Khost - Program for Culture and Conflict Studies

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Khost Province

Governor: Hukum Khan Habibi

Population Estimate: 574,582

Area in Square Kilometers: 4,152

Capital: Asadabad

Districts: Bak, Gurbuz, Jaji Maydan, Khost (Matun), Mandozai, Musa Khel, Nadir Shah, Qalandar, Sabari, Shamal, Spera, Tani, Tere Zayi.1

Ethnic Groups: 99% Pashtun, 1% Tajik.

Tribal Groups: Khostwal Pashtun, Mangal, Waziri, Suleimankhel, Zadran, Kharoti.

Religious Groups: Primarily Sunni Muslims.

# of Mosques: 1,961

Literacy Rate: 23%2

Total # of Educational Institutions: 177

Primary/Secondary Schools: 2673

Colleges/Universities: 1; Khost University in Khost City.

Active NGOs in the Province: PRT, UNOPS, UNHCR, CARE, WFP.

Transportation: Khost-Gardez highway (in poor condition), 4 provincial roads radiate out from Khost City into the surrounding districts, and there are also a number of secondary roads and cart tracks.4

Estimated Population with Access to Electricity: 42%5

Hospitals: 2

Clinics: 72

Rivers and Bodies of Water: A number of streams.

Topographical Features: The province is dominated by the Khost Valley and the mountains that surround it. There are a number of streams throughout the province. Khost Valley and Bak areas sustain rain fed and intensively irrigated crops. Natural forests run along the border with Pakistan and Paktia. A large area of rangelands runs from Gorbuz district in the south to Jaji Maydan district in the north.6

Tribal Map - Thumbnail
Tribal Map Thumbnail
Khost - Content

Khost Provincial Overview

Khost Province is located in eastern Afghanistan, on the Afghanistan - Pakistan border. The province is dominated by the Khost Valley and the mountains that surround it. Rangelands run from Gorbuz district in the south to Jaji Maydan district in the north. Khost Valley and Bak areas sustain rain fed and intensively irrigated crops. Natural forests run along the border with Pakistan and Paktia.

The population of approximately 487,000 are primarily Pashtun, with 1% Tajik and other various minorities. Governor Arsala Jumal was appointed governor in August 2006; he previously served as Chief Program Coordinator for Water and Sanitation at the Ministry of Rural Reconstruction and Development.  There are over 1200 provincial aid projects in Khost with a planned cost of US$ 17 million.

Governor Arsala was appointed in 2006, he previously served as Chief Program Coordinator for Water and Sanitation at the Ministry of Rural Reconstruction and Development.

In 2008, Arsala Jamal was replaced by Hamidullah Qalandarzai, an ethnic Pashtun.

Currently Hukum Khan Habibi (ethnic pashtun) serves as the Provincial Governor. Habibi was born in Logar province and is thought to have attended school in India. Since 2013, Habibi worked as deputy prime minister of economy until being appointed to the governorship by President Ashraf Ghani in June 2015.

Taliban Shadow Governor: Unknown - Though the current shadow governor in Khost is unknown, sources indicate that the person has considerable Haqqani network ties due to Khost's proximity to Haqqani strongholds throughout Pakistan's FATA region.

 

Khost Map

 

Human Terrain

Khostwal

Various factions of the Khostwal tribe are dominant in the Tanai, Musa Khel, Mandozai, Tirzaye, Sabari and Bak districts.  Historically, the Khostwal tribal groups have combined with the Wazirs against their traditional enemies the Turi.  The Khostwal consider themselves Pashtun.7

Mangal

Pashtun tribe, located in Jaji Maydan district.  History of rebelling against local governors and appointees of the central government.8 View the Mangal Tribal Tree

Waziri

Pashtun tribe, primarily located in Pakistan.  The Waziris in Khost live in the Garboz, Qalandar, and Nadar Shah Kot districts.

Suleimankhel (Sulimankhel)

Ghilzai Pashtuns; largest of the tribal clans in Paktika. In Khost, the Suleimankhel reside in Spira district along with members of the Zadran tribal group.  See entry on Suleimankhel in Paktika Provincial Overview for more details. View the Suleimankhel Tribal Tree

Zadran

Pashtun tribe which resides in the Spira district with the Suleimankhel and in the Nadar Shah Kot and Qalandar districts with the Waziris. Pacha Khan Zadran, is a one of the most famous of the Zadran tribe, who controls the area near the Khost road. Jalaluddin Haqqani, another ACM leader (the Haqqani Network), is another influential member of the Zadran tribe. The Zadran also live in Paktika province.9

Kharoti

The Kharoti clan are located in Shomal district of Khost. Notable members of the Kharoti clan include Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and Harakat, both of Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin (HIG).

 

Primary Political Parties

Hezb-e Islami Khalis (HiK)

Originally a mujahideen group which broke away from Hekmatyar’s Hezb-e Islami under the leadership of Yunus Khalis. HiK was dominant in Nangarhar. Khalis died in 2005 or 2006, resulting in an internal power struggle for control of the party between Khalis’ son Anwarul Haq Mujahid and Haji Din Mohammad.  It appears that Mohammad was successful in consolidating his control over much of the party.  Recent and active political players in Nangarhar have connections to HiK.  Led by Haji Din Mohammad, current governor of Kabul.

Hezb-e Afghan Millat (Afghan Nation Party)

National Pashtun party, led by Finance Minister Dr. Anwar Ul-haq Ahadi.  Over 10,000 members in Nangarhar.  Platform based on unity, security, and creating an Islamic version of democracy.  Maintains a muted, ethno-nationalist rhetoric.

Nazhat-e Hambastagi Milli (National Solidarity Movement/National Islamic Front)

Led by Pir Ishaq Gailani.  Party promotes national unity, security and a national development plan.  Tied to the Maraboutic Sufi order; has considerable influence over the Khugiani tribesmen.

Hezb-e Afghanistan Naween (New Afghanistan Party/Qanuni)

Led by Mohammad Yunus Qanuni.  Part of a political alliance called Jabahai Tafahim Millie or National Understanding Front.  Qanuni was the primary contender against Karzai for the presidency.  He is a Tajik who has been a mujahideen, spokesman for Ahmed Shah Masoud, and Minister of Interior and Education.  He was elected to parliament in 2005 and was chosen to lead the Wolesi Jirga.  Support for him and his party may be a political counter-weight to Karzai.

Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin (HiG)

Mujahideen party active since the Soviet invasion; led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar who is a Kharoti Ghilzai.  Actively opposed to US-led and Afghan national forces.  Politically active in Sherzad, Surk Rod and Pachir Wa districts.  Hekmatyar is a Kharoti Ghilzai and, therefore, less influential than the much more respected and powerful Khugianis, such as Haji Din Mohammad and Anwarul Haq Mohammad10 Harakat, the second most influential member of HiG, is also a Kharoti Ghilzai as well.

 

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References - Menu

1 The exact number of districts in Khost is unclear. Some credible maps indicated that existing districts have split into other districts.

2 UNDP Afghanistan, Afghanistan Human Development Report.

3 Afghan Women's Fund.

4 Nelles Verlag, Afghanistan, 2006.

5 Altai Consulting, CEE: Cognistive Effects Evaluation, March 9, 2007.

6 AIMS, Afghanistan Khost Province Land Cover Map, April 2002; Nelles Verlag, Afghanistan.

7 Adamec, Vol. 6, 427.

8 Adamec, Vol. 6, 550.

9 US State Department Gardez Provincial Reconstruction Team Political Officer Reporting, 2004.

10 Chris Mason, Tora Bora Nizami Mahaz.

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Material contained herein is made available for the purpose of peer review and discussion and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense.  Most of the content available on this website was updated as of March 2017.