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{{Short description|Province of Afghanistan}}
{{redirect|Ghor|the video game character|Metroid Prime 3: Corruption}} {{redirect|Ghor|the video game character|Metroid Prime 3: Corruption}}
{{redirect|Ghur|the village in Iran|Ur, Iran}}
{{Geobox|Province
{{Infobox settlement
|country = Afghanistan
| name = Ghōr
|country_flag = true
| native_name = {{nq|غور}}
|name = Ghōr
| native_name_lang = fa
|native_name = غور
|map = Afghanistan-Ghowr.png | settlement_type = ]
| image_skyline = <!-- images and maps -----------> {{multiple image
|map_caption = Map of Afghanistan with Ghowr highlighted
| border = infobox
|capital = ]
| perrow = 1/2/2/2/2
|capital_lat_d =34
| total_width = 250
|capital_long_d =65
| image1 = Jam Qasr Zarafshan.jpg
|population_as_of =
| image2 = Color Play II (4272512818).jpg
|population = 635,302
| image3 = Ghor Valley (4324694935).jpg
|population_note = <ref name="mrrd"></ref>
| footer = From the top, ], Chaghar Sadeh District, Ghor Valley}}.
|area = 36479
| image_alt =
|population_density = 13.29
| image_caption =
|timezone = UTC+4:30
| image_flag =
|free_type = ]
| flag_alt =
|free = ]
| image_seal =
| seal_alt =
| image_shield =
| shield_alt =
| nickname =
| motto =
| image_map = Ghor in Afghanistan.svg
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Map of Afghanistan with Ghor highlighted
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|34|65|type:adm1st_region:AF|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint = Capital
| coordinates_footnotes =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Afghanistan}}
| established_title =
| established_date =
| founder =
| seat_type = Capital
| seat = ]
| government_footnotes =
| leader_party =
| leader_title = Governor
| leader_name = ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://watan24.com/%d9%85%d9%88%d9%84%d9%88%db%8c-%d8%a7%d8%ad%d9%85%d8%af%d8%b4%d8%a7%d9%87-%d8%af%db%8c%d9%86-%d8%af%d9%88%d8%b3%d8%aa%d8%8c-%d9%88%d8%a7%d9%84%db%8c-%d8%ac%d8%af%db%8c%d8%af-%d8%ba%d9%88%d8%b1-%d8%aa/|title=مولوی احمدشاه دین دوست، والی جدید غور تعیین شد &#124; خبرگزاری وطن 24|date=2 November 2021 }}</ref>
| leader_title1 = Deputy Governor
| leader_name1 = Maulvi Shams Ullah Tariqat<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/afghan-teen-breadwinner-taliban/31519435.html|title = Afghan Teen, Sole Breadwinner for Family of 30, Waits Desperately to See if Taliban Will Help| newspaper=Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty }}</ref>
| leader_title2 = Police Chief
| leader_name2 = Hanif Abada<ref>{{Cite tweet |last=Mujahid |first=Zabihullah |author-link=Zabihullah Mujahid |user=Zabehulah_M33 |number=1619602013117100032 |date=29 January 2023 |language=ps |script-title=fa:د عالیقدر امیرالمؤمنین حفظه الله د حکم په اساس لاندې ټاکنې وشوې |trans-title=On the basis of the order of His Highness Amirul Momineen Hufzallah, the following appointments were made |access-date=1 October 2023}}</ref>
| unit_pref = Metric<!-- or US or UK -->
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 36657.42
| area_land_km2 =
| area_water_km2 =
| area_water_percent =
| area_note =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nsia.gov.af:8080/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Estimated-Population-of-Afghanistan1-1400.pdf |title=Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2021-22 |date=April 2021 |website=nsia.gov.af |publisher=National Statistic and Information Authority (NSIA) |access-date=June 29, 2021 |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624204559/https://www.nsia.gov.af:8080/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Estimated-Population-of-Afghanistan1-1400.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| population_total = 777,882
| population_as_of = 2021
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_note =
| blank_name_sec1 = ]
| blank_info_sec1 = ], ]
| timezone1 = UTC+4:30
| utc_offset1 =
| timezone1_DST =
| utc_offset1_DST =
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = 32XX
| area_code_type =
| area_code =
| iso_code = AF-GHO
| website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
| footnotes =
| official_name =
}} }}
'''Ghōr''', also spelled '''Ghowr''' or '''Ghur''' ({{langx|prs|غور}}), is one of the thirty-four ]. It is located in the western ] in central ], towards the northwest. The province contains eleven ], encompassing hundreds of villages, and approximately 764,472 settled people.<ref name=nsia/> ] (known as “Chaghcharan” until 2014) is the capital of the province.


==Etymology==
'''Ghōr''' ({{lang-fa|غور}}), also spelled '''Ghowr''' or '''Ghur''', is one of the thirty-four ]. It is located in central ], towards the north-west. The capital of Ghor is ]. The name "Ghor" is a cognate to ] ''gairi-'', ] ''giri-'' and ] ''gar'', meaning "mountain", and survives in modern ] as ''ghar'' (غر "mountain"). 97% of the population speak ].<ref name="mrrd"/>
The ancient ], ] ''gor-''/''gur-'' ("mountain"-) is well preserved in all ] ''gor-''/''gór- (goor-/gur-)'', e.g.: ], ], ], ], ]..., in ], e.g.: ], ]. The ] notation using ''gór-'' ("ó" stands for a sound between ] "oo" and "u") instead of the popular ''gur-'' or ''ghur-'' preserves the ancient ].{{clarify|date=May 2023}}


==History== ==History==
{{History of Afghanistan}} {{History of Afghanistan}}
{{Further|History of Afghanistan}}
===Buddhist===
{{quote|text=] is the historical name by which the mountain region of ] was called.<ref>E.J. Brill's first encyclopaedia of Islam, 1913–1936, Volume 7 By Martijn Theodoor Houtsma Page 161</ref>}}
Remains of the oldest settlements discovered by the ]n archaeologists in 2007 and 2008 in Ghor date back to 5000 BC<ref>, Quqnoos.com, 22 May 2008</ref>. Ruins of a few castles and other defense fortifications were also discovered in the environs of ]. A ] monastery hand-carved in the bluff of the river ] existed in the first centuries during the prevalence of Buddhism. The artificial caves revealed testimony of daily life of the Buddhist monks<ref>, ''The Baltic Times'', May 22, 2008; , ''Top News'', 05/23/2008.</ref>.


The inhabitants of Ghor were completely Islamized during the ] era. Before the 12th century, the area was home to ], ], ] and a small number of Jews. Remains of the oldest settlements discovered by Lithuanian ] in 2007 and 2008 in Ghor date back to 5000 BC.<ref>{{Dead link|date=December 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Quqnoos.com, 22 May 2008</ref> Ruins of a few castles and other defense fortifications were also discovered in the environs of ]. A Buddhist monastery hand-carved on the bluff of the river ] existed in the first centuries during the prevalence of Buddhism. The artificial caves revealed testimony of the daily life of the Buddhist monks.<ref>, ''The Baltic Times'', May 22, 2008; , ''Top News'', May 23, 2008.</ref>
{{cquote|'The rise to power of the ] at Ghur , a small isolated area located in the mountain vastness between the Ghaznavid empire and the Seljukids, was an unusual and unexpected development. The area was so remote that till the 11th century, it had remained a ] enclave surrounded by Muslim principalities. It was converted to Islam in the early part of the 12th century after ] raided it, and left teachers to instruct the Ghurids in the pricipts of Islam. Even then it is believed that paganism, i.e. a variety of ] persisted in the area till the end of the century .<ref>Medieval India Part 1 Satish Chandra Page 22</ref>}}


{{quote|The rise to power of the ] at Ghur, a small isolated area located in the mountain vastness between the ] and the ], was an unusual and unexpected development. The area was so remote that until the 11th century, it had remained a ] enclave surrounded by Muslim principalities. It was converted to Islam in the early part of the 12th century after ] raided it, and left teachers to instruct the Ghurids in the precepts of Islam. Even then it is believed that paganism, i.e. a variety of ] persisted in the area till the end of the century.<ref>''Medieval India'' Part 1 Satish Chandra Page 22</ref>}}
===Islam===


Various scholars and historians such as John McLeod attribute the conversion of the Ghauris to Islam at the hands of ] who converted them to Islam after his conquest of Ghor.{{cquote|a people from central Afghanistan who had been converted to Islam by Mahmud <ref> The history of India By John McLeod Published by Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002 Page 34</ref>}} Various scholars and historians such as John McLeod attribute the conversion of the Ghauris to Islam to ] after his conquest of Ghor.<ref>The history of India By John McLeod Published by Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002 Page 34</ref>


Traditional Muslim historians such as Istakhri and Ibn Haukal attest to the existence of the non-Islamic enclave of Ghor prior to the time of Ghazni, who is attributed with converting its population to Islam. Traditional Muslim historians such as ] and ] attest to the existence of the non-Islamic enclave of Ghor before the time of Ghazni, which is attributed to converting its population to Islam.
{{cquote|''Ghor ''- Also called ]. The mountainous country between Hirat and Ghazni. According to Istakhri and Ibn Haukal it was a rugged mountainous country , bounded by the districts of Hirat, Farrah, Dawar, Rabat, Kurwan, and ] back to Hirat, which were all Muhammadan countries. Ghor itself was a country of infidels, containing only a few Musulmans, and the inhibitants spoke a language different from that of Khurasan<ref> The History of Inda as told by its own Historians by Eliot and Dowson, Volume 2 page 576</ref>}}
Minhaju-S-Siraj records the strife between the non-Muslim and Muslim populations.
{{cquote|It is said that Amir Suri was a great king, and most of the territories of Ghor were in his possession. But as many of the inhabitants of Ghor of High and low degree had not yet embraced Islam, there was constant strife among them. The Saffarians came from Nimroz to Bust and Dawar, Yakub Lais overpowered Lak-Lak, who was the chief of Takinabad, in the country of Rukhaj. The Ghorians sought the safety in Sara-sang and dwelt there in security, but even among them hostilities constantly prevailed between the Muslims and the infidels. One castle was at war with another castle, and their feuds were unceasing; but owing to the inaccessibility of the mountains of Rasiat, which are in Ghor no foreigner was able to overcome them, and Shansbani Amir Suri was the head of all the Mandeshis.<ref>The History of Inda as told by its own Historians by Eliot and Dowson, Volume 2 page 284</ref>}}


According to Minhahu-S Siraj, Amir Suri was captured by ], made prisoner along with his son and taken to Ghazni, where Amir Suri died.<ref>The History of Inda as told by its own Historians by Eliot and Dowson , Volume 2 page 286</ref> {{quote|''Ghor'': Also called ]. The mountainous country between Hirat and Ghazni. According to Istakhri and Ibn Haukal, it was a rugged mountainous country, bounded by the districts of Hirat, Farrah, Dawar, Rabat, Kirwan, and ] back to Hirat, which were all Muslim countries. Ghor itself was a country of infidels, containing only a few Musulmans, and the inhabitants spoke a language different from that of Khurasan.<ref>'']'' by Eliot and Dowson, Volume 2, page 576</ref>}}
{{cquote|The region had previously been conquered by ], and the population converted to Islam.<ref> The wonder that was India II by S A A Rizvi published by Picador India page 16</ref>}}
{{Cquote|It was also the last stronghold of an ancient religion professed by the inhabitants when all their neighbors had become Muhammadan. In the 11th century AD Mahmud of Ghazni defeated the prince of Ghor Ibn –I-Suri, and made him prisoner in a severely contested engagement in the valley of Ahingaran. Ibn-I-Suri is called a Hindu by the author, who has recorded his overthrow; it does not follow that he was one by religion or by race, but merely that he was not Muhammadan.<ref>The Kingdom of Afghanistan: a historical sketch By George Passman Tate Edition: illustrated Published by Asian Educational Services, 2001 Page 12 ISBN 8120615867, 9788120615861</ref>}}


] recorded strife between the non-Muslim and Muslim populations:
===Attack by Mahmud of Ghazni===
{{cquote|In the following year AH 401 (AD 1010), Mahmood led his army towards Ghoor. The native prince of the country, Mahomed, occupied an entrenched camp with 10000 men. Mahmood was repulsed in repeated assults which he made from morning till noon. Finding that the troops of Ghoor defended their entrenchments with such obstinacy, he caused his army to retreat in apparent confusion, in order to lure the enemy out of his fortified position. The Ghoorians, deceived by the stratagem, pursued the army of Ghizny; when the king, facing about, attacked and defeated them with great slaughter. Mahommed Soor, being made prisoner was brought to the king, but having taken poison, which he always kept under his ring, he died in a few hours; his country was annexed to the dominions of Ghizny. The author of the Towareekh Yumny affirms, that neither the sovereigns of Ghoor nor its inhabitants were Mahomedans till after this victory; whilst the author of the Tubkat-Nasiry, and Fukhr -ood -Deen Moobarik Shah Lody, the latter of whom wrote a history of the Kings of Ghoor in verse, both affirm, that they were converted many years before, even so early as the time of Ally<ref>Ferishta -Translation John Briggs page 28 vol 1</ref>}}


{{quote|It is said that Amir Suri was a great king and most of the territories of Ghor were in his possession. But as most of the inhabitants of Ghor of High and low degrees had not yet embraced Islam, there was constant strife among them. The Saffarians came from Nimroz to Bust and Dawar, Yakub Lais overpowered Lak-Lak, who was the chief of Takinabad, in the country of Rukhaj. The Georgians sought the safety in Sara-sang and dwelt there in security but even among them hostilities constantly prevailed between the Muslim and the Non-Muslims. One castle was at war with another castle, and their feuds were unceasing; but owing to the inaccessibility of the mountains of Rasiat, which are in Ghor no foreigner was able to overcome them, and Shansbani Amir Suri was the head of all the Madness.<ref>'' The History of India as Told by Its Historians'' by Eliot and Dowson, Volume 2, page 284</ref>}}
Ghor was also the centre of the ] in the 12th and 13th century. The remains of their capital ], including ] ] the ], are located in the province.


According to Minhahu-S Siraj, Amir Suri was captured by Mahmud of Ghazni, made prisoner along with his son, and taken to Ghazni, where Amir Suri died.<ref>''The History of India as Told by Its Own Historians'' by Eliot and Dowson, Volume 2, page 286</ref>
On June 17, 2004, hundreds of troops of ], who had rejected the Afghan government's plan to disarm regional militias, attacked Chaghcharan and took over the city in an afternoon-long siege. Eighteen people were killed or wounded in the fighting and province ] fled. Three days later the Afghan government announced that it would not retake Chaghcharan. Khan and Ibrahim began negotiations soon after, but reached no agreements. Khan's troops left Chaghcharan on June 23, a day ahead of the arrival of an ] battalion, led by Lieutenant-General ], arrived with the support of about twenty ] soldiers.


{{quote|The region had previously been conquered by Mahmud of Ghazni, and the population converted to Islam.<ref>, ''The Wonder that was India'', Vol. II, (Picador India), page 16.</ref>}}
In his 2004 travel book, '']'', ] travels by foot from Herat to Kabul and on his way, he provides a riveting portrait of Ghor Province as well as much historical information about the region.
{{quote|It was also the last stronghold of an ancient religion professed by the inhabitants when all their neighbors had become Muslim. In the 11th century AD Mahmud of Ghazni defeated the prince of Ghor Ibn–I-Suri, and made him prisoner in a severely contested engagement in the valley of Ahingaran. Ibn-I-Suri is identified a ] by the author, who has recorded his overthrow.<ref>The Kingdom of Afghanistan: a historical sketch By George Passman Tate Edition: illustrated Published by Asian Educational Services, 2001 Page 12 {{ISBN|81-206-1586-7}}, {{ISBN|978-81-206-1586-1}}</ref>}}
] built by the ]]]


In 1011, 1015 and 1020, both Mahmud and Mas'ud I led expeditions into Ghur and established ] in place of indigenous paganism. After this, Ghur was considered a vassal state of the ].<ref>C.E. Bosworth, ''The Later Ghaznavids'', (Columbia University Press, 1977), 68.</ref> During the reign of 'Abd ar Rashi and the usurper ], Ghur and ] gained autonomy.<ref>C.E. Bosworth, ''The Later Ghaznavids'', 69.</ref>
Ghor, which was part of ] for many centuries, was one of the regions which participated in the Persian Cultural Revival after the ].


Ghor was also the center of the ] in the 12th and 13th centuries. The remains of their capital ], which was sacked and destroyed by the Mongols in 1222, includes the ], a ] ].
==Population==
]
The population of Ghor today is about 635,302 people, consisting of ], ], ] and small community of ].<ref name="mrrd"/><ref name="nps"></ref><ref name=Iranica>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Bosworth |first=C. Edmund |encyclopedia=] |title=GÚUR |url=http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v11f4/v11f4032.html |accessdate= January 2008 |edition=Online Edition |publisher=] |location=United States }}</ref> Tajiks are the majority ethnic group in the province.<ref name="nps"/><ref></ref>


===Karzai and Ghani administrations===
==Geography & Weather==
{{Further|Presidency of Hamid Karzai}}
Ghor occupies the end of the Hindu Kush mountains. Ghor is 2,500m above sea level and heavy snowfalls often block many of its rugged passes from November to April. It is also a drought-prone area in the summer.
In June 2004, hundreds of troops of Abdul Salaam Khan, who had rejected the Afghan government's plan to disarm regional militias, attacked Chaghcharan and took over the city in an afternoon-long siege. Eighteen people were killed or wounded in the fighting, at which point Governor Mohammed Ibrahim fled. Three days later the Afghan government announced that it would not retake Chaghcharan. Khan and Ibrahim began negotiations soon after but reached no agreement. Khan's troops left Chaghcharan on 23 June, a day ahead of when an ] battalion, led by Lieutenant-General Aminullah Paktiyanai, arrived with the support of roughly 20 U.S. soldiers.


===Taliban administration (2021-present)===
==Districts==
]


In 2021, the ] regained control of Ghor after the ].
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=90% style="font-size:90%;" align=center

|+ align=center style="background:#BFD7FF"| '''Districts of Ghor Province'''
Fifty people were killed in floods in the Ghor province in May 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Afghanistan floods: At least 50 killed as heavy rain returns |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4n1gg2p1ljo |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#efefef"

!style="width:125px" align="left"|District
==Transportation==
!style="width:125px" align="left"|Capital
{{Further|Transport in Afghanistan}}
!style="width:100px" align="right"|Population
As of September 2014, ], located at the provincial capital of Chaghcharan, had regularly scheduled flights to the provinces of ] and ].
!style="width:100px" align="right"|Area<ref></ref>

!align="right"|Notes
As of 2013, roads in the province remained largely undeveloped, unpaved and often lacked bridges over rivers.<ref>NATO Channel, Discover Afghanistan - The Minaret of Jam, August 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F8SREfehZ4</ref>

==Economy==
{{Further|Economy of Afghanistan}}
] and ] are the primary economic activities in Ghor Province. According to the United Nations, many young men were forced to leave the province to find work in Herat or Iran and a small percentage of the population were teachers, government officials, carpet weavers, carpenters and tailors. Over half of the population could not cover their basic needs with their level of income.<ref name="aims.org.af">{{Cite web|url=http://www.aims.org.af/afg/dist_profiles/unhcr_district_profiles/western/ghor/chaghcharan.pdf|title=District Profile, UNHCR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051027182357/http://www.aims.org.af/afg/dist_profiles/unhcr_district_profiles/western/ghor/chaghcharan.pdf|archive-date=2005-10-27}}</ref> ] production had returned to the region following the Taliban's departure as locals attempted to increase their incomes by farming a more economically lucrative crop.<ref name="aims.org.af"/>

==Healthcare==
{{Further|Health in Afghanistan}}
The percentage of households with clean drinking water fell from 14% in 2005 to 9% in 2011.<ref name="cimicweb.org">Archive, Civil Military Fusion Centre, https://www.cimicweb.org/AfghanistanProvincialMap/Pages/Ghor.aspx {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531104956/https://www.cimicweb.org/AfghanistanProvincialMap/Pages/Ghor.aspx |date=2014-05-31 }}</ref>
The percentage of births attended to by a skilled birth attendant fell from 9% in 2005 to 3% in 2011.<ref name="cimicweb.org"/>

==Education==
{{Further|Education in Afghanistan}}
The overall literacy rate (6+ years of age) increased from 19% in 2005 to 25% in 2011.<ref name="cimicweb.org"/> The overall net enrolment rate (6–13 years of age) increased from 28% in 2005 to 47% in 2011.<ref name="cimicweb.org"/>

Ghor University that first established as Ghor Higher Education Institute and then promoted to Ghor University has around 500 students with a significant number of girls. There are also some Teacher Training Institutes in the Firuzkoh, Taywara and Lal districts. The number of high schools increased in last the 10 years and attendance in university entrance exams (Kankor) jumped from hundreds to thousands of students. Several agriculture and mechanical schools were also established. There is only one nursing school that trains young female high school graduates for midwifery and nursing that is part of the Ministry of Public Health and run by an ] in association with Ghor provincial hospital.

==Demographics==
{{Further|Demographics of Afghanistan}}
As of 2020, the total population of Ghor province is about 764,472.<ref name=nsia>{{cite web |url=https://www.nsia.gov.af:8080/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A2%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D9%86%D9%81%D9%88%D8%B3-%DA%A9%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%B1-%DB%B1%DB%B3%DB%B9%DB%B9-%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%AE%DB%80-%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84.pdf |title=Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21 |publisher=Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, National Statistics and Information Authority |access-date=6 June 2021 |archive-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703171906/https://www.nsia.gov.af:8080/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A2%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D9%86%D9%81%D9%88%D8%B3-%DA%A9%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%B1-%DB%B1%DB%B3%DB%B9%DB%B9-%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%AE%DB%80-%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="nps">{{cite web|url=http://www.nps.edu/Programs/CCs/Ghor/Ghor.html|title=Welcome - Naval Postgraduate School|website=www.NPS.edu|access-date=1 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nps.edu/Programs/CCs/Ghor/Ghor_tribal.pdf|title=Welcome - Naval Postgraduate School|website=www.NPS.edu|access-date=1 December 2017}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{Further|Geography of Afghanistan}}
]

Ghor occupies the end of the Hindu Kush mountains. Ghor is 2,500 meters above sea level and heavy snowfalls often block many of its rugged passes from November to April. It is also a drought-prone area in the summer.

===Districts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Districts of Ghor Province<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/afghanistan/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011004003308/http://www.fao.org/afghanistan/|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 October 2001|date=4 October 2001|access-date=1 December 2017}}</ref>
|- |-
!District
|] || || || || Sub-divided in 2005
!Capital
!Population
!Area
!Pop.<br/>density
!Notes
|- |-
|] || || || || Created in 2005 within ] |] || || 132,537 || 6,870 || 19 || (]), 96% ], 2% ] 2%
|- |-
|] || || 30,956 || 1,485 || 21 || Firozkohi ] 50% (Aimaqs), 40% ], 10% Uzbeks
|] || || || || Created in 2005 within ]
|- |-
|] || || || || Created in 2005 within ] and ] |] || || 47,442 || 1,686 || 22 || Predominantly Hazaras, few Farsiwan (Aimaqs)
|- |-
|] || || || || |] || || 35,100 || 3,246 || 13 || Predominantly Farsiwan (Aimaqs)
|- |-
|] || || || || |] || || 336,500 || 3,634 || 35 || 100% Hazaras
|- |-
|] || || || || |] || || 40,000 || 2,930 || 7 || Predominantly Tajiks
|- |-
|] || || || || |] || || 92,900 || 5,073 || 21 || 84% ], 11% Pashtuns, 5% ]
|- |-
|] || || || || |] || || 33,700 || 2,404 || 16 || Predominantly Farsiwan (Aimaqs), few Pashtuns
|- |-
|] || || || || |] || || 58,200 || 4,600 || 15 || 100% Farsiwan (Aimaqs)
|-
|] || Qala-e-ghore || 88,900 || 4,030 || 26 || Predominantly Farsiwan (Aimaqs), few Hazaras
|-
|] || || 58,192 || 2,908 || 20 || Predominantly Farsiwan (Aimaqs), few Pashtuns and Uzbeks
|- bgcolor="#d3d3d3"
|'''Ghor'''
|
|'''954,989'''
|'''36,657'''
|'''26'''
|48% ], (50% ], 1% ], 1% ].{{refn|group=note|Note: "Predominantely" or "dominated" is interpreted as 99%, "majority" as 70%, "mixed" as 1/(number of ethnicities), "minority" as 30% and "few" or "some" as 1%.}}
|} |}
{{reflist|group=note}}


==Politics== ==Sports==
{{Further|Sport in Afghanistan}}
The current Governor of the province is ]. A ]n contingent of the ] force is stationed in the province.
], ], ], ], ] and ] are all official sports of the province. In July 2010, the Ghor Province cricket team was founded and represent the province in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afgcric.com/domestic/item/48-ghor-cricket-team-founded.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716151325/http://www.afgcric.com/domestic/item/48-ghor-cricket-team-founded.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 July 2012|title=Ghor cricket team founded|website=AfgCric.com|access-date=1 December 2017}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
* ]
* ]
* ] * ]
* ]
<br />
* ]
----
]

1. Chaghcharan (Center)
2. Taywara District
3. Du Layna District
4. Lal Wa Sarjangal District
5. Saghar District
6. Shahrak District
7. Dawlatyar District


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}} {{reflist|30em}}


==Further reading==
The current governor of Gho Province is Sayed Munib Eqbal who replaced Baz Mohammad Ahmadi almost four months ago.
* ''The Places in Between'' by Rory Stewart, 2005, Picador Publishers, {{ISBN|0330486349}}


==External links== ==External links==
* (accessed 11 February 2013; archived)
* , Encyclopedia Iranica

*
{{Geographic location
*
|Centre = Ghor Province
*
|North = ]
*
|Northeast = ]
|East = ]
|Southeast = ]
|South = ]
|Southwest = ]
|West = ]
|Northwest = ]
}}


{{Provinces of Afghanistan}} {{Provinces of Afghanistan}}
{{Districts of Ghor}} {{Ghor Province}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Ghor Province}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Ghor Province}}
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Latest revision as of 05:28, 8 November 2024

Province of Afghanistan "Ghor" redirects here. For the video game character, see Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. "Ghur" redirects here. For the village in Iran, see Ur, Iran. Province in Afghanistan
Ghōr غور
Province
From the top, Minaret of Jam, Chaghar Sadeh District, Ghor Valley.
Map of Afghanistan with Ghor highlightedMap of Afghanistan with Ghor highlighted
Coordinates (Capital): 34°N 65°E / 34°N 65°E / 34; 65
Country Afghanistan
CapitalChaghcharan
Government
 • GovernorAhmad Shah Din Dost
 • Deputy GovernorMaulvi Shams Ullah Tariqat
 • Police ChiefHanif Abada
Area
 • Total36,657.42 km (14,153.51 sq mi)
Population
 • Total777,882
 • Density21/km (55/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+4:30
Postal code32XX
ISO 3166 codeAF-GHO
Main languagesDari, Pashto

Ghōr, also spelled Ghowr or Ghur (Dari: غور), is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. It is located in the western Hindu Kush in central Afghanistan, towards the northwest. The province contains eleven districts, encompassing hundreds of villages, and approximately 764,472 settled people. Firuzkoh (known as “Chaghcharan” until 2014) is the capital of the province.

Etymology

The ancient Indo-European, Sogdian gor-/gur- ("mountain"-) is well preserved in all Slavic gor-/gór- (goor-/gur-), e.g.: Gorals, Goran, Goranci, Góra, Gora..., in Iranian languages, e.g.: Gorani language, Guran (Kurdish tribe). The Polish notation using gór- ("ó" stands for a sound between English "oo" and "u") instead of the popular gur- or ghur- preserves the ancient orthography.

History

Part of a series on the
History of Afghanistan

The palace of the emir in 1839
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
Macedonian Empire 330–312 BC
Seleucid Empire 312–150 BC
Maurya Empire 305–180 BC
Greco-Bactrian kingdom 256–125 BC
Parthian Empire 247 BC–224 AD
Indo-Greek kingdom 180–90 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
Rob
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
Tang China 660–669
Tibetan Empire 660–842
Umayyads 661–750
Zunbils 680–870
Lawik750-977
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
Kunduz Khanate ?–1859
Hotak dynasty 1709–1738
Sadozai Sultanate 1716–1732
Afsharid Iran 1738–1747
Durrani Empire 1747–1823
Maimana Khanate 1747–1892
Herat 1793–1863
Principality of Qandahar1818–1855
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
Related topics
Further information: History of Afghanistan

Mandesh is the historical name by which the mountain region of Ghor was called.

The inhabitants of Ghor were completely Islamized during the Ghurids era. Before the 12th century, the area was home to Buddhists, Zoroastrians, Hindus and a small number of Jews. Remains of the oldest settlements discovered by Lithuanian archaeologists in 2007 and 2008 in Ghor date back to 5000 BC. Ruins of a few castles and other defense fortifications were also discovered in the environs of Chaghcharan. A Buddhist monastery hand-carved on the bluff of the river Harirud existed in the first centuries during the prevalence of Buddhism. The artificial caves revealed testimony of the daily life of the Buddhist monks.

The rise to power of the Ghurids at Ghur, a small isolated area located in the mountain vastness between the Ghaznavid Empire and the Seljukids, was an unusual and unexpected development. The area was so remote that until the 11th century, it had remained a pagan enclave surrounded by Muslim principalities. It was converted to Islam in the early part of the 12th century after Mahmud raided it, and left teachers to instruct the Ghurids in the precepts of Islam. Even then it is believed that paganism, i.e. a variety of Mahayana Buddhism persisted in the area till the end of the century.

Various scholars and historians such as John McLeod attribute the conversion of the Ghauris to Islam to Mahmud Ghazni after his conquest of Ghor.

Traditional Muslim historians such as Estakhri and Ibn Haukal attest to the existence of the non-Islamic enclave of Ghor before the time of Ghazni, which is attributed to converting its population to Islam.

Ghor: Also called Ghoristan. The mountainous country between Hirat and Ghazni. According to Istakhri and Ibn Haukal, it was a rugged mountainous country, bounded by the districts of Hirat, Farrah, Dawar, Rabat, Kirwan, and Gharjistan back to Hirat, which were all Muslim countries. Ghor itself was a country of infidels, containing only a few Musulmans, and the inhabitants spoke a language different from that of Khurasan.

Minhaju-S-Siraj recorded strife between the non-Muslim and Muslim populations:

It is said that Amir Suri was a great king and most of the territories of Ghor were in his possession. But as most of the inhabitants of Ghor of High and low degrees had not yet embraced Islam, there was constant strife among them. The Saffarians came from Nimroz to Bust and Dawar, Yakub Lais overpowered Lak-Lak, who was the chief of Takinabad, in the country of Rukhaj. The Georgians sought the safety in Sara-sang and dwelt there in security but even among them hostilities constantly prevailed between the Muslim and the Non-Muslims. One castle was at war with another castle, and their feuds were unceasing; but owing to the inaccessibility of the mountains of Rasiat, which are in Ghor no foreigner was able to overcome them, and Shansbani Amir Suri was the head of all the Madness.

According to Minhahu-S Siraj, Amir Suri was captured by Mahmud of Ghazni, made prisoner along with his son, and taken to Ghazni, where Amir Suri died.

The region had previously been conquered by Mahmud of Ghazni, and the population converted to Islam.

It was also the last stronghold of an ancient religion professed by the inhabitants when all their neighbors had become Muslim. In the 11th century AD Mahmud of Ghazni defeated the prince of Ghor Ibn–I-Suri, and made him prisoner in a severely contested engagement in the valley of Ahingaran. Ibn-I-Suri is identified a Buddhist by the author, who has recorded his overthrow.

The Minaret of Jam built by the Ghurid dynasty

In 1011, 1015 and 1020, both Mahmud and Mas'ud I led expeditions into Ghur and established Islam in place of indigenous paganism. After this, Ghur was considered a vassal state of the Ghaznavid empire. During the reign of 'Abd ar Rashi and the usurper Toghrul, Ghur and Gharchistan gained autonomy.

Ghor was also the center of the Ghurid dynasty in the 12th and 13th centuries. The remains of their capital Firozkoh, which was sacked and destroyed by the Mongols in 1222, includes the Minaret of Jam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Karzai and Ghani administrations

Further information: Presidency of Hamid Karzai

In June 2004, hundreds of troops of Abdul Salaam Khan, who had rejected the Afghan government's plan to disarm regional militias, attacked Chaghcharan and took over the city in an afternoon-long siege. Eighteen people were killed or wounded in the fighting, at which point Governor Mohammed Ibrahim fled. Three days later the Afghan government announced that it would not retake Chaghcharan. Khan and Ibrahim began negotiations soon after but reached no agreement. Khan's troops left Chaghcharan on 23 June, a day ahead of when an Afghan National Army battalion, led by Lieutenant-General Aminullah Paktiyanai, arrived with the support of roughly 20 U.S. soldiers.

Taliban administration (2021-present)

In 2021, the Taliban regained control of Ghor after the 2021 Taliban offensive.

Fifty people were killed in floods in the Ghor province in May 2024.

Transportation

Further information: Transport in Afghanistan

As of September 2014, Chaghcharan Airport, located at the provincial capital of Chaghcharan, had regularly scheduled flights to the provinces of Kabul and Herat.

As of 2013, roads in the province remained largely undeveloped, unpaved and often lacked bridges over rivers.

Economy

Further information: Economy of Afghanistan

Agriculture and animal husbandry are the primary economic activities in Ghor Province. According to the United Nations, many young men were forced to leave the province to find work in Herat or Iran and a small percentage of the population were teachers, government officials, carpet weavers, carpenters and tailors. Over half of the population could not cover their basic needs with their level of income. Opium production had returned to the region following the Taliban's departure as locals attempted to increase their incomes by farming a more economically lucrative crop.

Healthcare

Further information: Health in Afghanistan

The percentage of households with clean drinking water fell from 14% in 2005 to 9% in 2011. The percentage of births attended to by a skilled birth attendant fell from 9% in 2005 to 3% in 2011.

Education

Further information: Education in Afghanistan

The overall literacy rate (6+ years of age) increased from 19% in 2005 to 25% in 2011. The overall net enrolment rate (6–13 years of age) increased from 28% in 2005 to 47% in 2011.

Ghor University that first established as Ghor Higher Education Institute and then promoted to Ghor University has around 500 students with a significant number of girls. There are also some Teacher Training Institutes in the Firuzkoh, Taywara and Lal districts. The number of high schools increased in last the 10 years and attendance in university entrance exams (Kankor) jumped from hundreds to thousands of students. Several agriculture and mechanical schools were also established. There is only one nursing school that trains young female high school graduates for midwifery and nursing that is part of the Ministry of Public Health and run by an NGO in association with Ghor provincial hospital.

Demographics

Further information: Demographics of Afghanistan

As of 2020, the total population of Ghor province is about 764,472.

Geography

Further information: Geography of Afghanistan
Ghor province under a deep winter in 2012.

Ghor occupies the end of the Hindu Kush mountains. Ghor is 2,500 meters above sea level and heavy snowfalls often block many of its rugged passes from November to April. It is also a drought-prone area in the summer.

Districts

Districts of Ghor Province
District Capital Population Area Pop.
density 		Notes
Chaghcharan 132,537 6,870 19 (Aimaqs), 96% Pashtuns, 2% Hazaras 2%
Charsada 30,956 1,485 21 Firozkohi Aimaq 50% (Aimaqs), 40% Hazaras, 10% Uzbeks
Dawlat Yar 47,442 1,686 22 Predominantly Hazaras, few Farsiwan (Aimaqs)
Du Layna 35,100 3,246 13 Predominantly Farsiwan (Aimaqs)
Lal wa Sarjangal 336,500 3,634 35 100% Hazaras
Marghab 40,000 2,930 7 Predominantly Tajiks
Pasaband 92,900 5,073 21 84% Aymaq, 11% Pashtuns, 5% Hazaras
Saghar 33,700 2,404 16 Predominantly Farsiwan (Aimaqs), few Pashtuns
Shahrak 58,200 4,600 15 100% Farsiwan (Aimaqs)
Taywara Qala-e-ghore 88,900 4,030 26 Predominantly Farsiwan (Aimaqs), few Hazaras
Tulak 58,192 2,908 20 Predominantly Farsiwan (Aimaqs), few Pashtuns and Uzbeks
Ghor 954,989 36,657 26 48% Hazara, (50% Aimaqs, 1% Pashtuns, 1% Uzbeks.
  1. Note: "Predominantely" or "dominated" is interpreted as 99%, "majority" as 70%, "mixed" as 1/(number of ethnicities), "minority" as 30% and "few" or "some" as 1%.

Sports

Further information: Sport in Afghanistan

Football, volleyball, basketball, tennis, taekwondo and karate are all official sports of the province. In July 2010, the Ghor Province cricket team was founded and represent the province in domestic tournaments.

See also

References

  1. "مولوی احمدشاه دین دوست، والی جدید غور تعیین شد | خبرگزاری وطن 24". 2 November 2021.
  2. "Afghan Teen, Sole Breadwinner for Family of 30, Waits Desperately to See if Taliban Will Help". Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty.
  3. Mujahid, Zabihullah (29 January 2023). د عالیقدر امیرالمؤمنین حفظه الله د حکم په اساس لاندې ټاکنې وشوې [On the basis of the order of His Highness Amirul Momineen Hufzallah, the following appointments were made] (Tweet) (in Pashto). Retrieved 1 October 2023 – via Twitter.
  4. "Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2021-22" (PDF). nsia.gov.af. National Statistic and Information Authority (NSIA). April 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  5. ^ "Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21" (PDF). Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, National Statistics and Information Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  6. E.J. Brill's first encyclopaedia of Islam, 1913–1936, Volume 7 By Martijn Theodoor Houtsma Page 161
  7. Province hides monuments some of which date back to 5000 BC, Quqnoos.com, 22 May 2008
  8. Lithuanian archeologists make discovery in Afghanistan, The Baltic Times, May 22, 2008; Archaeologists make new discoveries about ancient Afghan cultures, Top News, May 23, 2008.
  9. Medieval India Part 1 Satish Chandra Page 22
  10. The history of India By John McLeod Published by Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002 Page 34
  11. The History of India, as Told by Its Historians by Eliot and Dowson, Volume 2, page 576
  12. The History of India as Told by Its Historians by Eliot and Dowson, Volume 2, page 284
  13. The History of India as Told by Its Own Historians by Eliot and Dowson, Volume 2, page 286
  14. S.A.A. Rizvi, The Wonder that was India, Vol. II, (Picador India), page 16.
  15. The Kingdom of Afghanistan: a historical sketch By George Passman Tate Edition: illustrated Published by Asian Educational Services, 2001 Page 12 ISBN 81-206-1586-7, ISBN 978-81-206-1586-1
  16. C.E. Bosworth, The Later Ghaznavids, (Columbia University Press, 1977), 68.
  17. C.E. Bosworth, The Later Ghaznavids, 69.
  18. "Afghanistan floods: At least 50 killed as heavy rain returns". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  19. NATO Channel, Discover Afghanistan - The Minaret of Jam, August 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F8SREfehZ4
  20. ^ "District Profile, UNHCR" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2005-10-27.
  21. ^ Archive, Civil Military Fusion Centre, https://www.cimicweb.org/AfghanistanProvincialMap/Pages/Ghor.aspx Archived 2014-05-31 at the Wayback Machine
  22. "Welcome - Naval Postgraduate School". www.NPS.edu. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  23. "Welcome - Naval Postgraduate School" (PDF). www.NPS.edu. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  24. . 4 October 2001 https://web.archive.org/web/20011004003308/http://www.fao.org/afghanistan/. Archived from the original on 4 October 2001. Retrieved 1 December 2017. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  25. "Ghor cricket team founded". AfgCric.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2017.

Further reading

  • The Places in Between by Rory Stewart, 2005, Picador Publishers, ISBN 0330486349

External links

Places adjacent to Ghor Province
Badghis Province Faryab Province Sar-e Pol Province
Herat Province Ghor Province Bamyan Province
Farah Province Helmand Province Daykundi Province
Provinces of Afghanistan
Ghor Province
Capital: Chaghcharan
Districts
Populated places
Other
Categories: