Zabul Province

For the historical region, see Zabulistan.

Zabul زابل
Map of Afghanistan with Zabul highlighted
Country	Afghanistan
Capital	Qalat
Area
• Total	17,343 km2 (6,696 sq mi)
Population
• Total	276,100
• Density	16/km2 (41/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+4:30
Main languages	Pashto

Zabul (Persian and Pashto: زابل) is a historic province in southern Afghanistan, in the heart of the historical region of Zabulistan. Zabul became an independent province from neighbouring Kandahar in 1963, with Qalat being named the provincial capital. It should not be confused with the city Zabol, on the Iranian side of the border with Afghanistan.

Political and security situation

Two US Army soldiers near an Afghan Army outpost in Zabul in 2009

With its sparse population, unsecure border with Pakistan and little central authority, Zabul is a fertile ground for insurgents fighting against the current Afghan government, although the province is considered more secure than some of its southern neighbors. The province has especially struggled with retaining NGO's and teachers in the face of Taliban attacks and threats. Until 2006, the only major international presence was an American Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul (PRT) based in Qalat 32°07′47″N 066°55′41″E, when it was joined by a UNAMA & USAID/DAI branch.

The current governor of the province is Muhammad Ashraf Nasari.

Demographics

The population of the province is estimated to be around 275,100 people. The major ethnic group in the province is Pashtun. The main Pashtun tribes are: Bangash, Kharoti Nurzai, Hotak, Suleiman khel, Popalzai, Tokhi, Safi , Naser, Kakar and Ludin.

Geography

Zabul borders Oruzgan in the north, Kandahar in the west and in the south, Ghazni and Paktika in the east. It has an international border with Pakistan in the south. The province covers an area of 17293 km2. Two-fifths of the province is mountainous or semi mountainous terrain (41%) while more than one quarter of the area is made up of flat land (28%).

The primary ecoregion of the province is the Central Afghan Mountains xeric woodlands. Common vegetation is listed as dry shrub-land and pistachio. The high mountains of the northern portion of the province are in the Ghorat-Hazarajat alpine meadow ecoregion, which is characterized by meadows, willows, and sea buckthorn.

Sports

The province is represented in Afghan domestic cricket by the Zabul Province cricket team.

Districts

Map of the districts of Zabol province of Afghanistan.

Districts of Zabul Province

District	Capital	Population	Area	Notes
Argahandab				Sub-divided in 2005
Atghar		13,973
Daychopan
Kakar				Created in 2005 within Argahandab District
Mizan		21,162
Naw Bahar		21,144		Created in 2005 from parts of Shamulzayi and Shinkay Districts
Qalat		36,560
Shah Joy		71,348
Shamulzayi		33,351
Shinkay		28,344
Tarnak Aw Jaldak		19,017

Transportation

In 2006, the province's first airstrip was opened near Qalat, to be operated by the Afghan National Army, but also for use by commercial aviation. Twice weekly service was scheduled by PRT Air between Qalat and Kabul. The airstrip is not paved. The ANA Chief in Zabul is Major General Jamaluddin Sayed

Gallery

• 
  A US soldier watches the sunrise after a dismounted patrol mission near Forward Operating Base Baylough, Zabul province.
• 
  US soldier sit in a patrol base on an overnight mission near Forward Operation Base Lane, Zabul Province
• 
  U.S. Special Forces are extracted from a mountain pinnacle in Zabul province
• 
  An early-morning dismounted patrol mission near Forward Operating Base Baylough, Zabul

See also

• Jayapala
• Abu Ali Lawik
• Zabol