Islam Qala
A road in Islam Qala, Afghanistan
A road in Islam Qala, Afghanistan
Islam Qala is located in Afghanistan
Islam Qala
Islam Qala
Location in Afghanistan
Coordinates: 34°40′00″N 61°04′00″E / 34.66667°N 61.06667°E / 34.66667; 61.06667
Country Afghanistan
ProvinceHerat Province
DistrictIslam Qala District
Elevation
2,398 ft (731 m)
Population
 • Total16,408
Time zoneUTC+4:30

Islām Qala (Dari/Pashto: اسلام قلعه) is a border town in the western Herat province of Afghanistan, near the Afghanistan–Iran border. It is the official port of entry by land from neighboring Taybad in Iran. The Dowqarun-Islam Qala border crossing is located about 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of the town.[1]

Islam Qala is administered as part of Islam Qala District of Herat Province and is linked to the city of Herat via the Islam Qala-Herat Highway.[2] The town plays an important role when it comes to the economy of Afghanistan because a substantial volume of national trade passes through it.[3][4][5]

Islam Qala is believed to have a population of about 16,408 residents.[6] It has gradually expanded in the last two decades due to the establishment of various facilities. Among them is a refugees repatriation center in which large number of returnees are processed everyday by the Ministry of Refugees and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).[7][8] The town has Afghan Border Police and other national security forces.[9]

History

Islam Qala became a border town during the Durrani Empire in the 19th century, after Afghanistan became a sovereign state. Many armies, traders and travelers have passed through the town throughout history. The Asian Highway 1 (AH1), which is part of the Asian Highway Network from Tokyo in Japan to west of Istanbul in Turkey,[10] where it connects to the European route E80 (E80) that reaches to Lisbon, passes in Islam Qala.

On February 13, 2021, due to corruption and negligence,[11] large number of trucks were burnt by a fire incident at a parking area in Islam Qala.[12][13][14][15][16] On July 9, 2021, the entire town fell to the Taliban forces without incident. Since then the corruption in the town has been eliminated and government revenue increased to over 8 billion afghanis in less than a year.[5]

Climate

With an influence from the local steppe climate, Islam Qala features a cold semi-arid climate (BSk) under the Köppen climate classification. The average temperature in Islam Qala is 17.3 °C, while the annual precipitation averages 225 mm.

July is the hottest month of the year with an average temperature of 29.5 °C. The coldest month January has an average temperature of 5.5 °C.

Climate data for Islam Qala
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 11.9
(53.4)		 14.4
(57.9)		 19.0
(66.2)		 23.9
(75.0)		 30.5
(86.9)		 35.9
(96.6)		 37.3
(99.1)		 36.4
(97.5)		 32.2
(90.0)		 26.6
(79.9)		 18.8
(65.8)		 13.5
(56.3)		 25.0
(77.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 5.5
(41.9)		 7.6
(45.7)		 12.1
(53.8)		 16.5
(61.7)		 22.2
(72.0)		 27.4
(81.3)		 29.5
(85.1)		 28.2
(82.8)		 23.5
(74.3)		 17.6
(63.7)		 10.7
(51.3)		 6.6
(43.9)		 17.3
(63.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −0.9
(30.4)		 1.2
(34.2)		 5.2
(41.4)		 9.2
(48.6)		 14.0
(57.2)		 19.0
(66.2)		 21.8
(71.2)		 20.1
(68.2)		 14.6
(58.3)		 8.6
(47.5)		 2.7
(36.9)		 −0.3
(31.5)		 9.6
(49.3)
Source: Climate-Data.org[17]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Iran's exports to Afghanistan via Dowqarun-Islam Qala border hits $44 million". Khaama Press. July 30, 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  2. ↑ "Iran-Afghan Border Reopens in Herat Province". Khaama Press. April 25, 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  3. ↑ "Afghan Pine Nuts Exported to Europe For First Time". TOLOnews. 30 October 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  4. ↑ "Afghan truckers decry extortion, harassment by Iranians". Pajhwok Afghan News. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  5. 1 2 "Afghan truckers decry extortion, harassment by Iranians". Pajhwok Afghan News. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  6. ↑ "World Gazetteer". Archived from the original on 2013-02-09.
  7. ↑ "More than 3,000 Afghan refugees return home in past three days". Ariana News. January 23, 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  8. ↑ "Nearly 5,000 Afghan refugees return from Iran in 2 days". Pajhwok Afghan News. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  9. ↑ "Taliban Prevents Bulk Cash Smuggling from Afghanistan to Iran". Khaama Press. October 16, 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  10. ↑ ESCAP. "Asian Highway Route Map" (PDF). Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Corruption, Negligence Witnessed During Herat Customs Fire". TOLOnews. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  12. ↑ "Islam Qala Explosion". Planet Labs. Feb 25, 2021.
  13. ↑ "500 vehicles in flames after fuel tanker explodes on Afghanistan-Iran border". CNN. February 20, 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  14. ↑ "Drivers Seek Redress for Customs Fire, Block Herat Roads". TOLOnews. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  15. ↑ "Illiterate personnel presence led to Islam Qala blaze". Pajhwok Afghan News. March 1, 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  16. ↑ "More Than 1,000 Trucks Damaged in Islam Qala Fire: Officials". Bakhtar News Agency. February 17, 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
  17. ↑ "Climate: Islam Qala - Climate-Data.org". Retrieved 9 September 2016.

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