Paktika () is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the south-east of the country. Most of the population is Pashtun. Its capital is Sharan.

Political and military situation

As one of the most remote provinces in Afghanistan, and in an area that saw much devastation in previous years, Paktika suffers from a severe lack of critical infrastructure. Reconstruction in the province after the fall of the Taliban has been slow in comparison to that in nearby provinces such as Khost and Zabul. This is primarily due to the remoteness of the region and repeated attacks on aid workers and NATO forces.

In June 2004, members of the Utah and Iowa National Guard helped Army Reserve Civil Affairs Soldiers from Oregon establish a Provincial Reconstruction Team base in Sharan, capital of Paktika, to lead the development effort. The first full contingent of eight Civil Affairs Soldiers, from the U.S. Army Reserve's 450th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), based in Riverdale Park, Maryland, arrived in September 2004.

In an article in Time Magazine, the U.S. base was described as:

:"The U.S. firebase looks like a Wild West cavalry fort, ringed with coils of razor wire. A U.S. flag ripples above the 3-ft.-thick mud walls, and in the watchtower a guard scans the expanse of forested ridges, rising to 9,000 ft., that mark the border. When there's trouble, it usually comes from that direction."

The Shkin firebase is composed of special operations forces. They target and are constant targets for al-Qa'ida and Taliban fighters who launch frequent strikes from nearby Pakistan. The area is an unforgiving, where the enemy can hide at close range while remaining invisible. A hunter can become prey very quickly. As U.S. Army Colonel Rodney Davis puts it, "Shkin is the evilest place in Afghanistan."

While the province hasn't witnessed the outright fighting in the last few years that has affected provinces like Helmand, there is a constant low level of tribal violence accompanied by criminal and Taliban activity. The last serious fighting in the province took place in 2004, amid reports that then-Governor Muhammad Ali Jalali was collaborating with Taliban forces, and that the Taliban had effectively annexed eastern portions of the province. Jalali, and many of his allied officials, were replaced, U.S. Special Forces were dispatched to fight the Taliban while the Pakistan forces fought with the Taliban's allies in neighbouring South Waziristan.

On 1 November 2004, a civil affairs convoy was ambushed near Sarobi, between Shkin firebase and Orgun-E. U.S. Army Spc. James Kearney, a turret gunner, died of a head shot from a sniper, which initiated the ambush. After countless RPGs, PKM rounds and an IED, two vehicles were destroyed and three other Soldiers were wounded. The Provincial Reconstruction Team base was named Camp Kearney on 21 November 2004 to honor the sacrifice of Spc. James Kearney.

On Jun 18, 2008 in the Zeruk District Governor's compound, 2 members of the Provincial Reconstruction Team, HMN Mark Retmier and CM1 Ross Toles, were killed due to rocket attacks. The Mess hall on Forward Operating Base Sharana is named after CM1 Toles and the hospital is named after HMN Retmier.

Kearney Base became the nucleus of what was to become Forward Operating Base Sharana, now the major U.S. military base in the region.

In late July 2011, foreign troops and Afghan special forces killed more than 50 insurgents during an operation in eastern Paktika province to clear a training camp the Haqqani network used for foreign fighters, NATO said. Disenfranchised insurgents told security forces where the camp was located, the coalition said.

Incidents

Eight civilians including a pregnant women and a baby died when a Polish soldier shelled the village of Nangar Khel where a wedding celebration was taking place. Seven Polish soldiers have been charged with war crimes for allegedly opening fire in revenge.

U.S. Army PFC Bowe Bergdahl was captured by enemy forces on July 4, 2009 near the town of Yahya Kehl in the Paktika Province. He is the only American P.O.W of the Afghanistan conflict.

Politicians

Mohibullah Samim was appointed as the Governor of Paktika Province, Afghanistan on 20 April 2010.

The previous Governor of the province was Akram Khpalwak. In 2006, a previous Governor of the province, Muhammad Ali Jalali, was killed by Taliban militants while driving in neighbouring Ghazni Province. In 2004, Ghulabuddin Mangal was appointed Governor of Paktika Province, replacing Muhammad Ali Jalali who left the governor's compound as ordered, but only after firing two rockets at it.

The Sulaimankhel are one of the largest sub-tribes of the Ghilzai Pashtuns. The Sulaimankhel tribe is mainly located in the southern and eastern portions of Afghanistan, however, they also have a strong presence in the northern and western portions of Afghanistan.

The second largest Sulaimankhel populatio n is located in Pakistan. Not only are they located in the province of Baluchistan and the North-West Frontier Province, but also located in Karachi and other parts of Pakistan.

New official Sulaimankhel Social Tribal Council has been established in Kabul Afghanistan. Ayoub Khalikyar is the president of Sulaimankhel social Tribal Council.the other largest ethnic group of paktika is Kharoti.kharoti tribesmen live in karachi as well where they are engaged in carpets and fabric business. they have made a committee called kharoti committee led by Haji Juma Gul Kharoti.

The Khan of the Kharoti tribe living in Paktika is Mohammad Ayub, son of famous Khan Sahib Jan Khan. Some Kharoti tribesmen are living in Karachi, Pakistan. Another tribe of Paktika is Sulemankhel, who are the majority.

History

Paktika was once part of a greater province Paktia, which has itself now further split into Khost province. The province was the site of many battles during the Soviet occupation of the country and the lawless years that followed.

Geography

Paktika is bordered on the north by Paktia Province and Khost Province, and by North Waziristan and South Waziristan in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan to the east. The western border is shared with Ghazni Province and Zabul Province, while Balochistan, Pakistan is on its southern flank.

Like many areas of the country, Paktika has been heavily deforested. This has been one of the causes of devastating flooding in recent years.

Demographics

The population of this province is 393,800 people in which over 96% people are Pashtuns. The main Pashtun tribes are:

Ghilzai

*Ibrahimzai

**Alizai

**Sulaimanzai

**Jalalzai

**Alikhel

*Boran

**Suleimankhail

*Toran

**Kharoti

*Andar

Karlanri

*Zadran

*Wazir

15000 people (1.8%) are Uzbeks; and about 5,000 people speak some other languages. There was a small group of Tajiks in 19th century who practiced ironmongery, mostly in Urgun.

Districts

Zarghun Shahr

+ align=center style="background:#BFD7FF"	Districts of Paktika Province
District	Capital	Population	Area	Notes
	|	88,028
Dila District, Afghanistan	Dila	|	50,203
Gayan District	Gayan	|	42,495
Gomal District	Gomal	|	64,275
Jani Khel District	Jani Khel	|	35,251		Created in 2004 within Zarghun Shahr District
Mata Khan District	Mata Khan	|	19,758
Nika District	Nika	|	15,103
Omna District	Omna	|	25,690
Sar Hawza District	Sar Hawza	|	36,236
Sarobi District	Sarobi	|	48,291		This is NOT the same District as Surobi District in Kabul Province.
Sharan District	Sharan	|	54,416
Terwa District	Terwa	|	15,332		Created in 2004 within Waza Khwa District
Urgun District	Urgun	|	89,718
Waza Khwa District	Waza Khwa	|	50,818		Sub-divided in 2004
Wor Mamay District	Wor Mamay	|	30,135
Yahya Khel District	Yahya Khel	|	30,161		Created in 2004 within Zarghun Shahr District
Yosuf Khel District	Yosuf Khel	|	32,648		Created in 2004 within Zarghun Shahr District
Zarghun Shahr District	Zarghun Shahr	|	38,024		Sub-divided in 2004
Ziruk District	Ziruk	|	43,190

Cities

The city of Sharan is the capital.

See also

Tribal Map of Paktika on nps.edu

ISAF

Provincial Reconstruction Team

Pakthas

References

Category:Provinces of Afghanistan

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name	Keith Benson
width	300px
position	Center
height ft	6
height in	11
weight lb	221
league	Lega Basket Serie A
team	Dinamo Basket Sassari
birth date	August 13, 1988
nationality	American
high school	Detroit Country Day
college	Oakland University
draft year	2011
draft round	2
draft pick	48
draft team	Atlanta Hawks
career start	2011
years1	2011–present
team1	Atlanta Hawks
highlights	2010 Lou Henson National Player of the Year 2010, 2011 The Summit League Player of the Year
bbr	}}

Keith A. Benson, Jr. (born August 13, 1988) is a professional basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA. He previously played for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's basketball team. Benson plays center and is the current The Summit League player of the year. Benson was drafted with the 18th pick of the 2nd round of the 2011 NBA Draft.

High school

Benson attended Detroit Country Day School in Beverly Hills, Michigan where he averaged only 6.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game as a senior. Benson initially committed to Fairfield, but changed his mind after a coaching change and committed to Oakland after they offered him a scholarship. Benson was also offered a scholarship from Howard.

College

After redshirting his first year at Oakland, Benson became a starter for the 2007–08 season. Benson started 20 of the team's 29 games and averaged 5.2 points and 3.5 rebounds. He finished the season with 40 blocks—one shy of Oakland's single-season record. However, he was benched prior to the conference tournament because OU's head coach, Greg Kampe, felt Benson was not playing good enough defense.

At the conclusion of his redshirt junior season, Benson received the Lou Henson Award, given to the "mid-major player of the year". Benson was also named The Summit League Player of the Year. Benson declared himself eligible for the 2010 NBA Draft, but withdrew himself after he was unable to work out with NBA teams due to an injured right thumb.

During his senior season, Benson set The Summit League's record for career blocks. He broke the record of 317, set by Keith Closs of Central Connecticut State University from 1994–96.

Benson was named The Summit League's Player of the Year for the second consecutive season in 2011.

Professional

After being projected as a late-second round pick, Benson was selected with the 18th pick of the second round (48th overall) by the Atlanta Hawks. Benson is the first player ever from Oakland University selected in the NBA Draft. In August 2011 he signed a one-year contract with Dinamo Basket Sassari in Italy's Serie A League, which includes an opt-out clause if the 2011 NBA lockout ends.

References

External links

Oakland University biography

Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:Basketball players from Michigan Category:Centers (basketball) Category:Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's basketball players Category:Atlanta Hawks draft picks

it:Keith Benson