Khost Province


Khost is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the eastern part of the country. To the east, Khost Province is bordered by 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.
The city of Khost serves as the capital of Khost province. The population of the province is around 546,800, which is mostly a tribal society. Khost Airport serves the province for domestic flights to Afghanistan's capital, Kabul.

History

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.

Politics and governance

The current governor of the province is Mohammad Sadiq Patman. The city of Khost is the capital of Khost province. All law enforcement activities throughout the province are controlled by the Afghan National Police. The border of Afghanistan's Khost province with neighboring Pakistan's FATA is monitored and protected by the Afghan Border Police, which is part of the ANP. The border is called the Durand Line and is known to be one of the most dangerous in the world due to heavy militant activities and illegal smugglings. A provincial police chief is assigned to lead both the ANP and ABP. The police chief represents the Ministry of the Interior in Kabul. The ANP is backed by other Afghan National Security Forces.

Healthcare

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

Education

The overall literacy rate fell from 28% in 2005 to 15% in 2011.
The overall net enrolment rate fell from 38% in 2005 to 37% in 2011.

Demographics

The population of Khost province was estimated to be around 546,800. Other sources put the number at over a million.
The Pashtun people make up 99% of the population, with the remaining 1% being Tajiks and others.

Districts

Water

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

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