Mazar-i-Sharif: Difference between revisions
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After conducting researches in the 12th century, the [[Great Seljuq Empire|Seljuk]] sultan [[Ahmed Sanjar]] ordered a city and [[shrine]] to be built on the location, where it stood until its destruction by [[Genghis Khan]] and his Mongol army in the 13th century. Although later rebuilt, Mazar stood in the shadow of its neighbor Balkh. During the nineteenth century, due to the absence of drainage systems and the weak economy of the region, the excess water of this area flooded many acres of the land in the vicinity of residential areas causing a malaria epidemic in the region. Thus the ruler of North Central Afghanistan decided to shift the capital of the city of Mazar-e-Sharif.<ref>[http://www.afghanmagazine.com/april98/journey/balkh.html Welcome afghanmagazine.com - Justhost.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
After conducting researches in the 12th century, the [[Great Seljuq Empire|Seljuk]] sultan [[Ahmed Sanjar]] ordered a city and [[shrine]] to be built on the location, where it stood until its destruction by [[Genghis Khan]] and his Mongol army in the 13th century. Although later rebuilt, Mazar stood in the shadow of its neighbor Balkh. During the nineteenth century, due to the absence of drainage systems and the weak economy of the region, the excess water of this area flooded many acres of the land in the vicinity of residential areas causing a malaria epidemic in the region. Thus the ruler of North Central Afghanistan decided to shift the capital of the city of Mazar-e-Sharif.<ref>[http://www.afghanmagazine.com/april98/journey/balkh.html Welcome afghanmagazine.com - Justhost.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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The Mazar-i-Sharif means "the noble shrine". This name represents the Blue Mosque which is widely known to be the grave of Hazrat Ali ( Muhammad's son-in-law).<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/afghanistan/mazaresharif.html]{{ |
The Mazar-i-Sharif means "the noble shrine". This name represents the Blue Mosque which is widely known to be the grave of Hazrat Ali ( Muhammad's son-in-law).<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/afghanistan/mazaresharif.html] {{wayback|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/afghanistan/mazaresharif.html |date=20130128191245 }}</ref> |
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The city along with the region south of the [[Amu Darya]] became part of the [[Durrani Empire]] in around 1750 after a treaty of friendship was reached between [[Mohammad Murad Beg]] and [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]], the [[list of national founders|founding father of Afghanistan]]. In the late 1870s, [[list of monarchs of Afghanistan|Emir]] [[Sher Ali Khan]] ruled the area from his Tashkurgan Palace in Mazar-i Sharif. This northern part of Afghanistan was un-visited by the [[British Raj|British-led Indian]] forces during the [[Anglo-Afghan War|Anglo-Afghan wars]] of the 19th century. |
The city along with the region south of the [[Amu Darya]] became part of the [[Durrani Empire]] in around 1750 after a treaty of friendship was reached between [[Mohammad Murad Beg]] and [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]], the [[list of national founders|founding father of Afghanistan]]. In the late 1870s, [[list of monarchs of Afghanistan|Emir]] [[Sher Ali Khan]] ruled the area from his Tashkurgan Palace in Mazar-i Sharif. This northern part of Afghanistan was un-visited by the [[British Raj|British-led Indian]] forces during the [[Anglo-Afghan War|Anglo-Afghan wars]] of the 19th century. |
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There are also [[International Security Assistance Force|NATO-led peacekeeping forces]] in and around the city providing assistance to the Afghan government. [[International Security Assistance Force#Structure|ISAF Regional Command North]], led by [[Germany]], is stationed at [[Camp Marmal]] which lies next to [[Mazar-i-Sharif Airport]]. Since 2006, [[PRT Mazar-i-Sharif|Provincial Reconstruction Team Mazar-i-Sharif]] had unit commanders from Sweden, on loan to ISAF. The unit is stationed at [[Camp Northern Lights]], located 10 km west of Camp Marmal. [[Camp Nidaros]], located within Camp Marmal, has soldiers from [[Latvia]] and Norway, and is led by an ISAF-officer from Norway. |
There are also [[International Security Assistance Force|NATO-led peacekeeping forces]] in and around the city providing assistance to the Afghan government. [[International Security Assistance Force#Structure|ISAF Regional Command North]], led by [[Germany]], is stationed at [[Camp Marmal]] which lies next to [[Mazar-i-Sharif Airport]]. Since 2006, [[PRT Mazar-i-Sharif|Provincial Reconstruction Team Mazar-i-Sharif]] had unit commanders from Sweden, on loan to ISAF. The unit is stationed at [[Camp Northern Lights]], located 10 km west of Camp Marmal. [[Camp Nidaros]], located within Camp Marmal, has soldiers from [[Latvia]] and Norway, and is led by an ISAF-officer from Norway. |
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On April 1, 2011, as many as ten foreign employees working for [[United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan]] ([[UNAMA]]) were killed by angry demonstrators in the city (see ''[[2011 Mazar-i-Sharif attack]]''). The demonstration was organized in retaliation to [[pastor]]s [[Terry Jones (pastor)#Pastor Terry Jones|Terry Jones]] and Wayne Sapp's [[2010 Qur'an-burning controversy|March 21 Qur'an-burning]] in [[Florida]], United States.<ref>[http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hiqhizasRIx4id4gcrj5d09Gg_5g AFP: Koran burnt in Florida church<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Among the dead were five [[Nepal]]ese, a [[Norwegian people|Norwegian]], [[Romanians|Romanian]] and [[Swedish people|Swedish]] nationals, two of them were said to be [[decapitation|decapitated]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12940014 |title=UN staff killed during protest in northern Afghanistan |publisher=BBC News |date=April 1, 2011 |accessdate=2011-04-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2011/04/01/10-un-workers-killed-beheaded-mazar-attack |title=10 UN workers killed, beheaded in Mazar attack |publisher=Pajhwok Afghan News |date=April 1, 2011 |accessdate=2011-04-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/01/un-staff-afghanistan-mazar-sharif-killed-quran |title=UN staff killed in Afghanistan amid protests over Qur'an burning |first=Jon |last=Boone |publisher=The Guardian |date=April 1, 2011 |accessdate=2011-04-01 |location=London}}</ref> Terry Jones, the American pastor who was going to burn [[Islam]]'s [[Qur'an|Holy Book]], denied his responsibility for incitement.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12940596 |title=Pastor Terry Jones: 'We are not responsible' |publisher=BBC News |date=April 1, 2011 |accessdate=2011-04-01}}</ref> President [[Barack Obama]] strongly condemned both the Quran burning, calling it an act of "extreme intolerance and bigotry", and the "outrageous" attacks by protesters, referring to them as "an affront to human decency and dignity." "No religion tolerates the slaughter and beheading of innocent people, and there is no justification for such a dishonorable and deplorable act."<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/03/obama-condemns-quran-burning-%E2%80%98bigotry%E2%80%99.html Obama condemns Quran burning ‘bigotry’] |
On April 1, 2011, as many as ten foreign employees working for [[United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan]] ([[UNAMA]]) were killed by angry demonstrators in the city (see ''[[2011 Mazar-i-Sharif attack]]''). The demonstration was organized in retaliation to [[pastor]]s [[Terry Jones (pastor)#Pastor Terry Jones|Terry Jones]] and Wayne Sapp's [[2010 Qur'an-burning controversy|March 21 Qur'an-burning]] in [[Florida]], United States.<ref>[http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hiqhizasRIx4id4gcrj5d09Gg_5g AFP: Koran burnt in Florida church<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Among the dead were five [[Nepal]]ese, a [[Norwegian people|Norwegian]], [[Romanians|Romanian]] and [[Swedish people|Swedish]] nationals, two of them were said to be [[decapitation|decapitated]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12940014 |title=UN staff killed during protest in northern Afghanistan |publisher=BBC News |date=April 1, 2011 |accessdate=2011-04-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2011/04/01/10-un-workers-killed-beheaded-mazar-attack |title=10 UN workers killed, beheaded in Mazar attack |publisher=Pajhwok Afghan News |date=April 1, 2011 |accessdate=2011-04-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/01/un-staff-afghanistan-mazar-sharif-killed-quran |title=UN staff killed in Afghanistan amid protests over Qur'an burning |first=Jon |last=Boone |publisher=The Guardian |date=April 1, 2011 |accessdate=2011-04-01 |location=London}}</ref> Terry Jones, the American pastor who was going to burn [[Islam]]'s [[Qur'an|Holy Book]], denied his responsibility for incitement.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12940596 |title=Pastor Terry Jones: 'We are not responsible' |publisher=BBC News |date=April 1, 2011 |accessdate=2011-04-01}}</ref> President [[Barack Obama]] strongly condemned both the Quran burning, calling it an act of "extreme intolerance and bigotry", and the "outrageous" attacks by protesters, referring to them as "an affront to human decency and dignity." "No religion tolerates the slaughter and beheading of innocent people, and there is no justification for such a dishonorable and deplorable act."<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/03/obama-condemns-quran-burning-%E2%80%98bigotry%E2%80%99.html Obama condemns Quran burning ‘bigotry’], ''[[Dawn]]'', 3 April 2011 {{wayback|url=http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/03/obama-condemns-quran-burning-%E2%80%98bigotry%E2%80%99.html |date=20121013031539 }}</ref> U.S. legislators, including Senate Majority Leader [[Harry Reid]], also condemned both the burning and the violence in reaction to it.<ref>[http://www.voanews.com/english/news/usa/US-Legislators-Condemn-Quran-Burning-Violent-Reaction-119148959.html US Legislators Condemn Quran Burning, Violent Reaction], ''[[Voice of America]]'', 3 April 2011</ref> |
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By July 2011 violence became at a record high in the insurgency.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gvokSSxBerTREE-SKocgAXHMdbLQ?docId=CNG.fe768764ef7d83a788e89cdd526cf0de.9f1|title=NATO hands control of Mazar-i-Sharif to Afghans|publisher=[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]]|author=Enayat Najafizada |date=July 23, 2011|accessdate=July 23, 2011}}</ref> In late July 2011, NATO troops also handed control of Mazar-i-Sharif to local forces amid rising security fears just days after it was hit by a deadly bombing. Mazar-i-Sharif is the sixth of seven areas to transition to Afghan control, but critics say the timing is political and there is skepticism over Afghan abilities to combat the [[Taliban insurgency]]. |
By July 2011 violence became at a record high in the insurgency.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gvokSSxBerTREE-SKocgAXHMdbLQ?docId=CNG.fe768764ef7d83a788e89cdd526cf0de.9f1|title=NATO hands control of Mazar-i-Sharif to Afghans|publisher=[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]]|author=Enayat Najafizada |date=July 23, 2011|accessdate=July 23, 2011}}</ref> In late July 2011, NATO troops also handed control of Mazar-i-Sharif to local forces amid rising security fears just days after it was hit by a deadly bombing. Mazar-i-Sharif is the sixth of seven areas to transition to Afghan control, but critics say the timing is political and there is skepticism over Afghan abilities to combat the [[Taliban insurgency]]. |
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Revision as of 06:09, 27 August 2015
Mazar-i-Sharīf
مزارِ شریف | |
|---|---|
City | |
| Country |  Afghanistan |
| Province | Balkh Province |
| District | Mazar-e Sharif District |
| Elevation | 357 m (1,171 ft) |
| Population (2006) | |
• Total | 375,000 |
| Time zone | UTC+4:30 (Afghanistan Standard Time) |
Mazar-i-Sharif or Mazar-e-Sharif (Persian/Pashto: مزارِ شریف, ˌmæˈzɒːr ˌi ʃæˈriːf) is the fourth-largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of about 375,000 as of 2006. It is the capital of Balkh province and is linked by highways with Kunduz in the east, Kabul in the southeast, Herat in the west and Uzbekistan in the north. Mazar-e Sharif, along with Herat, Jalalabad in the east and Kandahar in the south, makes Afghanistan an important strategic location in Asia. The city also serves as one of the many tourist attractions because of its famous shrines as well as the Muslim and Hellenistic archeological sites. In 2006, the discovery of new Hellenistic remains was announced.[1]
The region around Mazar-e-Sharif has been historically part of Greater Khorasan and was controlled by the Tahirids followed by the Saffarids, Samanids, Ghaznavids, Ghurids, Ilkhanates, Timurids, and Khanate of Bukhara until the mid-18th century when it became part of the Durrani Empire after a friendship treaty was signed between emirs Murad Beg and Ahmad Shah Durrani. The Mazari Sharif Airport in the city has been heavily used during the 1980s Soviet war and the latest 2001-present war.
The name "Mazar-e Sharif" means "Noble Shrine", a reference to the large, blue-tiled sanctuary and mosque in the center of the city known as the Shrine of Hazrat Ali or the Blue Mosque. Some Muslims believe that the tomb of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, is at this mosque in Mazari Sharif, after Ali's remains were transferred to Mazar-i-Sharif as per request of Ja'far as-Sadiq.[citation needed] However, most Muslims believe that the grave of Ali is at the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, Iraq.[2]
History
The region around Mazar-i-Sharif has been historically part of Greater Khorasan and was controlled by the Tahirids followed by the Saffarids, Samanids, Ghaznavids, Ghurids, Ilkhanates, Timurids, and Khanate of Bukhara. According to tradition, the city of Mazari Sharif owes its existence to a dream. At the beginning of the 12th century, a local mullah had a dream in which the 7th century Ali bin Abi Talib, cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, appeared to reveal that he had been secretly buried near the city of Balkh.
| History of Afghanistan |
|---|
 The palace of the emir in 1839 |
| Timeline |
The famous Jalal al-Din Rumi was born in this area but like many historical figures his exact location of birth cannot be confirmed. His father Baha' Walad was descended from the first caliph Abu Bakr and was influenced by the ideas of Ahmad Ghazali, brother of the famous philosopher. Baha' Walad's sermons were published and still exist as Divine Sciences (Ma'arif). Rumi completed six books of mystical poetry and tales called Masnavi before he died in 1273.
After conducting researches in the 12th century, the Seljuk sultan Ahmed Sanjar ordered a city and shrine to be built on the location, where it stood until its destruction by Genghis Khan and his Mongol army in the 13th century. Although later rebuilt, Mazar stood in the shadow of its neighbor Balkh. During the nineteenth century, due to the absence of drainage systems and the weak economy of the region, the excess water of this area flooded many acres of the land in the vicinity of residential areas causing a malaria epidemic in the region. Thus the ruler of North Central Afghanistan decided to shift the capital of the city of Mazar-e-Sharif.[3]
The Mazar-i-Sharif means "the noble shrine". This name represents the Blue Mosque which is widely known to be the grave of Hazrat Ali ( Muhammad's son-in-law).[4]
The city along with the region south of the Amu Darya became part of the Durrani Empire in around 1750 after a treaty of friendship was reached between Mohammad Murad Beg and Ahmad Shah Durrani, the founding father of Afghanistan. In the late 1870s, Emir Sher Ali Khan ruled the area from his Tashkurgan Palace in Mazar-i Sharif. This northern part of Afghanistan was un-visited by the British-led Indian forces during the Anglo-Afghan wars of the 19th century.
Mazar-i-Sharif remained peaceful for the next one hundred years until 1979, when then neighboring Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. During the 1980s Soviet war, Mazar-i-Sharif was a strategic base for the Soviet Army as they used its airport to launch air strikes on Afghan mujahideen. After the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989, control of Mazar-i-Sharif was often contested between the Hazara milita Hezbe Wahdat, led by warlord Hajji Mohammed Mohaqiq, the Tajik militia Jamiat-e Islami, led by Ahmad Shah Massoud and Burhanuddin Rabbani, and the Uzbek militia Jumbesh-e Melli led by warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum. As a garrison for the Soviet-backed Afghan army, the city was under the command of Dostum, who mutinied against Najibullah's government in 1992.
Under Dostum's 5 year rule from the early 1990s to early 1997, the city was relatively peaceful.[citation needed] The rest of the nation disintegrated and was slowly taken over by the Taliban forces, Dostum strengthened political ties with the newly independent Uzbekistan as well as Turkey. He printed his own currency and established his own airline. This peace was shattered in May 1997, when he was betrayed by one of his generals, warlord Abdul Malik Pahlawan, forcing him to flee from Mazar-i-Sharif as the Taliban were getting ready to take the city.
1997-1998 civil unrest
It is reported that between May and July 1997 Abdul Malik Pahlawan executed thousands of Taliban members, that he personally did many of the killings by slaughtering the prisoners as a revenge for the 1995 death of Abdul Ali Mazari. "He is widely believed to have been responsible for the brutal massacre of up to 3,000 Taliban prisoners after inviting them into Mazar-i-Sharif."[5] Several of the Taliban escaped the slaughtering and reported what had happened.
In retaliation for this incident, other shocked and furious Taliban came to the city on August 8, 1998, and retaliated against Hazara and Uzbek warlords. Soon after, the city was surrendered and taken over by the Taliban. It was this capture of Mazar-i-Sharif, the last major city in Afghanistan to fall to the Taliban, that prompted Pakistan's recognition of the Taliban regime. Soon afterward, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia extended official recognition to the regime, while Turkmenistan resumed relations – although the Taliban were not officially recognized by Turkmenbashi as the rulers of Afghanistan.
U.S.-led military action
Following 9/11, Mazar-i-Sharif was the first Afghan city to fall to the U.S.-backed Northern Alliance (United Front). The Taliban's defeat in Mazar quickly turned into a rout from the rest of the north and west of Afghanistan. After the Battle of Mazar-i-Sharif in November 2001, the city was officially captured by forces of the Northern Alliance. They were joined by the United States Special Operations Forces and supported by U.S. Air Force aircraft. As many as 3,000 Taliban fighters who surrendered were reportedly massacred by the Northern Alliance after the battle, and reports also place U.S. ground troops at the scene of the massacre.[6] The Irish documentary Afghan Massacre - the Convoy of Death investigated these allegations. Filmmaker Doran claims that mass graves of thousands of victims were found by United Nations investigators.[7] The Bush administration reportedly blocked investigations into the incident.[8]
Small-scale clashes between militias belonging to different commanders persisted throughout 2002, and were the focus of intensive UN peace-brokering and small arms disarmament programme. After some pressure, an office of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission opened an office in Mazar in April 2003. There were also reports about northern Pashtun civilians being ethnic cleansed by the other groups, mainly by ethnic Tajiks, Hazaras and Uzbeks.[9]
Karzai and Ghani administrations
The city slowly came under the control of the Karzai administration after 2002, which is led by President Hamid Karzai. The 209th Corps (Shaheen) of the Afghan National Army is based at Mazar-i-Sharif, which provides military assistance to northern Afghanistan. The Afghan Border Police headquarters for the Northern Zone is also located in the city. Despite all the security put in place, there are reports of Taliban activities and assassinations of tribal elders. Officials in Mazar-i-Sharif reported that between 20 to 30 Afghan tribal elders have been assassinated in Balkh Province in the last several years. There is no conclusive evidence as to who is behind it but majority of the victims are said to have been associated with the Hezb-i Islami political party.[10]
There are also NATO-led peacekeeping forces in and around the city providing assistance to the Afghan government. ISAF Regional Command North, led by Germany, is stationed at Camp Marmal which lies next to Mazar-i-Sharif Airport. Since 2006, Provincial Reconstruction Team Mazar-i-Sharif had unit commanders from Sweden, on loan to ISAF. The unit is stationed at Camp Northern Lights, located 10 km west of Camp Marmal. Camp Nidaros, located within Camp Marmal, has soldiers from Latvia and Norway, and is led by an ISAF-officer from Norway.
On April 1, 2011, as many as ten foreign employees working for United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) were killed by angry demonstrators in the city (see 2011 Mazar-i-Sharif attack). The demonstration was organized in retaliation to pastors Terry Jones and Wayne Sapp's March 21 Qur'an-burning in Florida, United States.[11] Among the dead were five Nepalese, a Norwegian, Romanian and Swedish nationals, two of them were said to be decapitated.[12][13][14] Terry Jones, the American pastor who was going to burn Islam's Holy Book, denied his responsibility for incitement.[15] President Barack Obama strongly condemned both the Quran burning, calling it an act of "extreme intolerance and bigotry", and the "outrageous" attacks by protesters, referring to them as "an affront to human decency and dignity." "No religion tolerates the slaughter and beheading of innocent people, and there is no justification for such a dishonorable and deplorable act."[16] U.S. legislators, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, also condemned both the burning and the violence in reaction to it.[17]
By July 2011 violence became at a record high in the insurgency.[18] In late July 2011, NATO troops also handed control of Mazar-i-Sharif to local forces amid rising security fears just days after it was hit by a deadly bombing. Mazar-i-Sharif is the sixth of seven areas to transition to Afghan control, but critics say the timing is political and there is skepticism over Afghan abilities to combat the Taliban insurgency.
Climate
Mazar-i-Sharif has a cold steppe climate (Köppen climate classification BSk) with hot summers and cold winters. Precipitation is low, and mostly falls between December and April. The climate in Mazar-i-Sharif is very hot during the summer with daily temperatures of over 40 °C (104 °F) from June to August. The winters are cold with temperatures falling below freezing; it may snow from November.[19]
| Climate data for Mazar-i-Sharif | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 24.0 (75.2) |
28.6 (83.5) |
32.4 (90.3) |
37.8 (100.0) |
43.0 (109.4) |
45.6 (114.1) |
48.1 (118.6) |
46.0 (114.8) |
39.5 (103.1) |
37.0 (98.6) |
29.8 (85.6) |
24.4 (75.9) |
48.1 (118.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 8.0 (46.4) |
10.7 (51.3) |
16.3 (61.3) |
24.3 (75.7) |
31.2 (88.2) |
37.0 (98.6) |
38.9 (102.0) |
36.9 (98.4) |
31.9 (89.4) |
24.7 (76.5) |
16.4 (61.5) |
10.8 (51.4) |
23.9 (75.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.6 (36.7) |
5.1 (41.2) |
10.8 (51.4) |
17.9 (64.2) |
24.5 (76.1) |
29.9 (85.8) |
33.3 (91.9) |
29.9 (85.8) |
23.9 (75.0) |
16.7 (62.1) |
9.1 (48.4) |
5.1 (41.2) |
17.4 (63.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −2.1 (28.2) |
0.0 (32.0) |
5.1 (41.2) |
11.3 (52.3) |
16.6 (61.9) |
22.5 (72.5) |
25.9 (78.6) |
23.8 (74.8) |
17.1 (62.8) |
9.4 (48.9) |
3.2 (37.8) |
0.0 (32.0) |
11.1 (51.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −22.3 (−8.1) |
−24.0 (−11.2) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
−0.8 (30.6) |
1.0 (33.8) |
11.4 (52.5) |
11.1 (52.0) |
13.7 (56.7) |
2.6 (36.7) |
4.5 (40.1) |
−8.7 (16.3) |
−15.5 (4.1) |
−24.0 (−11.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 28.9 (1.14) |
34.8 (1.37) |
43.8 (1.72) |
28.3 (1.11) |
11.2 (0.44) |
0.2 (0.01) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.00) |
3.9 (0.15) |
13.5 (0.53) |
21.7 (0.85) |
186.4 (7.32) |
| Average rainy days | 4 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 46 |
| Average snowy days | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 79 | 77 | 72 | 64 | 44 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 28 | 41 | 62 | 75 | 52 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 122.2 | 118.4 | 158.1 | 193.8 | 299.9 | 352.9 | 364.4 | 332.7 | 298.2 | 223.2 | 173.6 | 125.5 | 2,762.9 |
| Source: NOAA (1959-1983)[20] | |||||||||||||
Demography
Mazari Sharif a multiethnic and multilingual society of around 375,000 people. There is no official government report on the exact ethnic make-over but a map appeared in the November 2003 issue of the National Geographic magazine showing Tajiks 10%,Hazars 60%, Uzbeks 20%, Pashtun 10%, Turkmen 9%.[21] Occasional ethnic violence have been reported in the region in the last decades, mainly between Pashtuns and the other groups.[9][22][23][24] Some latest news reports mentioned assassinations taking place in the area but with no evidence as to who is behind it.[10]
The dominant language in Mazari Sharif is Dari (Afghan Persian) followed by Uzbeki and khowar. Pashto, Pashai, Yidgha and Dari are both the official languages of Afghanistan. Majority of the population of Mazar-i Sharif practice Sunni Islam.
Economy
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Mazar-e Sharif serves as the major trading center in northern Afghanistan. The local economy is dominated by trade, agriculture and Karakul sheep farming. Small-scale oil and gas exploitation have also boosted the city's prospects.
Transportation
Rail
It became the first city in Afghanistan to connect itself by rail with a neighboring country. Rail service from Mazar-e Sharif to Uzbekistan began in December 2011 and cargo on freight trains arrive at a station near Mazar-i-Sharif Airport,[25] where the goods are reloaded onto trucks or airplanes and sent to their last destinations across Afghanistan.
Air
As of June 2014 Mazar-i-Sharif Airport had direct air connections to Kabul, Moscow,[26] Mashad,[27]Dubai[28] and Istanbul.
Notable places
The modern city of Mazar-i Sharif is centered around the Shrine of Hazrat Ali. Much restored, it is one of Afghanistan's most glorious monuments. Outside Mazar-i Sharif lies the ancient city of Balkh. The city is a centre for the traditional buzkashi sport, and the Blue Mosque is the focus of northern Afghanistan's Nawruz celebration. Although most Muslims believe that the real grave of Ali is found within Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, Iraq, others still come to Mazar-e Sharif to pay respect.
- Airports
- Mazari Sharif Airport - serves the population of Balkh Province and is also used by NATO-led forces, including the Afghan Air Force. It is being expanded to become the 4th international airport in Afghanistan.
- Mosques
- Parks and monuments
- Maulana Jalaludin Cultural Park
- Tashkurgan Palace
- Governors Palace
- Mazar-i-Sharif Gate
- Khalid Ibn-al Walid Park[29]
- Stadiums
- Mazar-i-Sharif Cricket Stadium
- Buzkashi Stadium
- Hospitals
- Regional Hospital of Mazar-e-Sharif
- Saleha Bayat Hospital
- Afghan National Army Regional Hospital at Camp Shaheen
- Hotels
- Serena Hotel Mazar-i-Sharif [citation needed]
- Aros-e-Shahr [citation needed]
- Mazar Hotel [citation needed]
- Farhat Hotel
- Kefayat hotel [citation needed]
- Barat Hotel [citation needed]
- Shinwari hotel [citation needed]
- Marco Polo hotel [citation needed]
- Social Organizations
Sister cities
See also
References
- ^ "Balkh Monument". BBC Persian. Retrieved 2011-04-01.
- ^ Shaykh Al Mufid. Kitab al Irshad, Translated by I.K.A Howard. pp.1-6
- ^ Welcome afghanmagazine.com - Justhost.com
- ^ [1] Archived 2013-01-28 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Afghan powerbrokers: Who's who". BBC News. November 19, 2001. Retrieved 2011-04-01.
- ^ Harding, Luke (2002-09-14). "Afghan Massacre Haunts Pentagon". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
- ^ "As possible Afghan war-crimes evidence removed, U.S. silent". McClatchy Newspapers. 12-11-2008.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "US blocked probes into Afghan prisoner killings". AFP. 10-07-2009.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b "Pashtuns say they're being brutalized". United States: USA Today. 05/12/2002. Retrieved 2011-04-01.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b Ehsas, Zabiullah (March 31, 2011). "Tribal elders in Balkh worry about assassinations". Afghanistan: Pajhwok Afghan News. Retrieved 2011-04-01.
- ^ AFP: Koran burnt in Florida church
- ^ "UN staff killed during protest in northern Afghanistan". BBC News. April 1, 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-01.
- ^ "10 UN workers killed, beheaded in Mazar attack". Pajhwok Afghan News. April 1, 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-01.
- ^ Boone, Jon (April 1, 2011). "UN staff killed in Afghanistan amid protests over Qur'an burning". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2011-04-01.
- ^ "Pastor Terry Jones: 'We are not responsible'". BBC News. April 1, 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-01.
- ^ Obama condemns Quran burning ‘bigotry’, Dawn, 3 April 2011 Archived 2012-10-13 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ US Legislators Condemn Quran Burning, Violent Reaction, Voice of America, 3 April 2011
- ^ Enayat Najafizada (July 23, 2011). "NATO hands control of Mazar-i-Sharif to Afghans". AFP. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
- ^ "First snow of this winter covered North Afghanistan". Mazar-i-Sharif. Ariana News. 9 November 2011. Archived from the original on 2014-01-25. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
- ^ "Mazar-i-Sharif Climate Normals 1959-1983". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 25, 2012.
- ^ "2003 National Geographic Population Map" (PDF). Thomas Gouttierre, Center For Afghanistan Studies, University of Nebraska at Omaha; Matthew S. Baker, Stratfor. National Geographic Society. November 2003. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
- ^ Recknagel, Charles (March 14, 2002). "UN Condemns Attacks On Ethnic Pashtuns". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Prague: hewad.com. Retrieved 2011-04-01.
- ^ "Pashtuns attacked in brutal raids by rival ethnic groups". Guardian News. buzzle.com. 2008. Retrieved 2011-04-01.[dead link]
- ^ "Afghanistan: Situation in, or around, Aqcha (Jawzjan province) including predominant tribal/ethnic group and who is currently in control". Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada/UNHCR. February 1, 1999. Retrieved 2011-04-01.
- ^ "Afghan railway: First train runs on new line in north". BBC News. December 21, 2011.
- ^ Ariana schedule
- ^ Iran Aseman Airlines website, May 2014 Timetable, http://iaa.ir/en/
- ^ May 2014 Timetable,http://www.safiairways.com/schedule
- ^ پارک تفریحی شهرک خالد ابن ولید | رسانه
Further reading
- "Mazar-i-Sharif". The Encyclopaedia Britannica (11th ed.). New York: Encyclopaedia Britannica. 1910. OCLC 14782424Template:Inconsistent citations
{{cite book}}: External link in|chapterurl=|chapterurl=ignored (|chapter-url=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link) - Dupree, Nancy Hatch (1977): An Historical Guide to Afghanistan. 1st Edition: 1970. 2nd Edition. Revised and Enlarged. Afghan Tourist Organization.
External links
- "Mezar-i Sharif". Islamic Cultural Heritage Database. Istanbul: Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture.[dead link]