Baghlan

History

Baghlan grew as an urban center in the 1930s as a result of a new road from Kabul across the Kunduz River.

Baghlan was the capital of the defunct Qataghan Province of northeastern Afghanistan, prior to the controversial 1964 dissolution.

The capital of Baghlan province was officially transferred to the city of Puli Khumri from the central city of Baghlan. This transition occurred during the 1980s under the influence of Sayed Mansur Naderi, son of Sayed Kayan, who held significant military and political power at the time. The relocation aimed to enhance public access to administrative offices, leveraging Puli Khumri's strategic location along the Kabul-Mazar highway. The cabinet of Mohammad Najibullah, led by Sultan Ali Keshtmand, initially proposed this move through declaration number 492 on March 1, 1989. It was subsequently formalized by Najibullah through decree number 1603 on March 9, 1989.

On 6 November 2007, a suicide bombing targeted a sugar factory in Baghlan during a visit by members of the National Assembly of Afghanistan. Up to 100 people have been reported killed, including six legislators. One of the victims that was killed was Hajji Muhmmad Arif Zarif an MP from the Kabul province.

Climate

With an influence from the local steppe climate, Baghlan features a cold semi-arid climate (BSk) under the Köppen climate classification. The average temperature in Baghlan is 15.8 °C, while the annual precipitation averages 284 mm.

July is the hottest month of the year with an average temperature of 28.3 °C. The coldest month January has an average temperature of 3.0 °C.

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Demographics

The city of Baghlan has an estimated population of 219,073 people, while the whole province has an estimated population of 1,113,400 people. They include Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras and Uzbeks.

The population was estimated at 20,000 in 1960 and about 24,410 in 1963, an increase of 22.05% over three years. In 1965 the estimate was 92,432, an increase of 278.66% in two years.

Economy

Baghlan is the center of sugar beet production in Afghanistan. Cotton production and cotton manufacturing are also important in the region.

Notable people

• Sayed Jafar Naderi
• Sayed Mansur Naderi

Notes

References

References

2. (10 February 2025). "450 returnee families in Baghlan get new houses". Pajhwok Afghan News.
3. (January 10, 2025). "Markazi Baghlan Municipality Executes 13 projects".
4. D. Balland. "BAGÚLAÚN". Columbia University.
5. Author: Hakimi, Aziz Ahmed. Title: Fighting for Patronage: American counterinsurgency and the Afghan Local Police. Publisher: University of London. Date: 23.07.2015. Access date: 04.04.2024.
6. Official Gadget of Ministry of Justice of Afghanistan Republic Government. (1989, July 6). Decree number 1603 of March 9, 1989 by Afghanistan President about transfer of Baghlan capital to Puli Khumri and omission of Puli Khumri as a district in the administrative structure of the province. Retrieved April 5, 2024, from https://law.acku.edu.af/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/acku_risalah_knf2720_meem69_1368_n695_dari_title1.pdf
7. (September 2025). "Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2025-26". National Statistics and Information Authority.
8. "Program for Culture and Conflict Studies". Naval Postgraduate School.