Baghlan Province

Baghlan Province
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Baghlan
بغلان
— Province —

The location of Baghlan Province within Afghanistan
Coordinates: 35°N 68°ECoordinates: 35°N 68°E
Country Afghanistan
Capital Puli Khumri
Area
- Total 21,112 km2 (8,151.4 sq mi)
Population [1]
- Estimate (2006) 779,000
Languages Dari Persian
Pashto
Baghlan (Persian/Pashto: بغلان Baġlān) is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the north of the country. Its capital is Puli Khumri, but its name comes from the other major town in the province, Baghlan. The ruins of a Zoroastrian fire temple, the Surkh Kotal, are located in Baghlan. The lead nation of local Provincial Reconstruction Team is Hungary since 2006.
Contents [hide]
1 History
1.1 Soviet-Afghan War
2 Demographics
3 Economy
3.1 Agriculture
3.2 Other products
4 Districts
5 Politics
5.1 Governors
6 References
7 See also
[edit]History

The name Baghlan is derived from Bagolango or "image-temple", inscribed on the temple of Surkh Kotal during the reign of the Kushan emperor, Kanishka in the early 2nd century CE.
The Chinese Buddhist monk Xuanzang traveled through Baghlan in the mid-7th Century CE, and referred to it as the "kingdom of Fo-kia-lang".[2]
As a province, Baghlan was created out of the former Qataghan Province in 1964.[3]
[edit]Soviet-Afghan War
During the Soviet-Afghan War, the Soviets in 1982 established the Kayan military zone in southern Baghlan. The area was defended by 10,000 Ismaili militiamen, who sided with the Soviets due to differences with the Islamist opposition.[4]
[edit]Demographics

Tajiks are the majority and make up 55% of the population, followed by 20% Pashtuns, 15% Hazaras, 9% Uzbeks, and the remainder are Tatar.[5] In another source Tajiks along their sub-groups like Aimaks and Sayyid-Tajiks make more than 70% of the provincial population. In addition, a significant number of Hazaras are also counted as part of the Persian-speaking people which stating Persian language as overwhelming speaking language, followed by Pashhtu-speaking Pashtuns, Chatagai-speaking Uzbeks and some Tatars.[6]
Baghlan is also home to a small community of Ismaili Muslims, led by the Sayeds of Kayan.
[edit]Economy

[edit]Agriculture
Baghlan's primary crops (as of 1974) were cotton and sugar beets, industrial sugar production having begun under Czech supervision in the 1940s. The area also produced grapes, pistachios, and pommegranates. The primary livestock are Karakul sheep.[7]
[edit]Other products
The province also produces silk, and coal is mined in the Karkar Valley.[7]
[edit]Districts

The districts of Baghlan are:
Districts of Baghlan Province
District Capital Population Area[8] Notes
Andarab Sub-divided in 2005
Baghlan Annexed into Baghlani Jadid District in 2005
Baghlani Jadid
Burka
Dahana-I-Ghuri
Dih Salah Created in 2005 within Andarab District
Dushi
Farang Wa Gharu Created in 2005 within Khost Wa Fereng District
Guzargahi Nur Created in 2005 within Khost Wa Fereng District
Khinjan
Khost Wa Fereng Sub-divided in 2005
Khwaja Hijran Created in 2005 within Andarab District
Nahrin
Puli Hisar Created in 2005 within Andarab District
Puli Khumri
Tala wa Barfak
[edit]