UNHCR BACKGROUND REPORT PAKTIKA PROVINCE Prepared by the Data Collection for Afghan Repatriation Project 1 September 1989 PREFACE '!he follc,,.,ing report is one in a series of 14 provincial profiles prepared for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees by the Data collec tion for Afghan Repatriation Project. '!he object of these reports is to provide detailed information on the conditions affecting the repatriation of Afghan refugees in each province so that UNHCRan d its inplementing partners may be better able to plan and target progranunes of relief and rehabilitation assistance. Each of the provinces featured in this series is estimated to have at least 35 percent of its pre-1978 population living as refugees. Together, these 14 provinces -- Baghlan, Farah, Ghazni, Helmand, Herat, Kandahar, Kunar, I.aghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nimroz, Paktia, Paktika and Zarul -- account for ninety percent of the Afghan refugee population settled in Iran and Pakistan. The Data collection for Afghan Repatriation Project (OCAR)w as funded by UNHCRto develop a databr3se of information on Afghanistan that would serve as a resource for repatriation planning. Project staff based iJl Peshawar and Quetta have corrlucted interviews and surveys in refugee calTlpS through out NWFP,B aluchistan and Punjab provinces in Pakistan to compile data on refugee origins, ethnic and tribal affiliation and likely routes of refugee return to Afghanistan. In addition, the project field staff undertake frequent missions into Afghanistan to gather specific inform ation on road conditions, the availability of storage facilities, trans portation and fuel, the level of destruction of housing, irrigation systems and farmland, the location of landmines and the political and military situation at the district (woleswali)arrl sub-district (alagadari) levels in those provinces of priority concern to UNHCR. Where possible, written sources, including the.Afghanistan gazetteers edited by L. Adamec, NGOf ield reports and biiateral/llUlltilateral agency reports have been consulted to corroborate field data. Project staff also interview Afghan resistance leaders, journalists and other non-Afghan visitors to the region as sources for information ard corroboration of information gathered in the field. All survey data and other related information has been stored in the OCARd atabase. Only SlllllilarY infor mation has been included in this report. More specific information can be ,. obtained from the OCARm ain office at the UNHCRS Ub-office Peshawar. Where locations are known, the activities of different NGOs have also been identified. This information has been provided in order to in:Ucate the types of resources existing in a particular area, ard to identify sources of potentially far more detailed information than this report can offer. Hc,,.,ever, NGOa ctivities in Afghanistan are rapidly evolving. A more current profile of activities can be obtained from the offices of the two NGOc oordinating cc:mnittees, ACBARin Peshawar and S'WABAinC Quetta. Both maintain a datarese on the geographic coverage and sectoral activities of their member agencies. UNHCR/PAKTIKBAA CKGROURNEDro RI' i 'Ihese provincial reports do not claim to be exhaustive. Rather, they are inten:led as a reference for the targeting of aGSistance programrres, and as guides for those agencies that require general background information on target areas, includirg the major ol:stacles that may be encountered to the plarmirg and inplementation of assistance projects in those areas. Much of the I1DSt tirrely am· relevant information is derived from eyewitness acx:::ounts, which often defy the nest painstakirg efforts to renier them consistent with existing knowledge. Names of villages, evaluation of road comitions an::i travel distances, am the identification of influential irxiividuals take on a remarkably subjective character when more than one Afghan source is consulted. 'Ihese reports, then, cannot sul:stitute for first-ham investigation of local conditions. Ten years of war and social upheaval have led to the dramatic deterior- · ation of irxiividual security am physical sul:sistence throughout Afghan istan. '!he rapidly evolving political corxiitions that will affect the return of refugee an::i internally displaced populations, as well as the effectiveness of international assistance efforts, are beyorxi the capacity of even the IIDSt e><perienced ol:servers to predict. These background reports represent UNHCR'sa ttempt to develop a coherent response to these potentially chaotic comitions. : i _J UNHCR/PAKTIKAB ACKGROUNRDE roRI' ii 36° CJ) r > . 320 International. boundary /<- . P,ovince boundary \o 0 National caoitai .·z ) 0 Province caoital p 0 Town, viilage Main road Secondary r~ad Railroad Airport MAP N\) 3-100 UNtTED NAllONS NOVEMBER 1986 TABLE OF CDNI'ENTS Page .............................................................. Preface i Bac'kgrourrl & SUrnmary • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1 Note on Population statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . • • • . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . 5 Woleswali & Alaqadari Profiles Ba:rnal • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ·• • • • • • • • 6 Dila . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . 9 Gayan • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 11 Gornal • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 13 Katawaz • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 15 Mata Khan • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 18 Neka • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 19 sar Rawza • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 21 Sarobi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . 23 Sharan • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 25 lJrgUn • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 27 Wazakhwa • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 31 Zeluk .•...................................................•...... - 35 Annex A/Glossary of Terms and Acronyms ........................•...... A-1 / Annex B/Selected Population statistics for Paktika ............•...... B-1 Annex C/Location of SUrveyed Refugees from Paktika in Pakistan •...... c-1 Annex D/Paktika Administrative District Population Comparisons •...... D-1 UNHCR/PAfil'IKA BACKGROUNRD EPORI' iii MAPS Map of Afghanistan .......•............................. following preface Map Showing Population Density by District/1978 .••............................ following page 5 Map Showing Projected Repatriation Density by District ...•••................. following page 5 Note: Because their population has been relatively unaffected by the fight ing between the government arrl the resistance, neither the alaqadaris of Wol Mamayo r Orona are considered in this report UNHCR/PAKTIKA BACKGROUNDR EPORI' iv BACKGROUND& SUMMARY Paktika Province was created during the Daoud ra:;bne from the southeastern districts of both Paktia and Ghazni provinces. As a result, the exact boun::laries of the provinces are sometirres unclear and often disputed depenjing on the source of inf onnation. 'Ihe government census of 1979 em.nrerated 15 districts/sub-districts within the 1::x:lurrlarie.so f Paktika covering an area of 19,000 sq km that is bordered on the north by Zonna.t, onna, Jadran and Sperah woleswalis of Paktia Province; in the east by Ghazni and Zarul; and on the west and south by the Waziristan tribal agencies of Pakistan. A number of important mujahideen supply routes to central Afghanistan pass through Paktika·, am this traffic has turned towns such as U:rgun, Yahya Khel am Mushkhel into thriving c.ornmercial centres and staging posts. The topography of Paktika is one of marked contrasts. In the north and east of the province, there are high, forested mountains with long, deep valleys. To the west the land becomes wide, open dasht with another mountain range marking the western limit. '!here are two major centres of population: the Katawaz plain (Katawaz and Sharan) in the west of the province; and the Barrnal, U:rgun and Gayan area in the northeast. War-related destruction has been relatively concentrated in Paktika, limited largely to the north and northwest of the province where the bllk of the population is settled. Typically, in those districts where a gov ernment garrison had been established, the local population surrourrling the garrison cooperated with the government. In contrast, the population in areas where the resistance was strong suffered considerably from goverrnnent shelling and aerial l:x::imbardment. In the north, apart from the garrison town of Zargun Shar and surrourrling villages that have been tadly damaged as a result of mujahideen offensives, the villages of the Katawaz plain are still intact and populated. Similarly, the areas arourrl U:rgun markaz in the northeast have suffered considerable damage. Destruction in the south has not been severe largely because of the vastness of the terrain and the wide dispersal of population settlements. large areas have been untouched by the fighting and the population has remained aloof of the political and ideological struggles being waged by the government and the mujahideen. A dirt track suitable for heavy transport links the Paktika border town of Angur Ada in Barnal woleswali with Wana garrison in South Waziristan and routes to both Peshawar and Qlletta. From the Angur Ada pass, there are two main routes through the province: to the northwest through Sarobi, U:rgun, Sar Rawza, Sharan and onto Ghazni, Gardez and I.Dgar; or westwards across the GOina.lp lain am through Katawaz to Dila and onto Ghazni. '!he am routes westwards across the dasht are in better condition easier to negotiate than the northern route, especially in winter, rut they have been JOC>rveu lnerable to aerial attack. UNHCR/PAKTIKAB ACKGROUNRDE PORI' 1 . ' . roPUIATION '!he population of Paktika province was estimated at more than 245,ooo in 1979. '!he area is dominated by the semi-nomadic Pushtun Ghilzai tribes of SUlaiman Khel, Kharoti and Jadran (in the northern districts borderinJ Paktia), of which the fonner are the most i:x,werful. '!here are Taj ik Deghan settlements in Urgun, and groups of Pushtun Pirkotai and Wazir settled along the easteni 1:x:>rder. Like the tribal populations on the Pakistan side of the 1"rrand Line, these Pushtuns are deeply traditional in their ways, adhering strictly to the tribal code of of Pushtunwali and finnly resisting outside interference in their affairs. A large number traditionally migrate with their flocks of sheep, goats and camels each winter to Pakistan and I:rrlia, passing through Comal, Tochi (North Waziristan) and Kurram. others migrate only as far as Waziristan and Baluchistan (Zhob and I.oralai) to graze their flocks in winter pastures. All nomadic movements have been confined by the war with a resultant decline in the quantity and quality of stock. t-k>re than 77,000 people (31 percent of the provincial population) have settled as refugees in Pakistan, especially in the canps of D. I. Khan, Mianwali and North and south Waziristan. still others remained in the province rut :roovedi nto the nn.mtains that form its western and eastern borders. Areas that suffered considerable depopulation during the war were U:rgun, the areas aroun:i Sharan, Sar' Rawza, Neka, Zeluk near the Gardez-Khost road, and parts of Sarobi. Neka received internal refugees from Sperah in Paktia. '!he largest mnnber of refugees in Pakistan from Paktika Province originated in U:rgun woleswali, followed by Katawaz, Sharan and Ganal. EXX>NCMY Sane of the Paktika's best agricultural land is in the Katawaz plain, which includes Zarghun Shah and the provincial capital Sharan. War damage here has not been severe rut, as with other areas, the irrigation systems (mainly_karez) have deteriorated as a result of aerial bombardrrent, mining and lac:J.{o f maintenance. Co11SEqUently, considerable amounts of land have been aban:loned and agricultural proouction has declined. '!he fighting has also restricted the migration routes of the nomadic herders causing a decline in the numbers and quality of their herds. For many people in Paktika, the export of jalghoza (pine-nuts) arrl timber was their main source of ;i.ncane in areas where there is little land to cultivate. However, the dislocation of the population and decline of agricultural production during the war has strained the traditional mechanisms that regulate timber harvesting. As a result, many fonnerly forested areas of Paktika have been denuded. roLITICAL SITUATION '!he mujahideen have controlled the entire province since the errl of 1988. Although there has been c:x::inpatition between various c:xmnarrlers of dif ferent parties during the war, the strength of local tribal relations has prevented severe conflicts arising between rival resistance groups. UNHffi/PAKTIKAB ACKGROUNRDE PORI' 2 Hezb-i-Islami/Khalis is the strongest resistance party in Paktika. McMlawiJ alalludin Haqani, the well kna,m HIK canrn.a rrler in Paktia has limited influence in the north of Paktika because. of his position of canmarr.l er leadership within the Jadran tribe. Mat':i.ullah of the safir sub-tribe of the Jadrans (Zeluk), is the se.nionrost HIK conunander in the province. A graduate of the Teacher Training Institute in Kal::ul, Matiullah was made Amir-e--Omumif or Zeluk alaqadari at the beginning of the war and subsequently promoted to Amir-e-Walayati for all of Paktika province. He is a member. of the Central Council of HIK and chief of the Military Connnittee of the party. In 1988, Matiullah was appointed Minister of Agricultural in the first Interim Government under Eng. Ahmad Shah. Hezb-i-Islami/Gulbadin is represented by Amir Mohd. Khalid Farooqi, a Kharoti, based in Katawaz. He is the brother-in-law of Gulbadin Hekmat yar. He is reportedly influential from Katawaz to Urgun. Ittihad-i-Islami/sayaf is represented by Jaglan Abdul Majid Kharoti, a fonner army officer, and McMlawiA rsala, a Kharoti who participated in the consultative shura in Rawalpindi. He is said to be powerful and influential in sarobi (his base), Urgun and neighbouring districts. Jamiat-i-Islami Afghanistan/Rabbani is represented by McMlawi Farid who is based in Sharan and influential in many parts of Paktika. NIFA and and Harakat Mansoor (to a lesser degree) all have camnanders in Paktika. McMlawiA rsala (SYF), Mowalwi Farid (JIA) and Matiullah (HIK) are regarded as the most powerful camnanders in the province. AREAS OF NGO ACTIVITIES All Paktika conunanders claim to be willing to work with NGOs, rut there have been reports of corrpetition· for foreign assistance among them. There does not appear to be any regional shura in Paktika. Prior to the govern ment evacuation of Urgun, there existed a shura of commarrlers to c:o-6rd.!1:1• inate military actions, b.tt this seems to have been d.isbanded. At least 13 NGOs are working in 9 of Paktika's 15 districts -- four of them with UNHCRfu nding - in the foll™ing sectors: · ··, · Health (support for medical trainees and vacx::inators with salaries, medicine and vacx::ine; support for health centres): SCA, Freedom Medicine,' AVICFN/IRC, MSH, NCA, ICRC. . Rural Works (rehabilitation of roads, storage facilities and other basic_ infrastructure): E.SAR, DACAARN, CA. Irrigation Rehabilitation (repair of channels; cleaning of karez): NCA, VITA. Field Crops (:inproved seed; fertilizer; pesticides; fann power, e.g., tractors and oxen; tools) : GAF, ASA, NCA. UNHCR/PAKTIKBAA CKGROURNEDE ORI' 3 Education: AEx::, UNO,M uslim Aid. (see glossary of acron~, Annex A} ASSISTANCEP RIORITIFS Basic requirements for Paktika Province differ little from those of other provinces in easteJ::11A fghanistan~ assistance for the restoration of irri gation works; housing construction materials; agricultural inputs and basic infrastructural rehabilitation; basic health and inmunization. Con sidering the irrpJrtanceo f animal husbarrlry to the economy of the region, veterinary care arrl stock breeding projects would have great relevance. 'Ihe devastation of Paktia's forests arrl ways of preventing retunlees from further aggravating the depletion of these resources should be another priority in planning of integrated agricultural assistance projects. Because of Paktika's proximity to Pakistan and the existence of a well established transport network through the province, no special transport assistance will be required for refugees returning from Pakistan. Efforts to improve the physical an:l security corrlitions of the province's main roadways would facilitate the IOC>vemenotf gcx::rlsa nd people to the interior of the country. lessons must be taken from earlier efforts (West Gennan) to urrlertake connnunity development projects in heavily tribalized. areas such as Paktika, or ongoing efforts (USA) in the neighboring tribal areas of Pakistan. No overarching authority (for example, a military shura in Afghanistan or the central goverrunent, as in the case of Pakistan) can guarantee the acx:eptance of assistance projects on the local population. Left to the mercy of the dynamics of tribal society, all but the l'OClSt small-scale projects are likely to be urrlennined by tribal jealousies or the ambitions of tribal leaders. Great care and consideration must be exercised. in the planning and implementation of projects in these areas. UNHCR/PAKTIKAB ACKGROUNRDE PORI' 4