Lashkargah
Lashkargah
لشکرگاه Bost | |
---|---|
City | |
UTC+4:30 | |
Climate | BWh |
Website | www |
Lashkargāh (
After several weeks of fighting in the Battle of Lashkargah, the city was captured by the Taliban on 13 August 2021, becoming the fourteenth provincial capital to be seized by the Taliban as part of the wider 2021 Taliban offensive.[3]
History
Lashkargah means "army barracks" in
By the late 16th century the city and region was governed by the
The modern city of Lashkargah was used as a headquarters for
The massive Helmand irrigation project in the 1940s–1970s created one of the most extensive farming zones in southern Afghanistan, opening up many thousands of hectares of desert to human cultivation and habitation. The project focused on three large canals: the Boghra, Shamalan, and Darweshan. Responsibility for maintaining the canals was given to the Helmand and Arghandab Valley Authority (HAVA), a semi-independent government agency whose authority (in its heyday) rivaled that of the provincial governors.
After the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan in 1989 and the collapse of
Climate
Lashkargah has a
Climate data for Lashkargah (1960–1983) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 29.0 (84.2) |
30.4 (86.7) |
34.2 (93.6) |
40.0 (104.0) |
45.3 (113.5) |
46.7 (116.1) |
46.9 (116.4) |
46.2 (115.2) |
41.8 (107.2) |
38.8 (101.8) |
32.3 (90.1) |
27.2 (81.0) |
46.9 (116.4) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 13.9 (57.0) |
16.9 (62.4) |
23.2 (73.8) |
29.8 (85.6) |
36.0 (96.8) |
41.0 (105.8) |
41.8 (107.2) |
39.7 (103.5) |
35.5 (95.9) |
29.6 (85.3) |
22.0 (71.6) |
16.7 (62.1) |
28.8 (83.8) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 6.3 (43.3) |
9.3 (48.7) |
15.4 (59.7) |
21.6 (70.9) |
27.2 (81.0) |
31.5 (88.7) |
32.7 (90.9) |
30.0 (86.0) |
24.7 (76.5) |
18.7 (65.7) |
12.0 (53.6) |
7.9 (46.2) |
19.8 (67.6) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 0.6 (33.1) |
3.0 (37.4) |
8.2 (46.8) |
13.5 (56.3) |
17.4 (63.3) |
21.2 (70.2) |
23.4 (74.1) |
20.3 (68.5) |
14.3 (57.7) |
9.0 (48.2) |
3.6 (38.5) |
0.9 (33.6) |
11.3 (52.3) |
Record low °C (°F) | −15.0 (5.0) |
−8.6 (16.5) |
−4.3 (24.3) |
2.7 (36.9) |
5.3 (41.5) |
9.5 (49.1) |
16.2 (61.2) |
11.0 (51.8) |
5.2 (41.4) |
−9.0 (15.8) |
−8.5 (16.7) |
−11.8 (10.8) |
−15.0 (5.0) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 26.2 (1.03) |
27.5 (1.08) |
29.2 (1.15) |
8.4 (0.33) |
2.5 (0.10) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.01) |
0.1 (0.00) |
0.0 (0.0) |
2.0 (0.08) |
3.9 (0.15) |
14.9 (0.59) |
115.0 (4.53) |
Average rainy days | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 20 |
Average snowy days | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
62 | 60 | 51 | 43 | 34 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 35 | 49 | 55 | 41 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 200.5 | 194.5 | 236.9 | 267.6 | 335.5 | 348.2 | 336.8 | 313.3 | 322.7 | 283.4 | 253.7 | 208.9 | 3,302 |
Source: NOAA[6]
|
Helmand River
The
Cultural and other places
The
- Mosques
- Parks
- Mirwais Nika Park, located on the bank of the Helmand River
- Mohammadd Rasul Akhondzada Park, located in center of the city
- Baba-e-Millat Park is huge park which covers an area of seven hectares, and is located on the bank of Helmand river, on the outskirts of Lashkargah.
- Park for Females
Population
The population of Lashkargah numbered approximately 201,546 as of 2006.[2] In 2015 it has been estimated at 276,831.[10]
Land use
Lashkargah is a Trading and Transit Hub in southern Afghanistan. As it is located at the confluence of the Helmand and Arghandab rivers, it is blessed with the most hectares of water (4,940 Ha) of any provincial capital in the country. Agriculture consequently accounts for the largest amount of land use (61%). Dwellings are clustered in the central districts.[11]
Education and media
The level of education in Lashkargah had been very high during the 1960s and 70s before the Soviet Invasion and Civil War. The students were talented, active, and hard workers. They were always taking up good positions within the universities. There are around 27 schools, a teacher's training institute, an agricultural school, Lashkargah Technical, Agricultural and Veterinarian Institute 800 M past the Bolan Bridge founded in 2011, with Abdul Malek as dean. Lashkargah has a number of Higher educational institutions the Public Helmand University founded in 2008, with Soor Gul Sandakheel as Chancellor with a campus close to the Peace Square and a new Campus to be built close to Lashkargah with a construction budget of 1.5 million US$. Helmand University has four faculties, Agriculture, engineering, education and veterinarian. The Bost Institute of higher education in Helmand Province is a private, non-sectarian institution of higher education founded in 1391–2012 in Lashkargah with courses in law, engineering and business administration. The Bost Agricultural university was registered with the Ministry of Higher Education in 2007, and was inaugurated by former governor of Helmand Province, Assadullah Wafa. Bost Agricultural University currently only provides education in the field of Agriculture. There are also many computer and English language courses in the city, and thousands of students are attending them.
Besides the activities of the Department of Culture and Information of Helmand Province, the youth are also actively involved in different cultural and educational activities. There are different cultural groups operating in Lashkargah, including: the Helmand Youth Organization, the Bost Cultural Society, the Allama Mahmud Tarzi Educational and Cultural Association, and the Helmand Cultural Group. There are also various cultural and educational websites which are made and updated by students and cultural organizations. There is broad use of the media in Lashkargah. The use of Radio, Television, and Internet has significantly increased in the last decade. Several radio stations are broadcasting in Lashkargah, including Tamadoon Radio 90.6 FM, Sabawoon Radio, Samoon Radio, and Helmand Radio. Besides many other local Afghan and international TV channels, there is also a Bost Television channel broadcasting from Lashkargah.
Recent developments[when?]
This section needs to be updated.(August 2021) |
The city of Lashkargah has undergone large scale development in the past few years[when?] with new roads, markets and residential areas constructed. Many Afghans continue to leave their tribes and emigrate towards cities – such as Lashkargah. Government projects distributed land to the people, increasing the approximate size of the city. Modern architecture and building methods are more common, now, here than Mud squats and other more traditional Afghan architecture. The former Governor of Helmand province, Gulab Mangal, funded large scale development of the city, the Governor's office and Justice Department have been recently renovated, new Police Headquarters and Eidgah have also been funded. Unlike much of Afghanistan the roads in Lashkargah are generally paved with asphalt. International Organizations and PRT in Lashkargah have helped to complete rehabilitation and infrastructure projects such as building: schools, roads and parks.
In 2005 it was announced that a USAID-funded project would build six reservoirs in Lashkargah, with responsibility for the water supply then being handed over to the Helmand and Arghandab Valley Authority. The city had been without fresh water for the previous 30 years due to the contamination of the Helmand River.[12]
As part of
A current project in the city, to aid regeneration is the "Lashkargah Bost Airport and Agriculture Center". This project will consist of constructing a new agricultural center, an
Sports
Football and cricket are the most popular sports in the area. The Lashkargah Football Stadium was rebuilt in 2006 and has a capacity of more around 10,000 spectators. Currently, 13 registered cricket teams are playing at the new Karzai Stadium in Lashkargah, which was completed in the summer of 2009.[15]
Bodybuilding has also attracted the youth of Lashkargah. There are several gymnasiums in the city. Aziz Ahmad Nikyar gained the title of Mr. Afghanistan in 2006, and also participated in the 2006 Asian Games representing AfghanistanOther popular sports in Lashkargah are Taekwondo, Boxing, Snooker, Volleyball.
Drugs
According to a
Notable people
- Tamim Ansary, author[16]
- Abu al-Fath al-Busti (942-1010), Persian secretary and famous poet
- Muhammad ibn Hibban al-Busti (c. 884–965), Muslim scholar
- Ehsan Aman (b. 1959), singer
- Hassan Maymandi, 10th century governor of Bust under Ghaznavid ruler Sabuktigin
See also
- List of cities in Afghanistan
- International Security Assistance Force
- Provincial Reconstruction Team
References and footnotes
- ^ "The State of Afghan Cities report2015". Archived from the original on 31 October 2015.
- ^ a b c "B. Demography and Population" (PDF). United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and Afghanistan Statistical Yearbook 2006, Central Statistics Office. Afghanistan's Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
- ^ a b Birsel, Robert (13 August 2021). "Taliban capture Afghanistan's Lashkar Gah, capital of Helmand - police official". Reuters. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- NY Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ Qazi, Shereena (19 October 2020). "As violence flares in south Afghanistan, key questions answered". Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera Media Network. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ "Bust Climate Normals 1960–1983". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
- ISBN 9780822546832.
- ^ "Afghanistan Helmand Landscape Pictures - maiaibing". maiaibing.smugmug.com.
- ^ National Geographic – Qala-E-Bost Arch, Afghanistan, 1968 Archived 22 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "The State of Afghan Cities report 2014". Archived from the original on 31 October 2015.
- ^ "The State of Afghan Cities report 2015". Archived from the original on 31 October 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
- ^ USAID Field Report Afghanistan Feb 2005 ReliefWeb
- ^ BBC News (28 January 2010). "Progress slow and messy in Afghanistan". Retrieved 3 September 2010.
- ^ Ministry of Defence (6 July 2010). "Gurkhas help Royal Engineers continue Babaji regeneration". Retrieved 3 September 2010.
- ^ Stanikzai, Zainullah (25 June 2009). "Karzai Stadium reconstructed". Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN). Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
- ^ Ansary, Tamim (2002). West of Kabul, East of New York: An Afghan American Story. Picador. p. 84.
[...]like my classmates at the Lashkargah School,[...]
External links
- Media related to Lashkar Gah at Wikimedia Commons
- Lashkar Gah municipality
- Helmand Landscape Pictures