Laghman - Program for Culture and Conflict Studies

Nested Applications
Laghman Data- Content

Laghman Province

Governor: Abdul Jabbar Naimi

Population Estimate: 445,588

Capital: Mehterlam

Districts: Alingar, Alishing, Dawlat Shah, Mehterlam, Qarghayi.

Ethnic Groups: 51.3% Pashtun, 21.7% Tajik, 27% Pashai and Kata.

Tribal Groups: Pashtun Ghilzai.

Religious Groups: Primarily Sunni Muslims.

# of Mosques: 1,537

Occupation of Population: Agriculture, Day Labor, Government Employment, and some Forestry.

Crops/Livestock: Cows, Goats, Sheep, Donkeys, Hens, Wheat, Rice, Corn, Vegetables, Poppy, Beans, Maize, Cotton.

Literacy Rate: 31%

Total # of Educational Institutions: 84

Active NGOs: DACAAR, MADERA, SCA, UNICEF, UNHCR, WHO.

Transportation: From Mehterlam- 2 provincial roads to the Kabul-Jalalabad, 1 provincial road to Dowlat Shah, and 1 provincial road to Logar, Nuristan. A few secondary roads run throughout the province.1

Hospitals: 1

Clinics: 42

Population with access to electricity: 47%2

Sources/Availability of Drinking Water: 46.7%3 Potable Water Availability from Springs, Rivers, Shallow Wells.

Topographical Features: The majority of the province is mountainous. Kashmund range in the southeast; Kuhestan range in the north. Intensively cultivated land along river valleys. Forested areas in Alinger, Alishing, and Dawlat Shah districts. Lake in the Qarghayi district.4

Tribal Map - Thumbnail
Tribal Map Thumbnail
Laghman - Content

Laghman Provincial Overview

Laghman Province is located in eastern Afghanistan, near the Afghanistan - Pakistan border. The province is bordered by Nuristan in the north, Kunar in the east, Nangarhar in the south, and Kabul / Kapisa in the west. The majority of the province is mountainous.  Kashmund range in the southeast; Kuhestan range in the north.  Laghman has intensively cultivated land along river valleys and forested areas in Alingar, Alishing, and Dawlat Shah districts. The population of approximately 375,000 are Pashtun, Tajik, Pashai, Kata, as well as other smaller minority groups. The primary occupations of the residents are agriculture, government, and day labor. Their are over 1100 provincial aid projects on-going at a cost of over $9 million.

Governor Abdul Jabbar Naimi replaced Fazlullah Mujadeddi on June 6 2015 as the governor of Laghman province. Naimi was previously the governor of Khost and Maidan Wardak before being appointed as the Provincial Governor for Lagman. Naimi, an ethnic Pashtun, was born in 1967 but lived in exile in Pakistan for several years. Since the fall of the Taliban government, Naimi returned to Afghanistan and served in the Afghan embassy in Pakistan.7

Taliban Shadow Governor: Maulvi Shaheed Khail, a former Taliban era Minister, was released from Afghan custody in 2008 and was appointed as the shadow governor the same year. He has a reputation for being "fierce but fair" among residents. Qari Muir formerly served as the deputy shadow governor for Laghman and chief of intelligence before he was killed in the village of Qal'eh-ye Jom-eh in Pul-e Alam district, August 2010. The current Taliban shadow governor is unknown. 

 

Laghman Map

 

Human Terrain

Ghilzai Pashtun

Comprise just over 50% of the population in Laghman.  Concentrated in Alingar, Mehterlam and Qarghayi districts. View the Ghilzai Tribal Tree

Tajik

Occupy same areas, generally, as the Ghilzai Pashtun.  Tajiks are the second largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, after the Pashtuns and comprise between 25-30% of the population.  The Tajiks in Afghanistan tend to live in settled communities as opposed to a nomadic lifestyle.  They are of Iranian descent and primarily speak Dari.  The majority of Tajiks are Sunni Muslims.  Tajiks made up the majority of the Northern Alliance, both in terms of membership and leadership.  Tribal ties have largely broken down among the Tajiks; therefore, social organization is defined primarily by geography.  Despite their lack of cohesiveness the Tajiks are often brought together due to the perceived common threat posed by the Pashtuns. View the Tajik Tribal Tree

Nuristani Tribes

The Nuristani in Afghanistan primarily live in high elevations in northeast Afghanistan.  They trace their genealogy back to either the Greek forces of Alexander the great or to the tribes of Mecca which rejected Islam.  For centuries the Nuristanis were known as “kafirs”, or infidels.  This has changed as most have converted to Islam.  There are fifteen Nuristani tribes with numerous sub-groups.  Five languages and numerous dialects are spoken by the Nuristani.  Do not have overly positive relations with other Afghans or Pakistanis and a strong animosity toward Arabs. View the Nuristani Tribal Tree

Kata (Western)

Occupy the majority of Daulatshai and Alishing districts.  Also reside in parts of Alingar, Mehterlam and Qarghayi districts.  The Kata are a Nuristani tribe which speaks two dialects of Kamakata viri. 

Ashtu (Ashku)

Also a Nuristani tribe, which with the Kata, live in the districts of Daulatshai and Alishing. 

Pashai

Concentrated in northern portion of Daulatshai District.  There is very little useful data on the Pashai, outside of some intense research on their language.  They inhabit Nuristan, parts of Laghman, and northern Nangarhar, seemingly between the Pashtun and Nuristanis.  Many consider themselves Pashtun.  They speak a Dardic language referred to as Pashai.  Often they are associated with or referred to as Kohistani.  The majority of Pashai in Laghman rely on the livestock and timber business.5

 

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 Khugiyani 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 Massoud, 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.  Actively opposed to US-led and Afghan national forces.  Politically active in Sherzad, Surk Rod and Pachir Wa Gam districts.  Hekmatyar is a Kharoti Ghilzai and, therefore, less influential than the much more respected and powerful Khugiyanis, such as Haji Din Mohammad and Anwarul Haq Mohammad.6

 

Back to Eastern Afghanistan

 

References - Menu

1 Nelles Verlag, Afghanistan, 2006.

2 Altai Consulting, CEE: Cognitive Effects Evaluation, March 9, 2007.

3 UNHCR Sub-Office Jalalabad, District Profiles, October 2003.

4 AIMS, Afghanistan Laghaman Province Land Cover Map, April 2002; Nelles Verlag, Afghanistan, 2006.

5 Regional Rural Regeneration Strategies, Provincial Profile for Laghman, 2006.
6 Chris Mason, Tora Bora Nizami Mahaz.

7 Afghan Bios, at Link.

CCS disclaimer
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.