Coordinates: 31°37′01″N 65°43′01″E / 31.617, 65.717

Kandahar کندهار
View of Arghandab Valley
Kandahar
Province	Kandahar
Coordinates	31°37′01″N 65°43′01″E / 31.617, 65.717
Population  (2006)	450,300 Central Statistics Office of Afghanistan
Area  - Elevation	1,000 m (3,281 ft)
Time zone	UTC+4:30 Kabul

Kandahār, also spelled Qandahār, (Pashto: کندهار) is the second largest city in Afghanistan, with population of 450,300 people (2006 estimate). A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. The Provinces of Afghanistan (locally recognized as wilayats - ولايت are the primary Administrative divisions of Afghanistan. Kandahar or Qandahar ( Pashto: کندھار, Persian: قندهار) is one of the largest of the thirty-four Provinces of A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. UTC+430 is used in Afghanistan and in the summer as Time in Iran. Pashto ( Naskh: پښتو‎ pəʂ'to also rendered as Pakhto, Pushto, Pukhto, Pashtu, Pushtu, also known as Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, It is the capital of Kandahar province, located in the south part of the country at about 3,297 feet (1,005 m) above sea level. Kandahar or Qandahar ( Pashto: کندھار, Persian: قندهار) is one of the largest of the thirty-four Provinces of The Arghandab River runs right next to the city. Arghandab is a river in Afghanistan, about 400 kilometers (250 miles in length

Kandahar is a major trading center for sheep, wool, cotton, silk, felt, food grains, fresh and dried fruit, and tobacco. Wool is the fiber derived from the specialized skin cells called follicles of animals in the Caprinae family principally sheep, but the hair of certain species Cotton is a soft staple Fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant ( Gossypium sp Silk is a natural Protein Fiber, some forms of which can be woven into Textiles The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons Felt is a non-woven cloth that is produced by matting condensing and pressing fibers Grains make up the structure of Metals Metal surfaces contain a number of small crystals known as grains with boundaries where they join Dried fruit is fruit that has been dried, either naturally or through use of a machine such as a Food dehydrator. Tobacco is an Agricultural product recognized as an addictive drug processed from the fresh Leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. The region produces fine fruits, especially pomegranates and grapes, and the city has plants for canning, drying, and packing fruit. The pomegranate ( Punica granatum) is a Fruit -bearing Deciduous Shrub or small Tree growing to between five and eight metres tall For the Tokyo University supercomputer see Gravity Pipe. GRAPE, or GRA phics P rogramming E nvironment is Kandahar has an international airport and extensive road links with Farah and Herat to the west, Ghazni and Kabul to the northeast, Tarin Kowt to the north, and Quetta in Pakistan to the south. area3018 sq mi Herāt ( classically called the Aria, is a city in western Afghanistan, in the province also known as Herāt. Ghazni City ( - Ğaznī; Ghazna and Ghaznīn are the old names for Ghazni } Kābul ( Persian and Pashto: کابل, IPA:) is the Capital and largest city of Afghanistan, with Tarin Kowt is the capital of Orūzgān (also written "Uruzgan" Province in southern Afghanistan. ( Urdu: کوئٹہ) ( Pashto: کوټه) also spelled Kwatah City is a variation of kwatkot a Pashto word meaning “fort Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and Kandahar is a Pashto-speaking city, with Pashtuns being the main inhabitants. Pashto ( Naskh: پښتو‎ pəʂ'to also rendered as Pakhto, Pushto, Pukhto, Pashtu, Pushtu, also known as Pashtuns ( Pashto: پښتون Paṣtūn, Paxtūn, also rendered as Pushtuns, Pakhtuns, Pukhtuns) also called

Alexander the Great founded Kandahar in the 4th century BC and named it Alexandria. Alexander the Great ( or, Mégas Aléxandros; July 20 356 BC June 10 or June 11 323 BC also known as Alexander III of Macedon (el Ἀλέξανδρος Γ' Alexandria in Arachosia was a city in ancient times that is now called Kandahar in Afghanistan. ^[1] Many empires have long fought over the city, due to its strategic location along the trade routes of Southern and Central Asia. Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south In 1748, Ahmad Shah Durrani, founder of the Durrani Empire, made Kandahar the capital of Afghanistan. Ahmad Shāh Durrānī (c1723-1773 ( also known as Ahmad Shāh Abdālī ( احمد شاه ابدالي) and born as Ahmad Khān Abdālī, The Durrani Empire (also referred to as the Afghan Empire) was a large state based in modern Afghanistan and Pakistan and later included northeastern ^[2][3]

Name

Kandahar may have been derived from Gandhara^[4], the name of an ancient Indian kingdom to the north along the modern Kashmir and Afghanistan border,^[5] and a former satrapy of the Achaemenid Empire, although Kandahar in modern times and the ancient Gandhara are not the same, geographically. Gandhāra ( Sanskrit: गन्धार Urdu: گندھارا Gandḥārā; also known as Waihind in Persian is the name of an ancient This article is about the geographical region of greater Kashmir See also the related deity Satrapes. Satrap (Persian ساتراپ was the name given to the governors of the Provinces of ancient The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenid Persian Empire ( haχɒmaneʃijɒn (558–330 BC was the first of the Persian Empires to rule over significant portions of ^[6][7]. Another possibility is that it could be derived from the Arabic rendering of Alexander's name. Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language Alexander the Great ( or, Mégas Aléxandros; July 20 356 BC June 10 or June 11 323 BC also known as Alexander III of Macedon (el Ἀλέξανδρος Γ' ^[1] A temple to the deified Alexander as well as an inscription in Greek and Aramaic by the emperor Ashoka, who lived a few decades later, have been discovered in the old citadel. The Ancient Greek language is the historical stage in the development of the Hellenic language family spanning the Archaic (c Aramaic is a Semitic language with Ashoka ( Devanāgarī: अशोकः IAST: Aśokaḥ, aɕoːkə(hə Prakrit Imperial title Devanampriya Priyadarsi ^[8]

History

Prehistory

Excavations of prehistoric sites by Louis Dupree, the University of Pennsylvania, the Smithsonian Institution, and others suggest that the region around Kandahar is one of the oldest human settlements known so far. The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn) is a private University located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The Smithsonian Institution (smɪθsoʊnɪən is an educational and research institute and associated Museum complex administered and funded by the Government of Dupree writes:

. . . Early peasant farming villages came into existence in Afghanistan ca. 5000 B. C. , or 7000 years ago. Deh Morasi Ghundai, the first prehistoric site to be excavated in Afghanistan, lies 27 km (17 mi. ) southwest of Kandahar (Dupree, 1951). Another Bronze Age village mound site with multiroomed mud-brick buildings dating from the same period sits nearby at Said Qala (J. The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for Shaffer, 1970). Second millennium B. C. Bronze Age pottery, copper and bronze horse trappings and stone seals were found in the lowermost levels in the nearby cave called Shamshir Ghar (Dupree, 1950). Pottery is the Ceramic ware made by potters It also refers to a group of materials that includes Earthenware, Stoneware Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 Bronze is any of a broad range of Copper alloys, usually with Tin as the main additive but sometimes with other elements such as Phosphorus In the Seistan, southwest of these Kandahar sites, two teams of American archaeologists discovered sites relating to the 2nd millennium B. Modern Sistan ( is a border region in southeastern Iran (see Sistan and Baluchestan Province) and southwestern Afghanistan (see Nimruz Province The United States of America —commonly referred to as the C. (G. Dales, University Museum, University of Pennsylvania, 1969, 1971; W, Trousdale, Smithsonian Institution, 1971 – 76). Stylistically the finds from Deh Morasi and Said Qala tie in with those of pre-Indus Valley sites and with those of comparable age on the Iranian Plateau and in Central Asia, indicating cultural contacts during this very early age. The Indus Valley Civilization (Mature period 2600&ndash1900 BCE abbreviated IVC, was an ancient Civilization that flourished in the Indus River basin The Iranian Plateau, also known as the Persian plateau is a Geological formation in Southwest Asia, Southern Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south . . ^[9]

Bilingual Edict of Ashoka (in Greek and Aramaic), found in Kandahar. The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls made by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Aramaic is a Semitic language with Circa 250 BC, Afghan National Museum. Kabul Museum is the national museum of Afghanistan. It is a two-story building located in the historic city of Kabul and was built

Hellenistic era

Main article: Alexandria in Arachosia

Kandahar was founded in 330 BC by Alexander the Great, near the site of the ancient city of Mundigak (established around 3000 BC). Alexandria in Arachosia was a city in ancient times that is now called Kandahar in Afghanistan. Alexander the Great ( or, Mégas Aléxandros; July 20 356 BC June 10 or June 11 323 BC also known as Alexander III of Macedon (el Ἀλέξανδρος Γ' Previously, the city was the provincial capital of Arachosia and was ruled by the Achaemenid Empire. Arachosia (ˌærəˈkoʊʒə, Arakhōsia) or Arachotae (əˈrækəˌtiː, Arakhōtai) is the latinized form of Greek name of an Achaemenid The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenid Persian Empire ( haχɒmaneʃijɒn (558–330 BC was the first of the Persian Empires to rule over significant portions of The main inhabitants of Arachosia were the Pactyans,^[10] an ancient Iranian tribe, who were probably one of the ancestors of today's Pashtuns. The Pakthas were one of the tribes that fought against Sudas in the Dasarajna battle Pashtuns ( Pashto: پښتون Paṣtūn, Paxtūn, also rendered as Pushtuns, Pakhtuns, Pukhtuns) also called Kandahar was named Alexandria, a popular name given to many cities that Alexander founded or refounded during his conquests. Alexandria in Arachosia was a city in ancient times that is now called Kandahar in Afghanistan. ^[1]

The city has been a frequent target for conquest because of its strategic location in Southern Asia, controlling the main trade route linking the Indian subcontinent with the Middle East, Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia For geopolitical treatments see South Asia. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. The Persian Gulf, in the Southwest Asian region is an extension of the ^[11] It later became part of the Mauryan Empire after the departure of Alexander. The Maurya Empire ( 322 – 185 BCE) ruled by the Mauryan dynasty was a geographically extensive and powerful political and military The Mauryan emperor Ashoka erected a pillar there with a bilingual inscription in Greek and Aramaic. The Maurya Empire ( 322 – 185 BCE) ruled by the Mauryan dynasty was a geographically extensive and powerful political and military Ashoka ( Devanāgarī: अशोकः IAST: Aśokaḥ, aɕoːkə(hə Prakrit Imperial title Devanampriya Priyadarsi Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Aramaic is a Semitic language with ^[12] The Greco-Bactrian Kingdom occupied Kandahar after the Mauryans, but then lost the city to the Indo-Greek Kingdom. The Gr(aeco-Bactrian Kingdom was the easternmost part of the Hellenistic world covering Bactria and Sogdiana in Central Asia from 250 The Indo-Greek Kingdom (or sometimes Graeco-Indian Kingdom) covered various parts of the northwest and northern Indian subcontinent during the last two centuries

Islamic conquest

In the 7th century AD, Arab armies brought the new religion of Islam to the region but were unable to succeed in fully converting the population. The Islamic conquest of Afghanistan ( 656 - 870 CE began after the Islamic conquest of Persia, when Arab Muslims shattered the might of the For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. In 870 AD, Yaqub ibn Layth Saffari, a local ruler of the Saffarid dynasty in Seistan, conquered Kandahar and the rest of the nearby regions in the name of Islam. Ya'qub bin Laith as-Saffar or Ya'qub-i Laith Saffari ( 840 - 879) ( was the founder of the Saffarid dynasty in Sistan, with its capital The Saffarid dynasty ( Persian: سلسله صفاریان ruled a empire in Sistan, which is a historical region now in southeastern Iran and southwestern Modern Sistan ( is a border region in southeastern Iran (see Sistan and Baluchestan Province) and southwestern Afghanistan (see Nimruz Province Dupree writes:

. . . Arab armies carrying the banner of Islam came out of the west to defeat the Sasanians in 642 AD and then they marched with confidence to the east. The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty or Sassanian Dynasty (ساسانیان) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian empire On the western periphery of the Afghan area the princes of Herat and Seistan gave way to rule by Arab governors but in the east, in the mountains, cities submitted only to rise in revolt and the hastily converted returned to their old beliefs once the armies passed. Modern Sistan ( is a border region in southeastern Iran (see Sistan and Baluchestan Province) and southwestern Afghanistan (see Nimruz Province The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding A governor is a governing official usually the executive (at least nominally to different degrees also politically and administratively of a non-sovereign level of government The harshness and avariciousness of Arab rule produced such unrest, however, that once the waning power of the Caliphate became apparent, native rulers once again established themselves independent. A caliphate (from the Arabic خلافة or khilāfa) is the political leadership of the Muslim community in classical and medieval Islamic history Among these the Saffarids of Seistan shone briefly in the Afghan area. The Saffarid dynasty ( Persian: سلسله صفاریان ruled a empire in Sistan, which is a historical region now in southeastern Iran and southwestern The fanatic founder of this dynasty, the coppersmith’s apprentice Yaqub ibn Layth Saffari, came forth from his capital at Zaranj in 870 AD and marched through Bost, Kandahar, Ghazni, Kabul, Bamiyan, Balkh and Herat, conquering in the name of Islam. Zaranj is a town in south-western Afghanistan, with a population of approximately 70000 people Bost may refer to an alternative name for Lashkar Gah, a city in Afghanistan Bost Airport, near Lashkar Gah in Afghanistan For the province see Bamyan Province. Bamyan ( is the capital of Bamyan Province and the largest town in Hazarajat, central Balkh ( - Balḫ) also known as Bactra, was once a major world city but was destroyed entirely by the Mongols. . . ^[9]

Kandahar was taken by Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni in the 11th century. Mahmud of Ghazni (محمود غزنوی Maḥmūd-e Ghaznawī ( November 2, 971 - April 30, 1030) also known as Yāmīn Ghazni City ( - Ğaznī; Ghazna and Ghaznīn are the old names for Ghazni In the 13th century it was invaded by Genghis Khan and his Mongol armies. Genghis Khan ( or;, Chinggis Khaan, ʧiŋgɪs χaːŋ Činggis Qaɣan; 1162–1227 born (meaning "ironworker" was the Mongol founder It became part of the Timurid Empire during the 14th century and 15th century, which was founded by Tamerlane. The Timurids, self-designated Gurkānī ( were a Persianate Central Asian Sunni Muslim dynasty Timur also written Emir Timur or Amir Temur ( Chagatai: تیمور - Tēmōr " Iron " (1336 – 19 February 1405 among Pir Muhammad, grandson of Tamerlane, held the seat of government in Kandahar from about 1383 until his death in 1407. Pir Muhammad (c 1374 - 1407 was a grandson and appointed successor of Timur. Following Pir Mohammad's death, the city was ruled by other Timurids.

Tamerlane's descendant, Babur, the founder of Mughal Empire, annexed Kandahar in the 16th century. Babur ( February 14 1483 - December 26 1530) was a Muslim conqueror from Central Asia who following a series of setbacks Babur's son, Humayun, lost it to the Shah of Persia. Background Babur's decision to divide the territories of his empire between two of his sons was unusual in India but it had been a common Central Asian practice since the time of The Safavids ( صفوی) were an Iranian ref>Helen Chapin Metz Humayun's son, Akbar, regained control of Kandahar but by the early 1700s subsequent Mughal emperors lost the territory once again to the Persians. Akbar redirects here For other uses see Akbar (disambiguation Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar ( Jalāl ud-Dīn Muhammad Akbar

Modern history

Ahmad Shah Durrani being crowned as the first Emir of Afghanistan in October 1747. Ahmad Shāh Durrānī (c1723-1773 ( also known as Ahmad Shāh Abdālī ( احمد شاه ابدالي) and born as Ahmad Khān Abdālī,

Mirwais Khan Hotak, a local Afghan (Pashtun) from the Ghilzai clan, revolted and killed Gurgin Khan, the Georgian governor who ruled in the name of the Persian Shah. Mir Wais Khan Hotak (1673-1715 was a Pashtun tribal chief of the Ghilzai clan from Kandahar, who founded the Hotaki dynasty that ruled Pashtuns ( Pashto: پښتون Paṣtūn, Paxtūn, also rendered as Pushtuns, Pakhtuns, Pukhtuns) also called The Ghilzais (also known as Khiljis or Ghaljis) are a large Pashtun Tribe located mainly in southeastern Afghanistan, between George XI ( Georgian: გიორგი XI Giorgi XI; Persian: گرگین‌خان, Gurgin Khan or Gorgin Khan) (1651 – Georgia ( საქართველო, Sakartvelo) is a Transcontinental country in the Caucasus region situated at the dividing line between Mirwais Khan succefully defeated the Persians, who were attempting to convert the local people from Sunni to the Shia sect of Islam. Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘h (Arabic Mirwais Khan remained in power until his death in 1715 and was succeeded by his son, Mir Mahmud Hotaki. Mir Mahmud Hotaki (1697? — April 25 1725) was an Afghan tribal leader who overthrew the Safavid dynasty to become Shah of Persia ^[13]

In 1722, Mir Mahmud led an army of Afghans to Isfahan (now in Iran), sacked the city and proclaimed himself King of Persia. Esfahān or Isfahan (historically also rendered as Ispahan or Hispahan, Old Persian: Aspadana, Middle Persian: Spahān For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. The Hotaki dynasty was eventually removed from power by a new ruler, Nader Shah Afshar, who conquered Kandahar in 1738 but was assassinated nine years later. The Hotaki dynasty (1709-1738 was founded in 1709 by Mirwais Khan Hotak, an ethnic Pashtun ( Afghan) from the Ghilzai clan of Kandahar province Nāder Shāh Afshār ( also known as Nāder Qoli Beg - نادر قلی بیگ or Tahmāsp Qoli Khān - تهماسپ قلی خان) (November The Afsharids (سلسله افشار were an Iranian dynasty of Turkic descent from Khorasan that ruled the Persian Empire in the 18th century ^[14]

Ahmad Shah Durrani, an ethnic Pashtun from the Abdali clan, gained control of Kandahar in 1747 and made it the capital of his new Afghan Empire. Ahmad Shāh Durrānī (c1723-1773 ( also known as Ahmad Shāh Abdālī ( احمد شاه ابدالي) and born as Ahmad Khān Abdālī, The Durrani Empire (also referred to as the Afghan Empire) was a large state based in modern Afghanistan and Pakistan and later included northeastern Previously, Ahmad Shah served as a military commander and personal bodyguard of Nader Shah. ^[15] His empire included present-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, Khorasan and Kohistan provinces of Iran. Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and In October 1772, Ahmad Shah retired to his home in Maruf, Kandahar, where he died peacefully. Maruf may refer to Maruf Afghanistan Maruf Pakistan Maruf (film - a 2002 Turkish film Maruf Chouhan ^[16] The (now) "Old City" was laid out by Ahmad Shah and is dominated by his mausoleum. In 1776, his eldest son Timur Shah Durrani transferred the capital of Afghanistan from Kandahar to Kabul, where the Durrani legacy continued. Timur Shah Durrani ( 1748 - May 18, 1793) was the second ruler of the Durrani Empire from October 16, 1772, until his death Durrānī ( or Abdālī ( is the name of a chief Tribal Confederation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. ^[17]

A view of the Chilzina mountain and adjacent area in 1881.

Kandahar was sometimes a center of jihad and Mujahideen activities, but local Pashtun tribes tended to live by their pre-Islamic code of honor known as Pashtunwali. Jihad (جهاد ʤɪhæːd an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims. A Mujahid (Arabic ar مجاهد, literally "struggler" is a Muslim involved in a Jihad, id est fighting in a war or Pashtunwali ( پښتونوالی) or Pakhtunwali is a Concept of living or philosophy for the Pashtun people and is regarded as an Honour On 28th Muharram 1242 Hijri (September 2, 1826) Sayed Ahmad Shahid's forces reached Kandahar en route to Peshawar. Muharram ( Arabic: ar محرم is the first month of the Islamic calendar. Events 44 BC - Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion. For the game see 1826 (board game. Year 1826 ( MDCCCXXVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display For the Lost character please see Sayid Jarrah Sayyid ( ar سيد) (plural Saadah is an Honorific title Their purpose was to wage jihad against the Sikh kingdom of Ranjit Singh and aid their fellow Pashtuns of the N.W.F.P. Sikhism ( IPA: or; ਸਿੱਖੀ sikkhī, IPA:) founded on the teachings of Nanak and nine successive gurus in fifteenth century Maharaja Ranjit Singh (ਮਹਾਰਾਜਾ ਰਣਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ also called "Sher-e-Punjab" ("The Lion of the Punjab" (1780-1839 was a The North-West Frontier Province (NWFP ( Urdu: śimāl maġribī sarhadī sūba) is the smallest of the four main provinces of Pakistan. Within a few days more than 400 Kandarians presented themselves for the jihad, out of whom 270 were selected. Sayed Deen Muhammad Kandarai was appointed their leader.

British and Indian forces from British India (now Pakistan and India) occupied the city in 1839, during the first Anglo-Afghan war. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British The First Anglo–Afghan War lasted from 1839 to 1842 It was one of the first major conflicts during The Great Game, the 19th century competition for power and influence in They were forced to withdraw approximately three years later, in 1842. The British and Indian forces returned in 1878 during the second Anglo-Afghan war in which they were again forced to withdraw a few years later, despite winning a battle near the city (see Battle of Kandahar). The European influence in Afghanistan refers to political social and sometimes Imperialistic influence various European nations have had on this historical development of the The Battle of Kandahar, 1 September 1880, was the last major conflict of the Second Anglo-Afghan War. Kandahar remained peaceful for the next 100 years.

Kandahar International Airport in 1969. Kandahar International Airport (more commonly known as Kandahar Airport) is located 10 miles (16 kilometers south-east of Kandahar City in Afghanistan

In the 1960s, Kandahar International Airport was built, with the help of the United States Agency for International Development, 10 miles (16 kilometers) south-east of the city. Kandahar International Airport (more commonly known as Kandahar Airport) is located 10 miles (16 kilometers south-east of Kandahar City in Afghanistan The United States Agency for International Development (or USAID) is the United States federal government organization responsible for most non- military It was used by the Red Army during their ten-year occupation of the country. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 As of 2001, the airport is used by the US and NATO forces as a military base. The United States Armed Forces are the overall unified military forces of the United States The North Atlantic Treaty

During the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan (1979-1989), Kandahar was under Soviet command and witnessed heavy fighting. Soviet troops surrounded the city, and subjected it to a savage artillery and air bombardment in which many innocent civilians lost their lives. ^[18] After the Soviet withdrawal and the fall of Najibullah's government in 1992, Kandahar fell into the hands of a local militia leader (Gul Agha Sherzai). Najibullah ( Pashto: نجيب الله; born August 1947 killed September 27, 1996) was the fourth and last President of the Gul Agha Sherzai is the current Governor of Nangarhar province in Afghanistan.

In August 1994, the Taliban captured Kandahar and turned the city into their capital. The Taliban ( طالبان, also anglicised as Taleban; translation "students" is a Sunni Islamist, predominately ^[19] Since their removal in late 2001, smaller bands have spread throughout the nearby provinces. Kandahar once again came under the control of Gul Agha Sherzai, who had controlled the province and city before the rise of the Taliban, and was credited with permitting the same corruption that first fueled the growth of the Taliban. Sherzai was transferred in 2003 and replaced by Yusuf Pashtun until the current Asadullah Khalid took the post in 2005. Asadullah Khalid is the former Governor of Kandahar Province in Afghanistan.

The military of Afghanistan, which is supported by US and NATO forces, has gradually expanded its authority and presence throughout the country. The Military of Afghanistan is composed of the Afghan National Army, the Afghan National Air Corps (formerly the Afghan Air Force and scattered Kandahar is in full control of the new Afghan government, which is led by US-backed President Hamid Karzai. In recent years the politics of Afghanistan have been dominated by the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, by the NATO forces and the subsequent efforts The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Hamid Karzai ( حامد کرزي, حامد کرزي) (born 24 December 1957) is the current President of Afghanistan, since December The Canadian Forces maintain their military command headquarters at Kandahar, being the main NATO-led security force in the province. The Canadian Forces (CF ( French: Forces canadiennes) are the unified Armed forces of Canada, governed by the National Defence International Security Assistance Force (10 ( ISAF) is a NATO -led security and development mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Kandahar or Qandahar ( Pashto: کندھار, Persian: قندهار) is one of the largest of the thirty-four Provinces of

Infrastructure

Transportation

Kandahar International Airport has been used by the NATO forces to deliver troops and humanitarian supplies since late 2001. Repairs and upgrades also occurred during that period; the airport re-opened for civilian use in late 2006. ^[20]

Commuters of the city use the public bus system (Millie Bus), and yellow taxicabs are common. Private vehicle use is increasing, partially due to road and highway improvements. Large dealerships are importing cars from Dubai, UAE. Dubai (in دبيّ,) is one of the seven emirates and most populous city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE ^[21]

Communications and technology

Telecommunication services in the city are provided by InstaTelecom, Afghan Wireless, Roshan, Etisalat and Areeba mobile companies. Afghan Wireless is the name of a cellcular service provider in Afghanistan. Etisalat is one of the largest Telecommunications companies in the world and the largest operator in the Arab world headquartered in the UAE (as per FT500 In November 2006, the Afghan Ministry of Communications signed a US 64. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been 5 million dollar agreement with a company (ZTE Corporation) for the establishment of a countrywide fiber optical cable network. This will improve telephone, internet, television and radio broadcast services not just in Kandahar but throughout the country. ^[22]

Besides foreign channels, Afghanistan's local television channels include:

• Ariana TV
• Ariana Afghanistan TV
• Khorasan TV
• Lamar TV
• Shamshad TV
• Tolo TV

Reconstruction and developments

The model plan of a 20,000 homes development project called Kandahar Valley. Ariana Afghanistan TV is a satellite television channel based in Orange, California, USA with branches in Hamburg, Germany and Kabul Khorasan TV is a Satellite TV channel broadcasting from the United States. Lemar TV (meaning "Sun TV" in the Pashto language) is a television station in Afghanistan, which was founded in 2006. Shamshad TV is a satellite television station in Afghanistan, which was launched in early 2006. Tolo TV ( Persian:طلوع "Sunrise") is the name of a Television service broadcasted from Kabul, Afghanistan.

Due to almost 30 years of destruction and no development, Kandahar (along with the rest of the country) is going through a nationwide reconstruction period. As of 2002, large amounts of money have been pouring in for construction purposes. New modern-style buildings are slowly replacing the older ones. Kandahar's major highways were repaired and completed including the highway to Kabul. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Before adding any more images to this * * page please do carefully consider * * whether they would be mere decoration * * or actually improve The Kabul-Kandahar Highway is a 483-kilometer (300-mile road linking Afghanistan 's two largest cities Kabul and Kandahar. However, work on smaller roads in some parts around the city is still in progress.

Kandahar's residents have access to clean drinking water and 24 hour electricity. Although not every part of the city may receive it, plans and works are underway to extend these services to every home. ^[23]

Up to 20,000 single-family homes and associated infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer systems, and community buildings, including schools, are under construction on empty land in Kandahar. Community building is a field of practices directed toward the creation or enhancement of Community between Individuals within a regional area (such as a Neighbourhood ^[24]

About 6 miles (10km) east of Kandahar, a huge industrial park is under construction with modern facilities. An industrial estate is an area of land set aside for industrial development. The park will have professional management for the daily maintenance of public roads, internal streets, common areas, parking areas, 24 hours perimeter security, access control for vehicles and persons. ^[25]

A railroad track from the Pakistani town of Chaman to Kandahar is planned for the near future. Chaman (also spelt Chamman) ( Pashto / Urdu: چمن) is located in Qilla Abdullah District, Balochistan, Pakistan. The feasibility study was completed in or about early 2006, allowing for the next step to lay-down the rail track. The work on the rail track will take approximately 2 years to complete.

Places of interest

The most important historical monument in Kandahar is the mausoleum of Ahmad Shah Durrani, who founded the Durrani Empire. Ahmad Shāh Durrānī (c1723-1773 ( also known as Ahmad Shāh Abdālī ( احمد شاه ابدالي) and born as Ahmad Khān Abdālī, The Durrani Empire (also referred to as the Afghan Empire) was a large state based in modern Afghanistan and Pakistan and later included northeastern The shrine of the Mosque of the Cloak of the Prophet Mohammed, adjoining Ahmad Shah’s mausoleum, is one of the holiest shrines in Afghanistan. The Mosque that contains Hair of Muhammad is located inside the covered bazaar, on the left as you enter from Kabul Bazaar. ^[17]

The charming village of Sher Surkh is located southeast of the city, in the suburbs of the old city of Nadirabad. Kandahar Museum is located at the western end of the third block of buildings lining the main road east of Eidgah Durwaza (gate). It has many paintings by the now famous Ghiyassuddin, painted while he was a young teacher in Kandahar. He is acknowledged among Afghanistan’s leading artists.

Just to the north of the city, off its northeast corner at the end of buria (matting) bazaar, there is a charming shrine dedicated to a celebrated saint who lived in Kandahar more than 300 years ago. The grave of Hazratji Baba, 23 feet (7. 0 m) long to signify his greatness, but otherwise covered solely by rock chips, is undecorated save for tall pennants at its head. A monument to pious martyrs (Shahidan: those who died in battle defending their land) stands in the center of Kandahar’s main square called Da Shahidanu Chawk, which was built in the 1940s.

The Chilzina is a rock-cut chamber above the plain at the end of the rugged chain of mountains forming the western defence of Kandahar’s Old City. Forty steps, about, lead to the chamber which is guarded by two chained lions, defaced, and inscribed with an account of Moghul conquest. The rugged cliffs from which the Chilzina was hewn form the natural western bastion of the Old City of Kandahar which was destroyed in 1738 by Nadir Shah Afshar of Persia. Nāder Shāh Afshār ( also known as Nāder Qoli Beg - نادر قلی بیگ or Tahmāsp Qoli Khān - تهماسپ قلی خان) (November

A short distance from Chilzina, going west on the main highway, a bright blue dome appears on the right. This is the mausoleum of Mir Wais Khan, the Ghilzai chieftain who declared Kandahar’s independence from the Persians in 1709.

The shrine of Baba Wali, its terraces shaded by pomegranate groves beside the Arghandab River, is also very popular for picnics and afternoon outings. Arghandab is a river in Afghanistan, about 400 kilometers (250 miles in length

Night view of Kandahar International Airport in 2007.

The Shrine of Baba Wali in the Arghandab district.

• Airports
  • Kandahar International Airport

• Districts
  • Arghandab Valley
  • Daman
  • Dand
  • Kandahar Valley (under construction)
  • Karz
  • Mirwais Mina
  • Sarpuza
  • Shāri Noe
  • Zoar Shār (Old City)

• General
  • Baba Saab (picnic area & weekend spot)
  • Bāghi Pull (picnic area & weekend spot)
  • Chilzina View (Moghul Emperor Babur's inscription site)
  • Kandahar Stadium
  • Shāri Noe Fairground (local amusement park)

• Mosques and Shrines
  • Friday Mosque
  • Jama-e Mubārak or Mosque of the Hair of the Prophet
  • Shrine of Baba Wali

• Mausoleums
  • Mausoleum of Ahmad Shah Durrani
  • Mausoleum of Mirwais Khan Hotak
• Museums
  • Kandahar Museum

• Shopping
  • Herat Bazaar
  • Kabul Bazaar
  • Shah Bazaar
  • Shkar Pur Bazaar

• Banks
  • AIB Bank
  • Kabul Bank
  • Azizi Bank
  • Western Union

• Hospitals
  • Afghan National Army Regional Hospital
  • Mirwais Hospital
  • Poly Clinic
  • Al Bilal Hospital
  • Matin Hospital
  • Al Hadi Farhad Hospital

Notable people from Kandahar

• Hamid Karzai
• Said Tayeb Jawad
• Nashenas
• Naghma
• Nur Jahan
• Mirwais Khan Hotak
• Mir Mahmud Hotaki
• Gul Agha Sherzai

References

Further reading

• Dupree, Nancy Hatch [1st Edition: 1970] (1977). An Historical Guide to Afghanistan, 2nd Edition, Revised and Enlarged, Afghan Tourist Organization.  
• Hill, John E. 2004. The Western Regions according to the Hou Hanshu. Draft annotated English translation. [1]
• Hill, John E. 2004. The Peoples of the West from the Weilue 魏略 by Yu Huan 魚豢: A Third Century Chinese Account Composed between 239 and 265 CE. Draft annotated English translation. [2]
• Thapar, Romila (1963): Aśoka and the Decline of the Mauryas. Oxford University Press. 3rd impression, New Delhi, 1980.
• Frye, Richard N. (1963). The Heritage of Persia. World Publishing company, Cleveland, Ohio. Mentor Book edition, 1966.
• Toynbee, Arnold J. (1961). Between Oxus and Jumna. London. Oxford University Press.
• Vogelsang, W. (1985). "Early historical Arachosia in South-east Afghanistan; Meeting-place between East and West. " Iranica antiqua, 20 (1985), pp. 55-99.
• Wood, Michael (1997). In the footsteps of Alexander the Great: A Journey from Greece to Asia. BBC, London. First published 1997. Paperback Edition 2001.

External links

• Old photos of Kandahar
• Photo Gallery of Kandahar
• Historical Guide To Afghanistan - Kandahar
• News about Canadian Forces in Kandahar, via MILNEWS.ca
• Lancia Kandahar
• Arachosia
• Alexandria in Arachosia
• ARACHOSIA, province (satrapy)
• Kandahar's cemetery of 'miracles'