Kunduz

Infobox City in Afghanistan
official_name = Kunduz
native_name = قندوز
province_name = Kunduz


image_size =
image_caption =
latd = 36.73
longd = 68.86
districts =
population_total = 264100
population_as_of = 2006
population_footnote =
population_note =
population_metro =
population_metro_as_of =
population_rank = 5th
population_density =
area_total_km2 =
elevation_m = 397
numdistricts =
leader_title =
leader_name =
Main Language = Pashto
leader_name_2 =

Kunduz ( _fa. قندوز) also known as Kundûz, Qonduz, Qondûz, Konduz, Kondûz, Kondoz, or Qhunduz is a city in northern Afghanistan, the capital of Kunduz Province. It is linked by highways with Mazari Sharif to the west, Kabul to the south and Tajikistan's border to the north. In the 1979 census, Kunduz had a population of 53,251 people, which is now estimated to have risen to 95,000 (2002 official estimate). Kunduz is located at 36.73°N, 68.86°E, at an elevation of 397 meters above sea level.

History

The city was known in antiquity as Drapsaka, and was a place of importance visited by Alexander the Great. Under the governance of Sher Khan Nasher, Kunduz became one of the wealthiest Afghan provinces in the early 20th century. This was mainly due to Nasher's founding of the Spinzar Cotton Company, which continues to exist in post-war Afghanistan.

Kunduz was the last major city held by the Taliban before its fall to US-backed Afghan Northern Alliance forces on November 26, 2001. Over a thousand people, including Al Qaeda, Taliban, and Pakistani army officers, were safely airlifted into Pakistan before the fall of Kunduz in the so-called Airlift of Evil.

Kunduz is the most important agricultural province which produces wheat, rice, millet, and other products and obtained the nickname of "the hive of the country."

Kunduz is the centre for the north east provinces, and was the stronghold of the Taliban during its regime. The city is strategically important because it is the only way connecting Takhar and Badakhshan provinces, which play a critical role in the existing government.

Several different ethnicities live in the city, namely the Tajiks, Aimaq, Uzbek, Pashtun and Hazara. The city is divided into 6 districts: Khan Abad, Ali Abad, Char Dara, Dashti Archi, Qala -e-Zal and Imam Sahib.

Kunduz has 9 representatives in the lower house and 2 in the upper house and has a provincial council. Eng. Mohammad Omer is the Governor.

See also

*Afghanistan
*Farhad Darya
*International Security Assistance Force
*Provincial Reconstruction Team

References

External links

* [http://www.zharov.com/dupree/chapter27.html Historical Guide To Afghanistan - The Northeast (Kunduz)]
* [http://medlem.spray.se/afghan/Kunduz_eng.htm Welcome to Kunduz, Allauddin]