Yangi Qala District

Last updated

Yangi Qala District
District
Yangi Qala District Map.svg
Location of the district in Takhar Province
Coordinates: 37°28′N69°37′E / 37.47°N 69.62°E / 37.47; 69.62 Coordinates: 37°28′N69°37′E / 37.47°N 69.62°E / 37.47; 69.62
CountryFlag of the Taliban.svg  Afghanistan
Province Takhār Province
Area
[1]
 • Total247 km2 (95 sq mi)
Population
 (2015) [2]
 • Total23,959
 • Density97/km2 (250/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+4:30 (Afghanistan Standard Time)
Post Code
3766 [3]

Yangi Qala District is a district in Takhar Province, Afghanistan. Economically the population of this district is primarily involved in agriculture. The main crops are rice and wheat, and the surplus rice is exporting to neighboring districts and provinces. There are 64 villages in the district. [1] As of August 2021, the Taliban has full control over this district. [4]

Contents

The district is made up of several different ethnic groups. [5]

Geography

Yangi Qala has an area of 247 square kilometers, comparatively equivalent to Malta. [6] The district lies within the watershed of the Ab-i Rustaq River, a tributary of the Panj River. [7] There is a primary road going from the district center to the Khwaja Bahauddin District center, continuing to the Dashti Qala District center and ending by the district center in Khwaja Ghar District. [8]

The district borders Chah Ab District to the east, Rustaq District to the southeast, Khwaja Bahauddin District to the southwest, Darqad District to the west, and Khatlon to the north. All bordering districts are located in Takhar province, Afghanistan except for Khatlon, which is a Tajik province. [2] [9] The Panj River separates Yangi Qala from Tajikistan. [10]

History

Old map of Takhar Takhar districts.png
Old map of Takhar

Amanullah Khan, in the 1920s, tried to colonize the area with non-native groups. Pashto-speakers arrived in the area and clashed with the native Uzbeks and Tajiks. [5]

The district has formally existed since 1973 when Mohammed Ashraf plotted a map of 325 Afghan Districts. That set expanded to 329 by 1998, and Yangi Qala went unchanged. [11] However, in 2005, Khwaja Bahuddin was split from this district and Yangi Qala shrank. [12]

Fighting

The first time that the Taliban were seen in the district was around 2009 [13] and there have been clashes between Anti-government groups (including the Taliban) and the Government of Afghanistan.

In August 2010, anti-government forces established a checkpoint and captured one soldier and one policeperson. [14] Then in October, a NATO operation killed the Taliban district leader. [15] Three years later on 8 February 2013, ISAF captured an IMU leader who was assisting in planning a high-profile attack. [16] Later in 2015, the Taliban claimed to have taken the district, but officials said that was untrue. [17]

There was a clearing operation in the district in February 2017 that pushed the Taliban out of the district. [18] One month later, the Taliban claimed to have 15% control over the district. [19] The following May, the Taliban controlled almost half the districts and held a police checkpoint for more than a day. [20] Around this time, the decision was made to move the district offices to the provincial capital due to security concerns. [21] Later in September an attack on the district center was repulsed. [22] At the end of the year, the BBC classified Yangi Qala as having low Taliban presence, defined as being attacked about once every three months. [23]

On 6 February 2018, the Afghanistan Air Force raided Taliban strongholds in the district and killed 12 insurgents, [24] and another raid in May killed another 6 militants. [25] In October, Takhar officials said that the Taliban controlled half the district. [26] Around that same time, the Taliban attacked security outposts in the district. [27]

The Taliban took an outpost in Kaftar Ali village after two hours of fighting on 2 April 2019. [28] There was another attack on an outpost 32 days later. [29] Later in July, an illegal armed commander occupied a few villages in the district and disrupted activity. [30] There was another security post attack during that same month. [31] On 3 September, a pro-government militia was ambushed and 11 people were killed. [32] On September 10, 2019, the district was taken the Taliban. [33] 3 days later, the district was of militants cleared in an operation. [34]

The Taliban controlled the district by August 2021. [4]

Demographics

The district has a population of 23960, and half the population are males and the other half are females. The median age is 16.5 and 43.2% of people work in the district. 43.8% of those were seeking work but couldn't find any. The average household is 6.7 people, meaning there are about 3576 households in the district. [2]

Economy

More people work in agriculture than any other industry in Yangi Qala. [2] However, the farming technologies that the farmers have are not sufficient and there is a lack of irrigation systems. There are rug and carpet weaving centers in the district. The district doesn't have a proper center of trade. [1] Yangi Qala has one gold mine. [35]

The district exports heroin to Tajikistan. [36]

Healthcare and Education

Yangi Qala had about a 45% literacy rate for people ages 15–24 in 2015. [2] The district has some limited schooling opportunities including Madrasas, but the schools lack funds, staff, buildings, and supplies- leading to a low literacy rate. In addition, the district lacks a university.

There is some access to healthcare with three medical centers located in the district, however mortality rates remain high because of a lack of trained doctors, a district hospital, and safe drinking water. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Takhar Province</span> Province of Afghanistan

Takhar is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan, located in the northeast of the country next to Tajikistan. It is surrounded by Badakhshan in the east, Panjshir in the south, and Baghlan and Kunduz in the west. The city of Taloqan serves as its capital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sabari District</span> Place in Khost, Afghanistan

Sabari & Yaqubi District is situated in the northwest part of Khost Province, Afghanistan. It borders Musa Khel District to the west, Paktia Province to the north, Bak District to the east and Tere Zayi and Khost districts to the south. Sabari & Yaqubi District has its own governor, who is appointed by the serving governor of Khost Province, and the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) are responsible for all law enforcement activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chah Ab District</span> District in Takhār Province, Afghanistan

Chah Ab District is a district of Takhar Province, Afghanistan. Its district center is Chah Ab. The district's economy is primarily based on agriculture and livestock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darqad District</span> District in Takhār Province, Afghanistan

Darqad District is a district of Takhar Province, Afghanistan. The district has 34 villages. Darqad did not change between the 325 and 398 district sets. Near the end of 2018, the district was considered to be Taliban-influenced, as opposed to the Afghan government. The district was Taliban-controlled by August 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khwaja Ghar District</span> District in Takhār Province, Afghanistan

Khwaja Ghar District is a district of Takhar Province, Afghanistan. The district was badly destroyed during the 1996-2001 Afghan Civil War in fighting between the Taliban and the Northern Alliance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rustaq District, Afghanistan</span> District in Takhār Province, Afghanistan

Rustaq District is a district of Takhar Province, northern Afghanistan. The district centre is the town of Rostaq. As recently as 2020, the district was considered to be under government control, as opposed to control by the Taliban. However, the district has had issues with illegal armed men.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dashti Qala District</span> District in Takhār Province, Afghanistan

Dashti Qala District is a district of Takhar Province, Afghanistan. It split from Khwaja Ghar District in June 2005. This district borders Tajikistan. Ai-Khanoum, probably founded by the Seleucid Empire, is located in this district. In 2018, this district was considered contested between the government and the Taliban.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hazar Sumuch District</span> District in Takhār Province, Afghanistan

Hazar Sumuch District is a district of Takhar Province, Afghanistan. The district was split-off from Taluqan District. Most people in the district work in agriculture. In late 2018, Hazar Sumuch was considered to be government influenced as opposed to the Taliban.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khwaja Bahauddin District</span> District in Takhār Province, Afghanistan

Khwaja Bahauddin District is a district of Takhar Province, Afghanistan. The district was created from a portion of Yangi Qala District in 2005. 25 villages are located in Khwaja Bahauddin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islamic State – Khorasan Province</span> Islamic State branch in Central and South Asia

The Islamic State – Khorasan Province is an affiliate of the Islamic State militant group active in South Asia and Central Asia. Some media sources also use the terms ISK, ISISK, ISKP, Daesh–Khorasan or Daesh–K in referring to the group. ISIS-K has been active in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, where they claimed attacks. The ISIS-K and Taliban consider each other enemies.

The town of Sangin, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, was captured by the Taliban on 23 March 2017. For two months, the Taliban had launched fresh attacks in trying to recapture the town.

Events in the year 2020 in Afghanistan.

In May 2020, a series of insurgent attacks took place in Afghanistan, starting when the Taliban killed 20 Afghan soldiers and wounded 29 others in Zari, Balkh and Grishk, Helmand on 1 and 3 May, respectively. On 12 May, a hospital's maternity ward in Kabul and a funeral in Kuz Kunar (Khewa), Nangarhar were attacked, resulting in the deaths of 56 people and injuries of 148 others, including newborn babies, mothers, nurses, and mourners. ISIL–KP claimed responsibility for the funeral bombing, but no insurgent group claimed responsibility for the hospital shooting.

Aqtash District is a district in Kunduz Province, Afghanistan. It was not part of the 399 or 407 district sets, but is recognized in the 422 district set as a temporary district. It was split from Khanabad District in late 2015 after a visit from Ashraf Ghani, the president of Afghanistan. In 2019, only two polling centers were open in the district, with 277 votes cast.

The September 2020 Afghanistan attacks were multiple attacks that occurred in September 2020. The attacks left at least 105 people dead and another 112 injured. 97 insurgents were also killed and another 58 were injured in these attacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yasin Zia</span> Former Chief of General Staff in Afghanistan

General Mohammad Yasin Zia, is an Afghan military officer and politician. He is a former Chief of General Staff, former Deputy Defense Minister, and former governor of Takhar Province, Afghanistan. Zia has also served as head of Afghanistan's counter terrorism unit (2011) and as the deputy director of the National Directorate of Security (2011–2015). In 2022, he was reported to be one of the leaders of the anti-Taliban Afghanistan Freedom Front resistance movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fall of Herat</span> 2021 Taliban capture of Herat and battle

The Fall of Herat was a battle and subsequent capture of Herat by Taliban fighters. The attack on the city started around 28 July 2021, and ended in Taliban victory by 13 August of the same year. Several of the surrounding districts fell to the Taliban from June to mid July, leaving only the city and two other districts in government hands by 10 July. The border crossings in Herat Province were captured by the Taliban on 9 July, raising prices of goods inside the city. Ismail Khan, former governor and warlord, led a public uprising force to assist the Afghan National Security Forces in defending the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shahjahan Noori</span> Afghan Police Chief (1965–2011)

Shahjahan Noori, also known as General Shahjahan Noori, He was an Afghan guerrilla, military and police commander, during resistance against Soviet invasion and fight against terrorist groups such as Taliban and Al-Qaeda between 1981 and 2011.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Summary of District Development Plan: Yangi Qala, Takhar province" (PDF). mrrd-nabdp.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Takhar Socio-Demographic Economic Survey" (PDF). afghanistan.unfpa.org. UNFPA. September 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  3. ↑ "Yangi Qala Post Codes". worldpostalcode.com. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Mapping the advance of the Taliban in Afghanistan". BBC News. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  5. 1 2 Djalili, Mohammad-Raza (1998). Tajikistan: The Trials of Independence. Routledge. p. 9. ISBN   0-7007-0420-5.
  6. ↑ "Island Directory Tables: Islands by Land Area". United Nations Environment Program. 18 February 1998. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  7. ↑ "Part IV: Description of Watersheds" (PDF). aizon.org. p. 111. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  8. ↑ "Takhar Maps Combined". nps.edu. AIMS. p. 14. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  9. ↑ "Afghanistan Administrative Divisions" (PDF). aims.org.af. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  10. ↑ "Yangi Qala". Google Maps. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  11. ↑ "Afghanistan District Maps". maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  12. ↑ "398 District Division Matching to 329 District Division". aims.org. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  13. ↑ Aryn Baker (8 July 2010). "The Making of a Taliban Commander". content.time.com. TIME . Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  14. ↑ "Security Situation Report, Week 33, 13 – 19 August 2010" (PDF). info.publicingelligence.net. UN Department of Safety and Security. August 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  15. ↑ CNN Wire Staff (7 October 2010). "In Afghanistan, troops kill Taliban militants". cnn.com. CNN . Retrieved 29 July 2020.{{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  16. ↑ Bill Roggio (11 February 2013). "2 IMU Leaders Captured in Northern Afghanistan". fdd.org. Federation for Defense of Democracies. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  17. ↑ Pajhwok Report (29 September 2015). "Taliban claim capturing 2 Takhar districts". pajhwok.com. Pajhwok Afghan News. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  18. ↑ "Two Districts of Takhar Province Were Cleared of Taliban Presence/". didpress.com. 27 February 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  19. ↑ Zabihullah Mujahid (26 March 2017). "Percent of Country under the control of Mujahideen of Islamic Emirate". alemarahenglish.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  20. ↑ "Baseline Mobility Assessment Summary Results Afghanistan: June 2017" (PDF). afghanistan.iom.int. International Organization for Migration. June 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  21. ↑ Obaid Ali (29 July 2017). "The Non-Pashtun Taleban of the North (3): The Takhar case study". afghan-analysts.org. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  22. ↑ ying (2 September 2017). "Afghan forces repulse Taliban attack on district, six attackers killed". xinuanet.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  23. ↑ Shoaib Sharifi and Louise Adamou (31 January 2018). "Taliban threaten 70% of Afghanistan, BBC finds". bbc.com. BBC. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  24. ↑ Chengcheng (6 February 2018). "Airstrikes kill 12 militants in N. Afghanistan". xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  25. ↑ "6 militants killed in N. Afghan clash". xinuanet.com. 28 May 2018. Archived from the original on 28 May 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  26. ↑ "Election in Takhar: Exasperation Towards Former MPs and Security Impediment". reporterly.net. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  27. ↑ "Casualty Report". The New York Times . 26 October 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  28. ↑ "Casualty Report 4/4". The New York Times . Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  29. ↑ "Casualty Report 5/9". The New York Times . Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  30. ↑ Tamim Hamid (27 July 2019). "Casualties Reported Among Govt Forces In Ongoing Takhar Clashes". tolonews.com. TOLOnews. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  31. ↑ "Casualty Report 8/1". The New York Times . Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  32. ↑ "Casualty Report 9/5". The New York Times . Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  33. ↑ "Takhar's Yangi Qala District Falls To Taliban: Officials". TOLOnews. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  34. ↑ TOLOnews (13 September 2019). "TOLOnews on Twitter". twitter.com.
  35. ↑ "Jar-Bashi Mine, Yangi Qala District, Takhar, Afghanistan". mindat.org. 2002. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  36. ↑ "Monitoring of Drug Flow in Afghanistan" (PDF). unodc.org. 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.