Kunduz کندز
—  City  —
Kunduz Location in Afghanistan
Coordinates: 36°44′N 68°52′E / 36.733°N 68.867°E / 36.733; 68.867Coordinates: 36°44′N 68°52′E / 36.733°N 68.867°E / 36.733; 68.867
Country	Afghanistan
Province	Kunduz Province
District	Kunduz District
Elevation	391 m (1,283 ft)
Population (2002)
• Total	95,000
Time zone	Afghanistan Standard Time (UTC+4:30)

History of Afghanistan

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Kunduz (Pashto: کندز; Persian: قندوز‎) also known as Kundûz, Qonduz, Qondûz, Konduz, Kondûz, Kondoz, or Qhunduz is a city in northern Afghanistan, the capital of Kunduz Province. The city is located in the historical region of Bactria. It is linked by highways with Mazari Sharif to the west, Kabul to the south and Tajikistan's border to the north. In the 1979 census, Kunduz had a population of 53,251 people, which is now estimated to have risen to 250,000 (2006 official estimate). Kunduz is located at 36.7290N, 68.8570°E, at an elevation of 391 meters above sea level.

Etymology[link]

The name of the city is derived from Persian compound, kuhan/quhan diz, "old/ancient fort."

Interestingly, until 1960s, the city served as the capital to the now-defunct province of Qataqan, itself meaning "Old/Ancient city" (from Turkic kata ("old/ancient') and Eastern Iranian (Sogdian) kand, "fort", "town".

Climate[link]

History[link]

Kunduz is the site of the ancient city of Drapsaka. It was a great center of Buddhist learning and very prosperous during the 3rd century AD.

In the early 20th century, under the governance of Sher Khan Nasher, Kunduz became one of the wealthiest Afghan provinces. This was mainly due to Nasher's founding of the Spinzar Cotton Company, which continues to exist in post-war Afghanistan.

Kunduz was the last major city held by the Taliban before its fall to US-backed Afghan Northern Alliance forces on November 26, 2001.

Kunduz is the most important agricultural province which produces wheat, rice, millet, and other products and obtained the nickname of "the hive of the country."

Kunduz is the centre for the north east provinces, and was the stronghold of the Taliban during its regime. The city is strategically important because it is the only way connecting Takhar province and Badakhshan provinces, which play a critical role in the existing government.

Ethnography[link]

The province is largely mixed and several different ethnic groups live in the city, namely the Pashtuns, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Arabs. The Kunduz "Arabs" are all Persian-speaking and have been so since time immemorial. However, they claim an Arab identity. There are other such Persian-speaking "Arabs" to the north and west, between Kholm, Mazar-i Sharif and Shibarghan. Their self-identification as Arabs is largely based on their tribal identity and may in fact point to the 7th and 8th centuries migration to this and other Central Asian locales of many Arab tribes from Arabia in the wake of the Islamic conquests of the region.^[2]

Administration[link]

The city is divided into 6 districts: Khan Abad, Ali Abad, Char Dara, Dashti Archi, Qala -e-Zal and Imam Sahib. Kunduz has 9 representatives in the lower house and 2 in the upper house and has a provincial council.

The famous figure in Kunduz is Haji Mohammad Omar Khan who is a brother of a Pashtoon Leader and Governor of Kunduz Province, Arif Khan. Omar Khan served many posts as a Governor of Kunduz Province, Member of National Assembly and is an active Advisor Minister to the President Hamid Karzai. Another famous figure from the Kunduz area was Haji Nazikmir Khan. He was the leader and the Grand Malik of the Zakheil tribe. Haji Nazkmir was the wealthiest person in the province. He owned thousands of acres of farmland, apartment buildings, commercial buildings, Russian car agency, and many hotels. He and his family were also known for having a close relationship with the royal family of Afghanistan.

Notable people[link]

• Javed Ahmadi (1992-), current Afghanistan national cricket team international.
• [Suleyman Al-Qunduzi] (1297 - 1374), Islamic Scholar and Theologian

See also[link]

• Afghanistan
• Farhad Darya
• International Security Assistance Force
• Provincial Reconstruction Team
• Arif Khan
• Kunduz airstrike

References[link]

• Dupree, Nancy Hatch (1977): An Historical Guide to Afghanistan. 1st Edition: 1970. 2nd Edition. Revised and Enlarged. Afghan Tourist Organization.
• Thomas J. Barfield, The Central Asian Arabs of Afghanistan: Pastoral Nomadism in Transition. 1982.

External links[link]

• Welcome to Kunduz, Allauddin