of the PRT but the Czechs left in 2007 and the Danes in 2008. The camp is based on an old Soviet airstrip. On 11 August 2021, the city was captured by the Taliban amid a rapid advance of the group in the north after they launched a massive offensive. Geography The city is located on the right bank of the Kokcha River near where the river exits from a gorge and before it reaches a large open plain. Climate Fayzabad has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dsb). It has warm, dry summers and cold, moderately wet winters. Precipitation mostly falls in spring and winter. Economy Fayzabad has historically been relatively isolated from other parts of the country because of the lack of paved roads. There are two active bazaars in the city where items as diverse as cotton, cotton cloth and goods, salt, sugar, tea, indigo, and cutlery are traded. It has been two years since the asphalted ring road of Afghanistan reached Fayzabad. The cost of the road connecting Fayzabad with Taloqan and Kunduz was about $US 200 million which was paid for by USAID. Several varieties of cash crops are grown in the vicinity including barley, wheat, and rice and there are a number of gardens and orchards. There has been some success in panning for gold in the vicinity, beryl can be found and there is a salt mine located nearby. The city also has a handicraft industry producing woolen goods and there are flour and rice mills. The Shurabak power station, which is located on the outskirts of Fayzabad, provides 7.5 megawatts (MW) of electricity to the city. Demographics and culture Fayzabad was reported to have 39,555 residents in 2021. The majority of the inhabitants are Tajiks, while there are also minority communities of Pashtuns, Pamiris, Uzbeks, Hazaras and Turkmens. Eleven languages are spoken in the city, including Dari, Wakhi, Munji, Pashto, Ishkashimi, Yazgulyam, Sarikoli, Shughni, Rushani, Uzbek and Turkmen. There are a number of mosques and shrines of historical importance in the city. Education Badakhshan University is located in Fayzabad. The city has several public schools including an all-girls school. Public services There is a government-run hospital in the province. There are a number of private guesthouses in the city, Qasre Kokcha Hotel is the best among them which has security, central heating system, electricity and internet. There is also a guest