Logar Province
Logar is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan located in the eastern section of the country. It is divided into seven districts and contains hundreds of villages. Puli Alam is the capital of the province.
As of 2013, Logar has a population of about 373,100. It is a multi-ethnic tribal society, with about 60% belonging to the Pashtun group and the rest being Tajiks and Hazaras.
The Logar River enters the province through the west and leaves to the north.
History
Pre Islamic era
The Logar province territory fell to the Maurya Empire, which was led by Chandragupta Maurya. The Mauryas introduced Buddhism to the region, and were planning to capture more territory of Central Asia until they faced local Greco-Bactrian forces. Seleucus is said to have reached a peace treaty with Chandragupta by giving control of the territory south of the Hindu Kush to the Mauryas upon intermarriage and 500 elephants.under Ashoka
Having consolidated power in the northwest, Chandragupta pushed east towards the Nanda Empire. Afghanistan's significant ancient tangible and intangible Buddhist heritage is recorded through wide-ranging archaeological finds, including religious and artistic remnants. Buddhist doctrines are reported to have reached as far as Balkh even during the life of the Buddha, as recorded by Husang Tsang.
Recent history
During the Soviet–Afghan War, Logar was known among some Afghans as the Bab al-Jihad because it became a fierce theatre of war between US-backed/trained mujahideen groups and the Soviet-backed Afghan government troops. It was one of the main supply routes of mujahideen rebels coming from Pakistan. Like other parts of the country, Logar has also seen heavy fighting during the 1980s. Swedish journalist Borge Almqvist, who visited the province in 1982, wrote that: "Everywhere in the Logar province the most common sight except for ruins are graves". Soviet operations included using bombing, the use of flammable liquids to burn alive people in hiding, poisoning of drinking water, and destruction of crops and farmland. One writer who witnessed the events argue that the Soviet actions in Logar amounted to genocide.By 1995 the province had fallen to the Taliban government. After the removal of the Taliban and formation of the Karzai administration in late 2001, the International Security Assistance Force and Afghan National Security Forces gradually took over security of the area. The Provincial Reconstruction Team Logar was established in March 2008. It provided a number of benefits to the locals, including security, development, and jobs.
In the meantime, Taliban insurgents are often causing major disturbances in the area. This includes major attacks on key projects, suicide bombings in civilian area, and assassinations of Afghan government employees. On 19 August 2014, a major Taliban offensive took place with 700 militants aiming to take control of the province, while the NATO-led foreign force mistakenly killed three civilians in an air strike in December 2014.
On January 20, 2019, the Taliban claimed responsibility for a car bomb attack on the province's governor and his convoy, which killed eight security forces and wounded at least 10 on the highway to Kabul. The governor and the provincial head of the National Directorate of Security were uninjured.
Geography
Logar can be generally described as a relatively flat river valley in the north and central regions, surrounded by rugged mountains to the east, south, and southwest. The district of Azra, in the east, consists almost entirely of mountains, while travel to the Paktia Province to the south is limited to the Tera Pass, a 2896 m high road that was recently completed as part of the international reconstruction effort in Afghanistan. The Kabul-Khost Highway runs north–south through Logar Province, from the Mohammed Agha District south to the Paktia and Khost Provinces.Although the government of Afghanistan recognizes the Azra district as being in Logar, many widely accepted maps include it in the Paktia province to the south.
Politics and governance
The last governor of the province was Arsala Jamal. He was assassinated by anti-Afghan forces, often described as Taliban militants. All law enforcement activities throughout the province are managed by the Afghan National Police. The border with neighboring Pakistan is monitored by the Afghan Border Police. A provincial police chief is assigned to lead both the ANP and the ABP. The Police Chief represents the Ministry of the Interior in Kabul. The ANP and ABP are backed by the military, including the NATO-led forces.Capital City
Pul-e-Alam is the capital city of Logar province, located in the district of Puli Alam. It's on the main road running south and southeast from Kabul to Khost.Rebuilding of the city is going on. There is a lot of room for Infrastructure and investmen.
Puli Alam has seen reconstruction since the fall of the Taliban. The main road to Kabul was completed in 2006, significantly reducing travel time to the national capital. Additional projects include numerous schools, radio stations, government facilities, and a major Afghan National Police base situated just south of the city.
The city is open for investment and can be a good option for investments.
Like most Afghan cities, there is municipal planning and services.
During President Ashraf Ghani tenure finally the city has electricity, clean drinking and water facilities.
Healthcare
The percentage of households without clean drinking water fell from 45% in 2005 to 14% in 2011.The percentage of births attended to by a skilled birth attendant increased from 9% in 2005 to 73% in 2011.
Education
The overall literacy rate increased from 21% in 2005 to 30% in 2011.The overall net enrolment rate increased from 22% in 2005 to 45% in 2011.
The overall literacy rate in Logar province was 21% in 2005 however, while nearly one-third of men are literate this is true for just under one-tenth of women. There are around 168 primary and secondary schools in the province catering for 81,538 students. There are nearly 2,082 teachers working in schools in the Logar province. There are several girls schools in the province, mostly located in Koshi and Pul-e-alam. Due to the large Taliban presence in Chark and Baraki Barak, the freedom of women in Logar does not always allow for an education. As of 2007, the province had a literacy rate of 17%.
Demographics
As of 2013, the total population of Logar province is about 373,100, which is multi-ethnic and a tribal society. About 60 percent of Logar's residents belong to the Pashtun group; Tajiks and Hazaras form the remainder of the population.Districts
Until 2005 the district was administratively subdivided into five districts. In that year the province gained Azra District from neighbouring Paktia Province; also part of Charkh District was split off into the new district of Kharwar.| District | Capital | Population | area | Notes |
| Azra | 20,760 | Shifted from Paktia Province in 2005 | ||
| Baraki Barak | 89,476 | Includes the road linking Puli Alam with Highway 1 to the west | ||
| Charkh | 45,362 | Sub-divided in 2005 | ||
| Kharwar | 26,762 | Created in 2005 within Charkh District | ||
| Khoshi | 24,602 | Home to lot of the Shiite enclaves in southeast Afghanistan | ||
| Mohammad Agha | 77,074 | The northern portion of Mohammad Agha is contiguous with the southern 'suburbs' of Kabul 65% pashtun. | ||
| Puli Alam | Puli Alam | 108,039 |
Sport
is the most popular sport in the province. Logar has been a major supplier of players for the Afghanistan national cricket team. Former players include Dawlat Ahmadzai, Ahmad Shah Pakteen and former national team captain Raees Ahmadzai. Among the active national players hailing from Logar are: Mohammad Nabi, Shahpoor Zadran, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Nasir Jamal Ahmadzai and Gulbadin Naib Ahmadzai.Football is the second most popular sport in the province. De Abasin Sape plays in the Afghanistan Premier League. Abasin means "father of the rivers" in Pashto and refers to the Indus River. The team represents the provinces of Khost, Paktia, Logar, and Paktika.