Badakhshan Province بدخشان
Province
Different districts of Badakhshan Province
Map of Afghanistan with Badakhshan highlighted
Coordinates: 38°0′N 71°0′E / 38.000°N 71.000°E / 38.000; 71.000
Country	Afghanistan
Capital	Fayzabad
Government
• Governor	Mohammad Ayub Khalid[1]
• Deputy Governor	Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi[2]
Area [3]
• Total	44,835 km2 (17,311 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[4]
• Total	1,072,785
• Density	24/km2 (62/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+4:30 (Afghanistan Time)
Postal code	34XX [5]
ISO 3166 code	AF-BDS
Main languages	Persian, Khowar, Kyrgyz, Shughni, Ishkashimi, Wakhi,

Badakhshan Province (Persian بدخشان, Badaxšān) is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the northeastern part of the country. It is bordered by Tajikistan's Gorno-Badakhshan in the north and the Pakistani regions of Lower and Upper Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan in the southeast. It also has a 91-kilometer (57-mile) border with China in the east.

It is part of a broader historical Badakhshan region, parts of which now also lie in Tajikistan and China. The province contains 22 districts, over 1,200 villages and approximately 1 055 000 people.^[6] Fayzabad serves as the provincial capital. Resistance activity has been reported in the province since the 2021 Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.^[7][8]

Etymology

Badakhshan's name comes from the Middle Persian word "badaxš", which is an official title. The word "ān" is a suffix which demonstrates a place's name; therefore the word "badaxšān" means a place belonging to a person called "badaxš".^[9]

During the Sassanids' reign it was called "bidix", and in Parthian times "bthšy". In Sassanid manuscripts found in Ka'ba-ye Zartosht it was called "Bałasakan". In Chinese sources from the 7th century onwards it was called "Po-to-chang-na".

Geography

Noshaq (or Nowshak) (Dari: نوشاخ) is the second highest independent peak of the Hindu Kush Range after Tirich Mir (7,492 m (24,580 ft)). It lies on the border between Pakistan and Badakhshan Province in Afghanistan. The north and west sides of the mountain are in Afghanistan, and the southern and eastern sides are in Pakistan. Noshaq is Afghanistan's highest mountain and is in the northeastern corner of the country along the Durand line (which marks the border with Pakistan). It is the westernmost 7000m peak in the world.

Valley of Kuran wa Munjan in Badakhshan, Afghanistan. Looking from the center of the main valley towards the south.

Badakhshan is bordered by Takhar Province to the west, Panjshir Province to the south west, Nuristan Province to the south, Tajikistan to the north and east (that nation's Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province and Khatlon Province), China through a long spur called the Wakhan Corridor to the east, and Pakistan to the south-east (Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan). The total area of Badakhshan is 44,059 square kilometres (17,011 sq mi), most of which is occupied by the Hindu Kush and Pamir mountain ranges.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, Badakhshan contains temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands, as well as Gissaro-Alai open woodlands along the Pamir River. Common plants found in these areas include pistachio, almond, walnut, apple, juniper, and sagebrush.

Montane grasslands and shrublands are existent in the province, with the Hindu Kush alpine meadow in the high mountains in the northern and southwestern regions.

The Wakhan corridor contains two montane grassland and shrubland regions: the Karakoram-West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe and in the Pamir Mountains and Kuh-e Safed Khers in Darwaz region.

South of Fayzabad the terrain becomes dominated by deserts and xeric shrublands. Common vegetation includes thorny bushes, zizyphus, acacia, and Amygdatus. Paropamisus xeric woodlands can be found in the province's northwestern and central areas. Common vegetation includes almond, pistachio, willows, and sea-buckthorn.

History

Part of a series on the
History of Afghanistan
Timeline
Ancient Indus Valley Civilisation 2200–1800 BC Oxus civilization 2100–1800 BC Gandhara Kingdom 1500–535 BC Median Empire 728–550 BC Achaemenid Empire 550–330 BC Seleucid Empire 330–150 BC Maurya Empire 305–180 BC Greco-Bactrian Kingdom 256–125 BC Parthian Empire 247 BC–224 AD Indo-Greek Kingdom 180–130 BC Indo-Scythian Kingdom 155–80? BC Kushan Empire 135 BC – 248 AD Indo-Parthian Kingdom 20 BC – 50? AD Sasanian Empire 230–651 Kidarite Kingdom 320–465 Alchon Huns 380–560 Hephthalite Empire 410–557 Nezak Huns 484–711
Medieval Kabul Shahi 565–879 Principality of Chaghaniyan 7th–8th centuries Rashidun Caliphate 652–661 Umayyads 661–750 Zunbils 680–870 Lawik 750-977 Abbasids 750–821 Tahirids 821–873 Saffarids 863–900 Samanids 875–999 Ghaznavids 963–1187 Ghurids before 879–1215 Seljuks 1037–1194 Khwarezmids 1215–1231 Mongol Invasion 1219–1226 Chagatai Khanate 1226–1245 Qarlughids 1224–1266 Ilkhanate 1256–1335 Kartids 1245–1381 Timurids 1370–1507 Arghuns 1520–1591
Modern Mughals 1501–1738 Safavids 1510–1709 Hotak dynasty 1709–1738 Sadozai Sultanate 1716–1732 Afsharid Iran 1738–1747 Durrani Empire 1747–1823 Principality of Qandahar 1818–1855 Emirate 1823–1926 Saqqawist Emirate 1929 Kingdom 1926–1973 Daoud coup 1973 Republic 1973–1978 Saur Revolution 1978 Democratic Republic 1978–1992 Tanai coup attempt 1990 Islamic State 1992–1996 Islamic Emirate 1996–2001 US invasion 2001 Islamic State (reinstated) 2001 Interim/Transitional Administration 2001–2004 Islamic Republic (politics) 2004–2021 Islamic Emirate (reinstated) since 2021
Related historical regions Arachosia Aria Ariana Bactria Gandhara Iran Kabulistan Kafiristan Khorasan Kushanshahr Paropamisadae Sistan Zabulistan
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Badakhshan etymologically derives from the Middle Persian word badaxš, an official title. The suffix of the name, -ān, means the region belonged to someone with the title badaxš.^[10]

The territory was ruled by the Uzbek Khanate of Bukhara between the early 16th century and the mid-18th century. It was given to Ahmad Shah Durrani by Murad Beg of Bukhara after a treaty of friendship was reached in or about 1750 and became part of the Durrani Empire. It was ruled by the Durranis followed by the Barakzai dynasty, and was untouched by the British during the three Anglo-Afghan Wars that were fought in the 19th and 20th centuries, which allowed the Emanzai Tribe to rise in regional control. It remained peaceful for about 100 years until the 1980s Soviet–Afghan War at which point the Mujahideen began a rebellion against the central Afghan government.

During the 1990s, much of the area was controlled by forces loyal to Burhanuddin Rabbani and Ahmad Shah Massoud,^[11] who were de facto the national government until 1996. Badakhshan was the only province that the Taliban did not conquer during their rule from 1996 to 2001. However, during the course of the wars a non-Taliban Islamic emirate was established in Badakhshan by Mawlawi Shariqi, paralleling the Islamic Revolutionary State of Afghanistan in neighboring Nuristan. Rabbani, a Badakhshan native, and Massoud were the last remnants of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance during the peak of Taliban control in 2001.

Badakhshan was thus one of the few provinces of the country that witnessed little insurgency in the Afghan wars – however, during the 2010s Taliban insurgents managed to attack and take control of several districts in the province.^[12]

On 26 October 2015, the 7.5 Mw Hindu Kush earthquake shook northern Afghanistan with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). This earthquake destroyed almost 30,000 homes, left several hundred dead, and more than 1,700 injured.^[13]

Transportation

Fayzabad Airport serves the province with regular direct flights to Kabul.

Healthcare

The percentage of households with clean drinking water increased from 13% in 2005 to 21% in 2011.^[14] The percentage of births attended to by a skilled birth attendant increased from 1.5% in 2003 to 2% in 2011.^[14]

Education

Badakhshan University is located in Fayzabad, a city which also has a number of public schools including an all-girls school.

The overall literacy rate (6+ years of age) fell from 31% in 2005 to 26% in 2011.^[14] The overall net enrolment rate (6–13 years of age) increased from 46% in 2005 to 68% in 2011.^[14]

Economy

Classic lazurite specimen from Sar-e-Sang district

Despite massive mineral reserves, Badakhshan is one of the most destitute areas in the world. Opium poppy growing is the only real source of income in the province and Badakhshan has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the world, due to the complete lack of health infrastructure, inaccessible locations, and bitter winters of the province.

Lapis lazuli has been mined in the Sar-e-Sang mines, located in the Kuran wa Munjan District of Badakhshan, for over 6,000 years. The mines were the largest and most well-known source in ancient times.^[15][16] Most recent mining activity has focused on lapis lazuli, with the proceeds from the lapis mines being used to fund Northern Alliance troops, and before that, anti-Soviet Mujahideen fighters.^[17] Recent geological surveys have indicated the location of other gemstone deposits, in particular rubies and emeralds.^[18] It is estimated that the mines at Kuran wa Munjan District hold up to 1,290 tonnes of azure (lapis lazuli).^[19] Exploitation of this mineral wealth could be key to the region's prosperity.^[18]

On 5 October 2018 in Washington, D.C., Afghan officials signed a 30-year contract involving a $22 million investment by investment group Centar and its operating company, Afghan Gold and Minerals Co., to explore and develop an area of Badakhshan for gold mining.^[20]

Sport

The province is represented in Afghan domestic cricket competitions by the Badakhshan Province cricket team BORNA Cricket Club which belongs to BORNA Institute of Higher Education is coming up with its own team and will be groomed by the experts in the field of cricket.

Demographics

Districts of Badakhshan before 2005

Children in Badakhshan

As of 2020, the population of the province is about 1,054,087, constituting a multi-ethnic rural society.^[6] Dari-speaking Tajiks make up the majority followed by a few Uzbeks, Hazaras, Pashtuns, Kyrgyz, Qizilbash, and others.^[21] There are also speakers of the following Pamiri languages: Shughni, Munji, Ishkashimi, and Wakhi.

The inhabitants of the province are mostly Sunni Muslims, although there are also some Ismaili Shias.

60.1% of the population lived below the national poverty line, one of the higher figures in the country.^[22]

Districts of Badakhshan Province

District	Capital	Population[4]	Area in km2	Pop. density	Villages Ethnic groups
Arghanj Khwa		18,201	2,327	8	Majority Farsiwan (Tajiks, Aimaqs).[23]
Argo		88,616	1,059	84	145 villages. Majority Tajik, minority Turkmens.[23]
Baharak	Baharak	32,551	324	101	51 villages. 100% Tajik.[23]
Darayim		69,618	585	119	101 villages. 100% Tajik.[23]
Fayzabad	Fayzabad	77,154	497	155	175 villages. 100% Tajik.[23]
Ishkashim	Ishkashim	15,677	1,415	11	43 villages. Predominantly Pamiris (Ishkashimi), few Tajik. [24]
Jurm	Jorm	42,671	1225	35	75 villages. 100% Tajik[23]
Khash		43,046	243	177	21 villages. Majority Turkmen, minority Tajik[23]
Khwahan	Khwahan	18,734	698	27	46 villages. Predominantly Tajik.[25]
Kishim	Mashhad	91,407	767	119	100 villages. 100% Tajik[23]
Kohistan		18,733	494	38	13 villages. 100% Tajik[23]
Kuf Ab	Qal`eh-ye Kuf	25,243	1,439	18	Predominantly Tajik, some Aimaq.
Keran wa Menjan	Keran wa Menjan	10,761	4,712	2	42 villages. Predominantly Pamiri (Munji), few Tajiks.
Maimay (Darwaz-e Payin)	Jamarj-e Bala	29,893	1,217	25	Predominantly Tajik, some Aimaq.
Nusay (Darwaz-e Bala)	Nusay	26,173	1,589	16	16 villages. Tajik.[26]
Raghistan	Ziraki	44,773	1,321	34	25 villages. 100% Tajik.[23]
Shahri Buzurg	Shahri Buzurg	59,123	942	63	74 villages. 100% Tajik. [27]
Sheghnan	Shughnan	31,487	1,968	16	28 villages. Predominantly Pamiri (Shughni).
Shekay	Jarf	29,760	635	47	38 villages. Tajik, etc.[28]
Shuhada		39,061	1,244	31	62 villages. Predominantly Farsiwan (Tajik, Aimaq), few Pamiri (Ishkashimi).[29]
Tagab		31,753	1,401	23	Mixed Tajik and Baloch.
Tishkan		33,746	821	41	57 villages. 100% Tajik.[23]
Wakhan	Khandud	16,873	10,930	2	110 villages. Majority Pamiri (Wakhi), minority Kyrgyz.
Warduj		24,712	684	36	45 villages. 100% Tajik.[23]
Yaftali Sufla		59,654	606	98	93 villages. 100% Tajik.[23]
Yamgan		29,096	1,744	17	39 villages. 100% Tajik[30]
Yawan		36,669	431	85	100% Tajik.
Zebak	Zebak	8,902	2,057	4	62 villages. Majority Pamiri, minority Tajik.
Badakhshan		1,054,087	44,836	24	85.4% Farsiwan (Tajiks, Aimaqs), 7.2% Pamiris (Ishkashimi, Munji, Shughni, Wakhi), 5.4% Turkmens, 1.5% Baloch, 0.5% Kyrgyz.[note 1]

Notable people from Badakhshan

• Makhfi Badakhshi, Persian poet, lived and died in Badakhshan
• Nūr al-Dīn Jaʿfar Badakhshī, 14th-century disciple of the eminent Central Asian Ṣūfī shaykh Sayyid ʿAlī Hamadānī^[31]
• Mullah Shah Badakhshi, 17th-century Muslim Sufi of the Qadiri order, from Araska in Rustaq area in Badakhshan^[32]
• Tahir Badakhshi, political activist
• Nāsir Khusraw Qubādiyānī Balkhi, 11th-century Persian poet, philosopher and Isma'ili scholar, died in Yamgan, Badakhshan
• Bairam Khan, 16th-century important military commander, and later commander-in-chief of the Mughal army, a powerful statesman and regent at the court of the Mughal Emperors, Humayun and Akbar
• Fawzia Koofi, noted Afghan women's rights activist, member of Parliament and 2014 presidential candidate
• Qamaruddin Maziar Kouhyar, professional footballer, and the first Afghan to play professionally in Great Britain
• Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, Chief architect of the Taj Mahal
• Miri Maftun, Afghan musician from Badakhshan.
• Zulmai Mujadidi, Member of Parliament representing Badakhshan
• Latif Pedram, political activist and candidate for Afghanistan's presidency
• Burhanuddin Rabbani, leader of the Jamiat-e Islami political party and former president of Afghanistan
• Qari Fasihuddin, Army Chief, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

See also

• Dorah Pass
• Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region

References

Further reading

• Burhanuddin Kushkaki. Rāhnamā-yi Qaṭaghan va Badakhshān. Kabul: Vizarat-i Ḥarbiyah, 1923.
• Jan-Heeren Grevemeyer: Herrschaft, Raub und Gegenseitigkeit: Die politische Geschichte Badakhshans 1500–1883, Otto Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 1982
• Wolfgang Holzwarth: Segmentation und Staatsbildung in Afghanistan: Traditionale sozio-politische Organisation in Badakhshan, Wakhan und Sheghnan In: Berliner Institut für vergleichende Sozialforschung [Red.: Kurt Greussing u. Jan-Heeren Grevemeyer] (Hrsg.): Revolution in Iran und Afghanistan – mardom nameh – Jahrbuch zur Geschichte und Gesellschaft des Mittleren Orients Syndikat, Frankfurt am Main 1980, ISBN 3-8108-0147-X.

External links

• Media related to Badakhshan Province at Wikimedia Commons
• Badkhshan Province – Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development