Markazi Bihsud District

Settlement in Maidan Wardak Province, Afghanistan
Place in Maidan Wardak, Afghanistan
Markazi Behsud District
ولسوالی مرکز بهسود
Markazi Behsud District in dark pink in the west
Markazi Behsud District in dark pink in the west
34°18′57″N 68°02′52″E / 34.3157°N 68.0478°E / 34.3157; 68.0478
Country Afghanistan
ProvinceMaidan Wardak
CapitalBehsud
Village numbers781[1]
Government
 • TypeDistrict
 • GovernorJan Aqa Mohasel
Area
 • Total2,186 km2 (844 sq mi)
Elevation
2,950 m (9,680 ft)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total134,852
Time zoneUTC+4:30 (Afghanistan Standard Time)
Postal code
1351
Main languagesDari

Markaz-i Bihsūd District (Persian: ولسوالی مرکز بهسود) is one of the districts of Maidan Wardak Province in Afghanistan. It is located less than an hour-drive west of Kabul and south Bamyan. The main town in the district is Behsud. The district has an estimated population of 134,852 people,[2] majority of which are ethnic Hazaras.

The Markazi Behsud is the largest district of Maidan Wardak Province with a number of villages. Most residents of the district are farmers and involved in agriculture.[3] The chief of the district is Abdul Rahman Tawfiq.[4]

The Hesa Awal Behsood District sits to the northeast of this district. Both are strongholds of Hazara militia forces who have engaged in guerrilla warfare with the Taliban and the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).[5][6][7][8][9] One of these groups is led by Abdul Ghani Alipur (also known as Commander Shamshir),[10][11] who was a fugitive of the former Afghan government; his followers used a rocket-propelled grenade to shoot down an Mil Mi-17 of the Afghan Air Force on March 18, 2021,[12] which was transporting several members of the Afghan National Police.[13][14][15][16][17][18] All nine ANSF members in the Mi-17 helicopter were killed, including the Afghan pilots.[19][20]

Alipar's militia has continued battling the Taliban after it seized power in August 2021. As of September 2021,[update] sporadic clashes were taking place between the militia and the Taliban.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b اداده مستقل ارگان های محلی افغانستان
  2. ^ a b "Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2020-21" (PDF). National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA). www.nsia.gov.af. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-07-03. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  3. ^ "Wardak Province Agriculture Profile 2008" (PDF). USAID. Retrieved 2021-03-20.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "5 pro-govt fighters killed in Maidan Wardak attack". Pajhwok Afghan News. May 12, 2019. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  5. ^ "12 armed men linked to Alipur killed Behsud operation". Pajhwok Afghan News. March 20, 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  6. ^ "Ghani vows revenge for Behsud copter downing". Pajhwok Afghan News. March 20, 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  7. ^ "Alipour has taken gun against government: Mohib". Pajhwok Afghan News. March 20, 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  8. ^ "Military general warns against Alipur and his militias". Khaama Press. March 20, 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-20. Sami Sadat, commander of the 215th Maiwand Corps said security forces will target Alipur, his militancy, and his supporters in Behsud, Kabul, and other areas of Afghanistan.
  9. ^ "Hazaras fear for future as Afghanistan risks slipping into chaos". Al Jazeera. February 3, 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  10. ^ "Afghan Authorities Release Militia Leader After Violent Demonstrations". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. November 26, 2018. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  11. ^ "A future with the Taliban". India: National Herald. August 24, 2019. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  12. ^ وزارت دفاع:حمله برچرخبال ارتش درمیدان وردک ازسوی علی پورانجام شده on YouTube (TOLOnews, Mar. 20, 2021)
  13. ^ "Saleh Vows Action against Those Behind Behsud Incident". TOLOnews. March 22, 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  14. ^ "Afghanistan: Nine killed in military helicopter crash". DW News. March 18, 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  15. ^ "Local militia shot down army chopper: Afghanistan". Anadolu Agency. March 20, 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  16. ^ "MoD calls for 'vengeance' following the attack on ANA helicopter". Khaama Press. March 20, 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  17. ^ "MoD: Army Helicopter in Behsud Downed by Alipoor". TOLOnews. March 20, 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  18. ^ "Alipour's men shoot down ANA copter: MoD". Pajhwok Afghan News. March 20, 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  19. ^ "Mi-17 helicopter crash lands in Afghanistan, 9 killed". India Today. March 18, 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  20. ^ "Nine die as Afghan military chopper shot down in militia stronghold". Arab News. March 18, 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  21. ^ Rasmussen, Sune Engel; Lubold, Gordon (1 September 2021). "Taliban Battle Opposition Militias, Wield New Power in Kabul". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 11 March 2022.

External links

  • Map showing Markazi Bihsud District
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Badakhshan
Badghis
Baghlan
Balkh
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Faryab
Ghazni
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Herat
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Kabul
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Khost
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Laghman
Logar
Nangarhar
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Panjshir
Parwan
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Sar-e Pol
Takhar
Uruzgan
Wardak
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