Tarinkot ترين کوټ
Tarinkot Location in Afghanistan
Coordinates: 32°37′36″N 65°52′24″E / 32.62667°N 65.87333°E / 32.62667; 65.87333Coordinates: 32°37′36″N 65°52′24″E / 32.62667°N 65.87333°E / 32.62667; 65.87333
Country	Afghanistan
Province	Orūzgān Province
District
Elevation	4,321 ft (1,317 m)
Population
• Total	10,000
Time zone	UTC+4:30

Tarinkot or Tarin Kowt (Pashto: ترين کوټ) is the capital of Orūzgān (also written "Uruzgan") province in southern Afghanistan in Tarin Kowt District. It is a town of about 10,000 people, with some 200 small shops in the city's bazaar. In Tarinkot district, two Pashtun tribal confederations are represented, Tarin (Tareen) or Durrani tribes: Popolzai, Barakzai, Nurzai, Achakzai; and the Ghilzai tribes: Tokhi, Hotak, Suleiman-Khel. There are no medium- or large-scale economic enterprises in the city. The provincial governor, currently Asadullah Hamdam, lives and works in a compound adjacent to the bazaar. There is also a population of about 2000 Arabs mainly of Iraqi origin in the town.

History[link]

Tarin Kowt is isolated: its only airstrip is on the military base of the NATO-ISAF-led Provincial Reconstruction Team on the outskirts of the town. Tarin Kowt's only ground access to the outside is a road to the regional center of Kandahar to the south, which can be subject to Taliban attacks and washouts.

This town in southern Afghanistan was of significant strategic value to the Taliban in 2001. On November 16, the citizens here rose up against their Taliban governor, which marked the first organized Pashtun resistance against the Taliban. Hamid Karzai, then an obscure statesman, was in the region at the time trying to build an insurgency/army while accompanied by an 11-man U.S. Special Forces team, known as ODA 574.^[1] The Taliban launched a counterattack, confronting Karzai and his militia who dug in to defend the town. With the help of U.S. air power, the U.S. and militia force drove the Taliban back from Tarin Kowt.^[2] This victory is regarded as the turning point for Karzai— the single battle which gave him credibility in Afghanistan's southern provinces, and among the Taliban opposition forces (including the Northern Alliance) as a credible war leader.^{[citation needed]}

The defeat of the Taliban at Tarin Kowt was an important victory for Karzai, who used the victory to recruit more men to his fledgling guerrilla band. His force would grow in size to a peak of around 800 men. On November 30, they left Tarin Kowt and began advancing on Kandahar.

An American base called FOB Ripley, named after U.S. Marine John Ripley was built in Tarin Kowt in 2004.^[3] It was established by a Joint Task Force made up mainly of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (22ndMEU SOC), US Army Civil Affairs, and the Iowa National Guard Task Force 168 in May 2004. In autumn 2001, the region was the last stronghold of Taliban regime. Subsequently other foreign military forces have operated at the base outside Tarin Kowt.

After the 22nd MEU SOC led Operation Mountain Storm, most of the Taliban forces moved to the mountainous region between Afghanistan and Pakistan. As NATO's ISAF mission assumed responsibility for security in Afghanistan's south, Dutch NATO troops built Kamp Holland in August 2006.

Beginning in March 2007, the United States Army Corps of Engineers^[4] began construction of a road from Tarin Kowt westward to Deh Rahwod and then to Shahidi Hassas District, in the western areas of Oruzgan province. At the same time, the Corps of Engineers also started paving and bridge construction to improve the road to Kandahar.

On July 4, 2010, U.S. soldiers from 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment assumed responsibility over operations in Tarin Kowt and Deh Rahwod in the wake of the Dutch withdrawal from Oruzgan.

On March 1, 2011, U.S. soldiers from 4th Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment assumed responsibility of Tarin Kowt and Deh Rawod.

On November 23, 2011 U.S. soldiers from the 1st Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment^[5] assumed responsibility over operations in Tarin Kowt.

July 2011 attacks[link]

On 27 July 2011, a Pakistani suicide terrorist from the Waziristan region of Pakistan was captured by the Afghan National Army and ISAF forces during a raid on the house of Mullah Qasim in the Sur Marghab area near Tirinkot. The would-be bomber named Saifullah was interviewed by Pajhwok Afghan News reporter Ahmad Omaid Khpalwak. In the interview Saifullah said he and 14 other terrorists from Pakistan spent at least two months wandering around the city to select a proper time and place for an attack. "Many times we encountered foreigners, but Mullah Qasim would escape after seeing foreigners and finally we were arrested without carrying out any attack," he said.^[6]

The next day, at around 12 pm, 28 July, three suicide attackers blew up vehicles packed with explosives at the gates of government compounds while other suicide bombers equipped with heavy weapons entered the buildings and began killing everyone inside. After the shooting ended at least 19 people were killed and 37 others wounded. The dead included Pajhwok reporter Khpalwak, 10 children, 2 women and 1 member of the Afghan National Police.^[7] Khpalwak was shot 20 times in different parts of his body.^[8] By 29 July the number of dead were raised to 21. Major General Angus Campbell, commander of Australian troops deployed to the region, said "Hard-line elements of the insurgency continue to pursue their campaign through violence and attempted targeted killings. Yesterday they paid a heavy price for their ambitions with all insurgents killed while failing to achieve their mission."^[9] Afghan National Army spokesman Hekmatullah Kuchi said "There were two blasts at the deputy governor's office. One was detonated by a suicide bomber and the other was caused by an ANA (Afghan army) soldier shooting another suicide attacker."^[10]

Geography[link]

Tarinkot is isolated: its only airstrip is on the military base of the NATO-ISAF-led Provincial Reconstruction Team on the outskirts of the town. Tarinkot's only ground access to the outside is a road to the regional center of Kandahar to the south, which can be subject to Taliban attacks and washouts.

Climate[link]

References[link]

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ The United States Army in Afghanistan - Operation ENDURING FREEDOM - October 2001-March 2003
3. ^ Keith A. Milks (2004-05-10). "22d MEU (SOC)'s FOB in Afghanistan pays homage to Marine hero". Marine Corps News. Archived from the original on 2010-01-24. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.globalsecurity.org%2Fmilitary%2Flibrary%2Fnews%2F2004%2F05%2Fmil-040510-mcn01a.htm&date=2010-01-24. "'He's a hero to the Marine Corps,' said Colonel Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr., commanding officer of the Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), referring to Col. John W. Ripley, the new FOB's namesake. 'He's a true warrior and an honorable man.' McKenzie puts Col. Ripley with the small group of Marine leaders mentioned prominently in the Corps' proud history." 
4. ^ Afghanistan Engineer District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
5. ^ 14th Cavalry Regiment (United States), 14th Cavalry Regiment
6. ^ Bombing suspect says Pakistani mullahs brainwashed him
7. ^ Suicide Attacks Target Afghan Government Compound
8. ^ Khpalwak's last contact with Pajhwok
9. ^ 18 civilians killed in Helmand bomb: Afghan police
10. ^ Uruzgan Attacks Were Suicide Bombings - Afghanistan Army
11. ^ "World Climate Data: Tirin Kot, Afghanistan". Weatherbase. http://www.climate-charts.com/Locations/a/AH40977.php. Retrieved 2011-09-07. 

External links[link]

• (http://www.onlythingworthdyingfor.com)
• Australian Reconstruction Task Force 3
• FOB Martello, Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainability at RMIT University.
• FOB Martello Construction, June, 2006, Canadian Army news.