Khost Province

Khost خوست
Province
A village in the Nadir Shah Kot District of Khost Province
Map of Afghanistan with Khost highlighted
Coordinates (Capital): 33°24′N 69°54′E / 33.4°N 69.9°E / 33.4; 69.9Coordinates: 33°24′N 69°54′E / 33.4°N 69.9°E / 33.4; 69.9
Country	Afghanistan
Capital	Khost
Government
• Governor	Mohammad Nabi Omari[1]
Area
• Total	4,151.5 km2 (1,602.9 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[2]
• Total	647,730
• Density	160/km2 (400/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+4:30 (Afghanistan Time)
Area code(s)	AF-KHO
Main languages	Pashto

Khost (Pashto/Dari: خوست) is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the eastern part of the country. To the east, Khost Province is bordered by North Waziristan and Kurram in Pakistan. Khost Province used to be part of Paktia Province in the past, and the larger region surrounding Khost is still called Loya Paktia ("Greater Paktia").

The city of Khost serves as the capital of Khost province. The population of the province is around 647,730,^[2] which is mostly a tribal society. Khost Airport serves the province for domestic flights to Afghanistan's capital, Kabul.

In 2021, the Taliban gained control of the province during the 2021 Taliban offensive.

History[]

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In 1924, Khost Province, then known as Southern Province, was the scene of a rebellion by the Mangal Pashtun Tribe, known as the Khost rebellion. The rebellion was ultimately unsuccessful, and was defeated in 1925 by the Afghan Government. Khost was part of Paktia Province until 1985, when the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan regime made it a separate province.^[3]

Khost Province saw the Battles of Zhawar and part of Operation Infinite Reach.

Healthcare[]

The percentage of households with clean drinking water increased from 34% in 2005 to 35% in 2011.^[4] The percentage of births attended to by a skilled birth attendant increased from 18% in 2005 to 32% in 2011.^[4]

Education[]

The overall literacy rate (6+ years of age) fell from 28% in 2005 to 15% in 2011.^[4] The overall net enrolment rate (6–13 years of age) fell from 38% in 2005 to 37% in 2011.^[4]

Demographics[]

Ethnolinguistic groups in Afghanistan

Districts of Khost (not showing the Shamal District)

As of 2021, the population of the province is around 950,000 people.^[2][5] Other sources put the number at over a million.^[6]

The Pashtun people make up 99% of the population, with the remaining 1% being Tajiks and others.^[7]

Districts[]

Water[]

Khost Province is traversed by the Kurram River, which rises from the , passes through the district, and then enters the "country of the Turis or the Kurram Valley".^[9]

Gallery[]

• 

  Khost, the capital of Khost province

• 

  Afghan children

• 

  A U.S. Marine, assigned to Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, provides security while in the Khost-Gardez Pass (December 2004)

• 

  U.S. soldiers during a mission (June 2013)

• 

  U.S. soldiers during a mission in Tanio area (May 2012)

See also[]

• Battle for Hill 3234
• Forward Operating Base Chapman attack
• Forward Operating Base Salerno

References[]

• Blowback: The Costs and Consequences of American Empire, by Chalmers Johnson, ISBN 0-8050-6239-4
• "Ghost Wars"

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Khost Province.

• Travel on YouTube, November 12, 2015, Shamshad TV.
• On the Road - Khost Province Season 1 (Pashto) on YouTube, Feb 13, 2012, TOLO/USAIDAfghanistan.
• Khost Province by the Naval Postgraduate School
• Khost Province by the Institute for the Study of War