Daykundi Province

For the Hazara tribe, see Daikundi (tribe).

Daykundi Persian: دایکندی Pashto: دایکنډي
Province
An AH-64 Apache helicopter shoots flares over a valley to support members of the 8th Commando Kandak and coalition special operations forces during a firefight near Nawa Garay village, Kajran district in April 2012.
Map of Afghanistan with Daikundi highlighted
Coordinates:
Country	Afghanistan
Established	2004
Capital	Nili
Government
• Governor	Abdul Haq Shafaq
Area
• Total	18,088 km2 (6,984 sq mi)
Population (2012)
• Total	723,980
• Density	40/km2 (100/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+4:30
ISO 3166 code	AF-DAY
Main languages	Persian (Hazaragi and Dari dialects)
Website	http://daikundi.gov.af/

Daykundi (Persian: دایکندی; Pashto: دایکنډي IPA: [d̪ɑikʊnɖi]), sometimes spelled as Daikundi, Dāykondī, Daikondi or Daykundi, is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan, located in the central part of the country. It has a population of about 723,980, which is a Hazara Province.

Daykundi Province falls into the traditionally ethnic Hazara region known as the Hazaristan and the provincial capital is Nili. It is surrounded by Ghor in the northwest, Bamyan in the northeast, Ghazni in the southeast, Urozgan in the south, and Helmand Province in west.

Formation

Daykundi was established on March 28, 2004, when it was created from the isolated Hazara-dominated northern districts of neighboring Oruzgan province.

Development and security

Since the establishment of the province nearly a decade ago, the province has extended its security having the best of all provinces and has increased education surpassing even Kabul in the number of those passing university entrance exams. The province, began its transition in December 2011, maintains its own security through the Afghan police and military.

While the Government of Afghanistan, NGOs, the United Nations, and NATO's ISAF forces have had little involvement in reconstruction in the province, there have been some initiatives. Following heavy rainfall and flooding in February 2007 the United Nations Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA) opened a sub-office in the province and Oxfam, one of the few NGOs operating in the province, described UNAMA's input into coordinating flood relief as impressive.

In November 2007 a World Food Programme convoy carrying mixed food aid was forced to abandon its mission due to security concerns and Afghanistan's Interior Ministry confirmed that Taliban insurgents had infiltrated the southern district of Kajran in a bid to destabilise the province. On 11 November 2007 Afghan forces launched a military operation to drive out the insurgents.

The United States began building new government institutions in the province. The insurgency problem and shortage of food continued until 2012. Several government officials have warned in October 2012 that "If the government or NGOs (non-governmental organization) do not address the situation with proper assistances, Daikundi would witness many deaths this winter." In the meantime, a rebel leader along with his 150 fighters joined the government-initiated peace drive in Nili, capital of Daikundi province.

Governance

Further information: List of governors of Daykundi

Governor Qurban Ali Oruzgani in 2011

In April 2011, Qurban Ali Oruzgani was chosen as the Governor of Daikundi Province. The provincial Police Chief, who leads the regular Afghan National Police (ANP), is responsible for all law enforcement activities. The Police Chief represents the Ministry of the Interior in Kabull. And since May 2013, Abdul Haq Shafaq is chosen as the Governor of Daikundi Province who is said to be one of the most successful Governors in good governance in Afghanistan.

Demographics

Further information: Demography of Afghanistan

The total population of Daykundi province is estimated to around 723,980, which is multi-ethnic and mostly a rural tribal society. The ethnic Hazaras make up 86% of the total population of the province followed by Pashtuns at 8.5%, Balochs 3.5% and Sayyids 2%. All the inhabitants follow Islam, with Shi'as the majority and Sunnis as the minority. Languages spoken in the province include Dari, Hazaragi, Pashto, and Balochi.

Districts

Ethnolinguistic groups of Afghanistan

Men of Daykundi province in 2009

Districts of Daykundi Province

District	Capital	Population	Area	Number of villages and ethnic groups
Ashtarlay		88,340	1,360 km2	343 villages. 100% Hazara.
Kijran		73,800	1,886 km2	Mostly Balochs
Khedir		83,400	1,583 km2	294 villages. 100% Hazara.
Kitti		64,900	1,453 km2	196 villages. 36% Hazara and Baloch, 10% Mika, 18% Mir, 14% Zerger, 10% Sadat (Sayyid), and 17% others.
Miramor		88,400	2,363 km2	326 villages. 100% Hazara.
Nili	Nili	95,340	445 km2	165 villages. 100% Hazara.
Sang Takh		95,000	1,945 km2	100% Hazara.
Shahristan		72,450	1,963 km2	2990 villages. 100% Hazara.

Economy

Further information: Economy of Afghanistan

Agriculture is the main industry of the province. It is well known for its high-quality almonds, which are distributed throughout Afghanistan.

See also

• Provinces of Afghanistan
• Hazarajat

External links

• Video: B-Roll, Daykundi Province Handover to GIRoA by Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System