Paktia Province
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Paktia پکتیا |
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|---|---|
| Province | |
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 Map of Afghanistan with Paktia highlighted |
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| Coordinates (Capital): 33°36′N 69°30′E / 33.6°N 69.5°ECoordinates: 33°36′N 69°30′E / 33.6°N 69.5°E | |
| Country | Afghanistan |
| Capital | Gardez |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Maj Gen Zalmai Weesa |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6,432 km2 (2,483 sq mi) |
| Population (2015) | |
| • Total | 551,987 |
| • Density | 86/km2 (220/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+4:30 |
| ISO 3166 code | AF-PIA |
| Main languages | Pashto |
Paktia (Pashto: پکتيا – Paktyā, Persian: ولایت پکتیا) is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the east of the country. The province is divided into eleven districts and has a population of roughly 525,000, which is mostly a tribal society living in rural areas. Pashtun tribes make up the majority of the population but smaller number of Tajiks are also found.Gardēz is the provincial capital.
Paktia used to be a unified province with Khost and Paktika, these three provinces are now referred to as Loya Paktia, meaning "Greater Paktia". Paktia came to prominence during the 1980s, when a significant portion of Afghanistan's leadership originated from the province. Some of the more notable leaders include: Najibullah Ahmadzai, a former President of Afghanistan, Mohammad Aslam Watanjar, Shahnawaz Tanai, and Sayed Muhammad Gulabzoi.
Between 7-8 January, 1988, in Paktia Province, near the Pakistani-Afghan border the Battle for Hill 3234 took place which was a successful defensive action fought by the 345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment, 39 Soviet Airborne Troops, in Soviet occupied Afghanistan against a force of up to 200 to 250 Mujahideen rebels.
Soviet commanders wanted to secure the entire section of the road from Gardez to Khost.
One of the most important points was the nameless hill designated Hill 3234 by its height of 3234m, which was assigned to the 9th company of the 345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment led by Colonel Valery Vostrotin.
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Wikipedia