF). National Statistic and Information Authority (NSIA). April 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
^ [1]
^ ^a ^b "Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21" (PDF). Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, National Statistics and Information Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
^ "Afghanistan's National Resistance Front formally announces guerrilla war against the Taliban from Badakhshan". India Narrative. 27 October 2021. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
^ Kohzad, Nilly (15 December 2021). "What Does the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan Have to Offer?". The Diplomat. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
^ Hansen, Cole; Dennys, Christian; Zaman, Idrees (1 February 2009). "Conflict analysis: Baharak district, Badakhshan province" (PDF). Chr. Michelsen Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
^ "The 2015 Insurgency in the North (2): Badakhshan's Jurm district under siege". 14 September 2015.
^ USGS. "M7.5 – 45 km E of Farkhar, Afghanistan". United States Geological Survey.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Archive, Civil Military Fusion Centre Archived 30 May 2014 at archive.today
^ Deer, William A.; Howie, Robert A, and Zussman, Joseph (1963) "Lapis lazuli" Rock-Forming Minerals Longman, London, OCLC 61975619
^ Lapis lazuli was also found in the Urals Mountains in Russia. Deer et al. above
^ Entekhabi-Fard, Camelia (15 October 2002). "Northern Alliance Veteran Hopes Emeralds Are Key Part of Afghanistan's Economic Recovery". Eurasia Insight. Archived from the original on 8 July 2007. Retrieved 20 August 2007.
^ ^a ^b "Afghanistan's gemstones" (PDF). Planet Earth. Winter 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 September 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
^ Hamdard, Hidayatullah (20 January 2014). "Karzai assigns team to probe azure mine issue". Pajhwok Afghan News. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
^ Mackenzie, James; Qadir Sediqi, Abdul (7 October 2018). "Afghanistan signs major mining deals in development push". Reuters. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
^ "1 Badakhshan". Rkabuli.20m.com. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
^ Giustozzi, Antonio (August 2012). Decoding the New Taliban: Insights from the Afghan Field. Hurst. ISBN 9781849042260.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m نت, العربية (15 January 2019). "تاجیک‌های افغانستان را بشناسید". العربية نت (in Persian). Retrieved 28 July 2020.
^ "Ishkashim District" (PDF). Archived from the original on 27 December 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ "Khowahan District" (PDF). Archived from the original on 1 February 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ "Nusay District" (PDF). Archived from the original on 3 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ "Shahr-e-Bozorg District" (PDF). Archived from the original on 27 December 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ Shekay District
^ "Shuhada District" (PDF). Archived from the original on 1 February 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ "Yamgan District" (PDF). Archived from the original on 1 February 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ DeWeese, Devin A. (4 May 2016). "Badakhshī, Nūr al-Dīn Jaʿfar". Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE.
^ "BADAḴŠĪ, MOLLĀ SHAH". Encyclopedia Iranica.

^ Note: "Predominantely" is interpreted as 99%, "majority" as 70%, "mixed" as 1/(number of ethnicities) and "minority" as 30%.

External links

Media related to Badakhshan Province at Wikimedia Commons
Badkhshan Province^[usurped] – Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development

[1] "Mohammad Ayub Khalid was introduced as the governor of Badakhshan". 14 September 2023.

[2] Ahmadi, Esmatullah (22 August 2021). "Drug addicts' collection campaign starts in Badakhshan".

[3] "Afghanistan Provinces". www.statoids.com.

[auto-4] "Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2021-22" (PDF). National Statistic and Information Authority (NSIA). April 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.

[5] [1]

[nsia-6] "Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21" (PDF). Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, National Statistics and Information Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2021.

[7] "Afghanistan's National Resistance Front formally announces guerrilla war against the Taliban from Badakhshan". India Narrative. 27 October 2021. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.

[8] Kohzad, Nilly (15 December 2021). "What Does the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan Have to Offer?". The Diplomat. Retrieved 19 December 2021.

[9] Hansen, Cole; Dennys, Christian; Zaman, Idrees (1 February 2009). "Conflict analysis: Baharak district, Badakhshan province" (PDF). Chr. Michelsen Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2022.

[10] "The 2015 Insurgency in the North (2): Badakhshan's Jurm district under siege". 14 September 2015.

[11] USGS. "M7.5 – 45 km E of Farkhar, Afghanistan". United States Geological Survey.

[cimicweb.org-12] Archive, Civil Military Fusion Centre Archived 30 May 2014 at archive.today

[13] Deer, William A.; Howie, Robert A, and Zussman, Joseph (1963) "Lapis lazuli" Rock-Forming Minerals Longman, London, OCLC 61975619

[14] Lapis lazuli was also found in the Urals Mountains in Russia. Deer et al. above

[15] Entekhabi-Fard, Camelia (15 October 2002). "Northern Alliance Veteran Hopes Emeralds Are Key Part of Afghanistan's Economic Recovery". Eurasia Insight. Archived from the original on 8 July 2007. Retrieved 20 August 2007.

[PLE-16] "Afghanistan's gemstones" (PDF). Planet Earth. Winter 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 September 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2008.

[17] Hamdard, Hidayatullah (20 January 2014). "Karzai assigns team to probe azure mine issue". Pajhwok Afghan News. Retrieved 20 January 2014.

[18] Mackenzie, James; Qadir Sediqi, Abdul (7 October 2018). "Afghanistan signs major mining deals in development push". Reuters. Retrieved 30 June 2020.

[19] "1 Badakhshan". Rkabuli.20m.com. Retrieved 22 May 2012.

[20] Giustozzi, Antonio (August 2012). Decoding the New Taliban: Insights from the Afghan Field. Hurst. ISBN 9781849042260.

[:0-21] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m نت, العربية (15 January 2019). "تاجیک‌های افغانستان را بشناسید". العربية نت (in Persian). Retrieved 28 July 2020.

[22] "Ishkashim District" (PDF). Archived from the original on 27 December 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

[23] "Khowahan District" (PDF). Archived from the original on 1 February 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

[24] "Nusay District" (PDF). Archived from the original on 3 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

[25] "Shahr-e-Bozorg District" (PDF). Archived from the original on 27 December 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

[26] Shekay District

[27] "Shuhada District" (PDF). Archived from the original on 1 February 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

[28] "Yamgan District" (PDF). Archived from the original on 1 February 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

[30] DeWeese, Devin A. (4 May 2016). "Badakhshī, Nūr al-Dīn Jaʿfar". Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE.

[31] "BADAḴŠĪ, MOLLĀ SHAH". Encyclopedia Iranica.

[29] Note: "Predominantely" is interpreted as 99%, "majority" as 70%, "mixed" as 1/(number of ethnicities) and "minority" as 30%.

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PROFILPELAJAR.COM

Badakhshan Province

Etymology

Geography

History

Transportation

Healthcare

Education

Economy

Sport

Demographics

Notable people from Badakhshan

See also

References

Further reading

External links

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