Tarinkot
{{Short description|City in Uruzgan, Afghanistan}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name =Tarinkot
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|native_name = ترينکوټ
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|pushpin_map = Afghanistan
|pushpin_label_position =bottom
|pushpin_map_caption =Location in Afghanistan
|pushpin_mapsize =300
|subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Afghanistan}}
|subdivision_type1 = Province
|subdivision_name1 = Uruzgan
|subdivision_type2 = District
|subdivision_name2 = Tarinkot
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|timezone = AFT
|utc_offset = +4:30
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|coordinates = {{coord|32|37|36|N|65|52|24|E|region:AF|display=inline,title}}
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|elevation_m = 1317
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Tarinkot ({{langx|prs|ترين کوت}}), also spelled as Tarin Kowt, is a city in south-central Afghanistan, serving as the capital of Uruzgan Province.{{cite web |url=https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/kst-27925-237-b2.pdf |title=Context Analysis URUZGAN Province |publisher=Royal Netherlands Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan |date=19 October 2006 |access-date=2024-04-10}}{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-07-29/brown---tarin-kowt-and-the-battle-for-minds/2816352 |title=Tarin Kowt and the battle for minds |last=Brown |first=James |publisher=ABC News |location=Australia |date=July 29, 2011}} It sits at {{cvt|1317|m}} above sea level, and is connected by a road network with Kandahar to the south, Nili in Daykundi Province to the north, and Malistan in Ghazni Province to the northeast.
Located within the Tarinkot District, the city had a population of approximately 71,604 people in 2015. In the district, two major Pashtun tribal confederations are represented, Tareen tribes: Popalzai, Barakzai, Nurzai, Achakzai; and the Ghilzai tribes: Tokhi, Hotak.
The majority of land in the district is classified as non built-up (69%) of which agriculture is practiced over 67%. Residential land accounts for 47% of built-up land.{{cite web |url=https://unhabitat.org/soac2015 |title=The State of Afghan Cities Report 2015 |publisher=United Nations Human Settlements Programme |access-date=2015-10-31}} The Tarinkot Airport is located within the municipal boundaries, constituting the second largest built-up land use (24%).
During the August 2021 Taliban offensive, all Afghan National Security Forces under President Ashraf Ghani surrendered to the Taliban.{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-taliban-c6c8d4a41c554f36031a8131538d1402 |title=Taliban sweep across Afghanistan's south, take 3 more cities |publisher=AP News |date=August 13, 2021 |access-date=2021-08-13}} Tarinkot continues to be one of the least developed populated places in the country.{{cite news |url=https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-186889 |title= Lack of Bridge Over Tarinkot River Creates Challenges |work=TOLOnews |date=9 January 2024 |access-date=2024-04-08}}
History
{{Further|History of Afghanistan}}
Tarinkot was historically part of the Loy Kandahar (Greater Kandahar) region. This locale remained a seat of some of the Tarin (or Tareen) Pashtun tribal sardars, as early as the 12th-13th centuries ADDr SB Panni, Tareekh i Hazara Peshawar, 1969 ed, p. 301 and some of them later migrated to the Indian subcontinent during or after the Mughal-Safavid War (1622-23). Including some settled near Pishin and some in the Hazara area of what is now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
=21st century=
{{Further|Multi National Base Tarin Kot}}
On November 16, 2001, anti-Taliban groups in the area rose up against their Taliban governor, which marked the first organized Pashtun resistance against the Taliban. Hamid Karzai, then an obscure statesman, was in the region at the time trying to organize a militia while accompanied by an 11-man U.S. Special Forces team, known as Operational Detachment Alpha 574.{{cite news |url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/2003/journey/afghanistan.html |title=Afghanistan: Home Free |publisher=Time |date=August 11, 2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408191839/http://www.time.com/time/asia/2003/journey/afghanistan.html |archive-date=April 8, 2011}} The Taliban launched a counterattack, confronting Karzai and his militia who dug in to defend the town. With the help of U.S. air power, they drove the Taliban back from Tarinkot.{{Cite web |url=http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/Afghanistan/Operation%20Enduring%20Freedom.htm#p14a |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201013730/http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/Afghanistan/Operation%20Enduring%20Freedom.htm|url-status=dead |title=The United States Army in Afghanistan - Operation ENDURING FREEDOM - October 2001-March 2003|archive-date=February 1, 2010}}
In 2004, an American base called FOB Ripley, named after U.S. Marine John Ripley was built in Tarinkot.
{{cite web
| url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2004/05/mil-040510-mcn01a.htm
| title=22d MEU (SOC)'s FOB in Afghanistan pays homage to Marine hero
| publisher=Marine Corps News
| date=2004-05-10
| author=Keith A. Milks
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040524134237/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2004/05/mil-040510-mcn01a.htm
| archive-date=2004-05-24
| url-status=live
}}
It was established by a Joint Task Force made up mainly of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (22nd MEU SOC), 2-5 Infantry (bobcats)/3rd BDE/ 25th Infantry Division, US Army Civil Affairs, and the Florida and Iowa National Guard Task Force 168 in May 2004. Subsequently, other foreign military forces have operated at the base outside Tarinkot.
After the 22nd MEU SOC led Operation Mountain Storm, most of the Taliban forces moved to the mountainous region between Afghanistan and Pakistan. In August 2006, as ISAF's mission assumed responsibility for security in Afghanistan's south, Dutch troops built Kamp Holland, later becoming the Multi National Base Tarin Kot.
Beginning in March 2007, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)[http://www.aed.usace.army.mil/ Afghanistan Engineer District] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315033715/http://www.aed.usace.army.mil/ |date=2007-03-15 }}, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. began construction of a road from Tarinkot westward to Deh Rahwod and then to Shahidi Hassas District, in the western areas of Oruzgan province. At the same time, the USACE also started paving and bridge construction to improve the road to Kandahar.
On 4 July 2010, U.S. soldiers from 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment assumed responsibility over operations in Tarinkot and Deh Rahwod in the wake of the Dutch withdrawal from Uruzgan.
On 27 July 2011, a young Pakistani man from the Waziristan region was captured by the Afghan National Army and ISAF forces during a raid on the house of Mullah Qasim in the Sur Marghab area near Tirinkot. The would-be bomber named Saifullah was interviewed by Pajhwok Afghan News reporter Ahmad Omaid Khpalwak. In the interview Saifullah said he and 14 other Pakistanis spent at least two months wandering around the city to select a proper time and place for an attack. "Many times we encountered foreigners, but Mullah Qasim would escape after seeing foreigners and finally we were arrested without carrying out any attack," he said.{{cite news |url=http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2011/07/28/bombing-suspect-says-pakistani-mullahs-brainwashed-him |title=Bombing suspect says Pakistani mullahs brainwashed him |date=28 July 2011 |access-date=20 June 2016}}
The next day, at around 12 pm, 28 July, three suicide attackers blew up vehicles packed with explosives at the gates of government compounds while other suicide bombers equipped with heavy weapons entered the buildings and began killing everyone inside. After the shooting ended at least 19 people were killed and 37 others wounded. The dead included Pajhwok reporter Khpalwak, 10 children, 2 women and 1 member of the Afghan National Police.{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/07/28/138777873/suicide-attacks-target-afghan-government-compound?ft=1&f=1004 |title=Suicide Attacks Target Afghan Government Compound}} Khpalwak was shot 20 times in different parts of his body.{{cite news |url=http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2011/07/28/khpalwaks-last-contact-pajhwok |title=Khpalwak's last contact with Pajhwok |date=28 July 2011 |access-date=20 June 2016}}
On March 1, 2011, U.S. soldiers from 4th Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment assumed responsibility of Tarinkot and Deh Rawod. On November 23, 2011, U.S. soldiers from the 1st Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron{{Broken anchor|date=2024-10-16|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Brigade combat team#Reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition squadron|reason= The anchor (Reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition squadron) has been deleted.}}, 14th Cavalry Regiment14th Cavalry Regiment (United States), 14th Cavalry Regiment assumed responsibility over operations in Tarinkot.
In September 2016, Tarinkot was under threat by Taliban militants, who had occupied the Kandahar–Tarinkot Highway, while also launching an attack on Tarinkot itself.{{cite news |url=https://www.ariananews.af/heavy-clashes-ongoing-in-urozgans-city/ |title=Heavy Clashes Ongoing in Urozgan's City |work=Ariana News |date=September 7, 2016 |access-date=2023-05-10}}{{cite news |url=https://thediplomat.com/2016/09/afghanistan-taliban-threaten-tarin-kot-again/ |title=Afghanistan: Taliban Threaten Tarin Kot Again |last=Snow |first=Shawn |publisher=The Diplomat |date=September 24, 2016 |access-date=2023-05-10 |language=en-US}} It was fully captured by the Taliban during the August 2021 Taliban offensive.
Geography
{{Further|Geography of Afghanistan}}
Tarinkot is somewhat isolated. It sits next to two rivers with a network of various size canals that provide water to nearby farms.
Climate
Tarinkot has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk) with hot summers and cool to cold winters. Precipitation is low, and mostly falls from December to March. Snow can be seen every winter.
{{Weather box
|location = Tarinkot
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 18.3
|Feb record high C = 21.7
|Mar record high C = 29.5
|Apr record high C = 39.3
|May record high C = 38.5
|Jun record high C = 44.5
|Jul record high C = 43.0
|Aug record high C = 42.8
|Sep record high C = 37.9
|Oct record high C = 36.6
|Nov record high C = 28.4
|Dec record high C = 21.6
|Jan high C = 9.3
|Feb high C = 11.1
|Mar high C = 17.4
|Apr high C = 26.0
|May high C = 31.3
|Jun high C = 36.8
|Jul high C = 38.4
|Aug high C = 37.4
|Sep high C = 32.9
|Oct high C = 26.5
|Nov high C = 18.4
|Dec high C = 12.8
|Jan mean C = 3.3
|Feb mean C = 4.9
|Mar mean C = 10.8
|Apr mean C = 17.4
|May mean C = 22.4
|Jun mean C = 28.0
|Jul mean C = 29.7
|Aug mean C = 27.7
|Sep mean C = 22.8
|Oct mean C = 16.1
|Nov mean C = 9.0
|Dec mean C = 5.2
|Jan low C = -2.4
|Feb low C = -1.0
|Mar low C = 3.8
|Apr low C = 9.0
|May low C = 12.7
|Jun low C = 16.8
|Jul low C = 18.6
|Aug low C = 17.0
|Sep low C = 10.9
|Oct low C = 5.6
|Nov low C = 0.7
|Dec low C = -1.6
|Jan record low C = −20.0
|Feb record low C = -11.9
|Mar record low C = −7.9
|Apr record low C = 0.9
|May record low C = 4.0
|Jun record low C = 7.0
|Jul record low C = 9.0
|Aug record low C = 5.6
|Sep record low C = 0.5
|Oct record low C = -3.8
|Nov record low C = −11.1
|Dec record low C = −15.8
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 48.9
|Feb precipitation mm = 61.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 62.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 18.3
|May precipitation mm = 8.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 0.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 1.4
|Aug precipitation mm = 0.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 0.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 4.8
|Nov precipitation mm = 12.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 30.3
|Jan rain days = 7
|Feb rain days = 7
|Mar rain days = 9
|Apr rain days = 5
|May rain days = 2
|Jun rain days = 0
|Jul rain days = 0
|Aug rain days = 0
|Sep rain days = 0
|Oct rain days = 1
|Nov rain days = 2
|Dec rain days = 5
|Jan snow days = 2
|Feb snow days = 1
|Mar snow days = 0
|Apr snow days = 0
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0
|Nov snow days = 0
|Dec snow days = 0
|Jan sun = 194.4
|Feb sun = 167.2
|Mar sun = 219.1
|Apr sun = 260.8
|May sun = 341.1
|Jun sun = 378.3
|Jul sun = 359.5
|Aug sun = 349.3
|Sep sun = 327.2
|Oct sun = 288.1
|Nov sun = 260.9
|Dec sun = 200.4
|Jan humidity = 60
|Feb humidity = 58
|Mar humidity = 53
|Apr humidity = 44
|May humidity = 35
|Jun humidity = 25
|Jul humidity = 26
|Aug humidity = 29
|Sep humidity = 28
|Oct humidity = 33
|Nov humidity = 40
|Dec humidity = 56
|source 1 = NOAA (1972-1982) {{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-II/AH/40977.TXT
|title = Trinkot Climate Normals 1972-1982
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = December 26, 2012}}
|date=September 2011
}}
Economy
{{Further|Economy of Afghanistan}}
The main source of income of Tarinkot residents has always been agriculture and transport.{{cite news |url=https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/Afghanistan-tarin-kot-uruzgan-taliban-war-water/29145638.html |title=In Rural Afghan War, Irrigation Water Is Tool |work=TOLOnews |date=April 4, 2018 |access-date=2024-04-08}} The city is connected by a road network with Kandahar to the south,{{cite news |url=https://pajhwok.com/2023/12/09/call-to-speed-up-kandahar-uruzgan-highway-repair-work/ |title=Call to speed up Kandahar-Uruzgan highway repair work |work=Pajhwok Afghan News |date=9 December 2023 |access-date=2024-04-08}}{{cite news |url=https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/provincial-186240 |title=Calls Mount to Speed Up Work on Uruzgan-Kandahar Highway |work=TOLOnews |date=28 November 2023 |access-date=2024-04-08}} Nili in Daykundi Province to the north, and Malistan in Ghazni Province to the northeast. Tarinkot Airport serves the population of both Uruzgan and Daykundi provinces.
Sport
{{Further|Sport in Afghanistan}}
Cricket and association football are the most popular sports in the area. The city has one major multipurpose stadium.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{YouTube|algwTN7TksQ|Tarinkot center of Urozgan Province, Afghanistan}} (Dec. 7, 2022)
{{Urozgan Province}}
{{Authority control}}