Khost Province

Khost خوست
Province
U.S. soldiers in Khost province (June 2013) U.S. soldiers in Khost province (June 2013)
Map of Afghanistan with Khost highlighted
Coordinates (Capital):
Country	Afghanistan
Capital	Khost
Government
• Governor	Abdul Jabbar Naeemi
Area
• Total	4,151.5 km2 (1,602.9 sq mi)
Population (2015)
• Total	574,582
• Density	140/km2 (360/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+4:30
Area code(s)	AF-KHO
Main languages	Pashto

Khost (Pashto: خوست‎, Persian: خوست‎‎) is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the eastern part of the country next to Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Khost province used to be part of Paktia province in the past. The city of Khost serves as the capital of Khost province. The population of the province is around 546,800, which is mostly a tribal society. Khost Airport serves the province for domestic flights to Afghanistan's capital, Kabul.

Photos

Mosque in the city of Khost

File:Afghan children in Khost Province.jpg Pashtun children

File:US Navy 041230-M-4697Y-008 A U.S. Marine, assigned to Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, provides security while in the Khowst-Gardez Pass, Afghanistan.jpg A U.S. Marine, assigned to Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, provides security while in the Khowst-Gardez Pass.

Khost city

File:Flickr - The U.S. Army - Village patrol.jpg Tanio area

History

Further information: History of Afghanistan

Recent history

In September 2011, work on the construction of Khost International Airport began. It is estimated the airport will cost $2.5 million. The funds for the project are being provided by the Afghan government. The airport will be located in a desert between Ismailkhel and Tani District.

Politics and governance

Further information: Politics of Afghanistan and List of governors of Khost

The current governor of the Province is Abdul Jabbar Naeemi. The city of Khost is the capital of Khost province. All law enforcement activities throughout the province are controlled by the Afghan National Police (ANP). The border of Afghanistan's Khost province with neighboring Pakistan's FATA is monitored and protected by the Afghan Border Police (ABP), which is part of the ANP. The border is called the Durand Line and is known to be one of the most dangerous in the world due to heavy militant activities and illegal smugglings. A provincial police chief is assigned to lead both the ANP and ABP. The police chief represents the Ministry of the Interior in Kabul. The ANP is backed by other Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), including the NATO-led forces.

Healthcare

Further information: Health in Afghanistan

The percentage of households with clean drinking water increased from 34% in 2005 to 35% in 2011. The percentage of births attended to by a skilled birth attendant increased from 18% in 2005 to 32% in 2011.

Education

Further information: Education in Afghanistan

The overall literacy rate (6+ years of age) fell from 28% in 2005 to 15% in 2011. The overall net enrolment rate (6–13 years of age) fell from 38% in 2005 to 37% in 2011.

Demographics

Further information: Demography of Afghanistan

Ethnolinguistic groups in Afghanistan

Districts of Khost (not showing the Shamal District)

The population of Khost province is around 546,800. The Pashtun people make up 99% of the population, with the remaining 1% being Tajiks and others.

Districts

Districts of Khost province

District	Capital	Population (2015)	Area	Notes
Bak		22,561
Gurbuz		26,762
Zazi Maidan		23,197
Khost Matun|Capital		140,642
Mandozayi		57,602
Musakhel		41,882
Nadir Shah Kot		32,522
Qalandar		10,440
Sabari		72,364
Shamal		13,920		Shifted from Paktia Province in 2005
Spera		24,841
Tani		60,842
Tirazayi		45,602

See also

• Battle for Hill 3234
• Forward Operating Base Chapman attack

References

• Blowback: The Costs and Consequences of American Empire, by Chalmers Johnson, ISBN 0-8050-6239-4
• "Ghost Wars"

External links

• Khost Province by the Naval Postgraduate School
• Khost Province by the Institute for the Study of War