PAKTIA PROVINCE

Paktia (Pashto: پکتيا - Paktyā) (Persian: پکتيا - Paktyā) is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan, in the east of the country. Its capital is Gardez. The population is predominantly Pashtun.

History

Najibullah Ahmadzai, the former president of Afghanistan, was from Paktia province, in particular the Melan Valley area. Paktia used to be a unified province with Khost and Paktika, these three provinces are now referred to as Loya Paktia which means The Greater Paktia. Paktia came to prominence during the 1980s, when a significant portion of Afghanistan's leadership originated from the province. Some of the more notable leaders include: Najibullah Ahmadzai; Mohammad Aslam Watanjar; Shahnawaz Tanai; and Gulabzoy. Dr. Najibullah is known as one of the beloved Afghan leaders whose pictures can be seen in every corner of the country, including Kabul.

More recently, Paktia was the site of heavy fighting between Taliban and NATO forces following the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. Paktia was one of the last redoubts of organized Taliban resistance; much of Operation Anaconda took place in Zormat, one of Paktia's larger districts.

Paktia borders the Pakistani-ruled tribal areas of North Waziristan and Kurram. Like most of the traditional Pashtun areas of Afghanistan, the Durand Line that marks the border with Pakistan is "drawn on water", and residents move freely between the two countries.

Paktia is a largely mountainous province, with most of the population living in the central valley stretching from Ahmad Khel in the east down through Zormat and into neighboring Paktika province. The eastern part of the province, particularly Chamkani and Dand wa Patan, is a second valley leading into Pakistan.

Jaji and Jani Khel districts are largely mountainous with much smaller inhabited valleys.

The Khowst-Gardez pass area, to the south of Gardez, is mountainous with settlements limited to the main pass and smaller valleys.

As of 2005 Azra district is no longer a part of Paktya. It has been attached to Logar Province to the north, to which it is much more closely connected by roadways (such as they are in Afghanistan) and people.

Important geographical features

• Shah-i-Kot Valley
• Tera Pass, the mountain pass linking Paktia with Logar Province to the north
• Khowst-Gardez Pass, the mountain pass linking Paktia with Khowst Province to the south
• Gardez, the geographic and cultural center of the province
• Pakthas

Map of Paktia