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Samangan Province
Note: Selecting from this drop down menu will either open a web page or a pdf file.
Samangan Links (select)
Samangan Provincial Profile
Khoram and Sarbagh District Development Report
UNHCR Samangan Indicators
Nakhchir District Development Report
Dara e Sufi and Payan District Development Report
RRT Research Response on Samangan (2005)
Aybak District Map
Dara-i-Suf Map
Hazrati Sultan Map
Khoram District Map
Samangan Provincial Survey Nov 2008
Samangan Province is located in northern Afghanistan and shares provincial borders with Balkh, Sar-i-Pul, Kunduz, Baghlan and Bamyan. With over 325,000 residents, Samangan like most of Afghanistan is ethnically diverse with Uzbeks, Tajiks, Pashtuns, Hazara, Tartars, Turkomen and even a minority population of Arabs living throughout the province. Most of the population makes a living through agricultural that is rain-fed reliant, animal husbandry and small scale business and industries like carpet-making. The long-time Governor of Samangan, Qazi Enayatullah Enayat, was replaced on April 13, 2010 by Khairullah Anosh. Samangan currently falls under the PRT Area of Operation led by the Swedish military.
The security situation in the province is stable. The region, a home of the former Northern Alliance, with little Pashtu population, has opposed the Taliban in the past and communities continue to resist Taliban infiltration.
Human Terrain
Uzbek: The Uzbek people of Afghanistan are found north of the Hindu Kush in Afghan Turkistan. In Afghanistan, they number approximately 1.6 million. The presence of the Uzbek people in this region was facilitated by the frequent invasion of Central Asian Turks throughout history. Uzbeks are the most populous Turkish group in Afghanistan and are recognizable by their broad, flat faces and lighter skin when compared to the Pashtuns. They are historically farmers and stockmen, breeding the karakul sheep and an excellent type of Turkman horse. Their kinsmen reside in the central Asian republic of Uzbekistan. Many Uzbeks fled into northern Afghanistan in the 1920s to escape the suppression when the Soviet government was trying to stamp out their customs and Moslem religion.[1] Uzbek militias represent one piece of a perennially complicated security puzzle within Northern Afghanistan.
Tajiks: Tajiks are the second largest ethnic group in Afghanistan after the Pashtuns. The Tajiks in Afghanistan tend to live in settled communities as opposed to a nomadic lifestyle. Pashtuns refer to them as Farsiwan, or speakers of Farsi, the lingua franca of Afghanistan (50% of Afghanistan speaks Farsi, as opposed to only 35% for Pashtu). Between the Tajiks and Pashtuns there has been significant animosity in recent years. Forming the backbone of the Northern Alliance, they also have a base in the nation of Tajikistan. They held out fiercely against the Taliban. Most Tajik are Sunni Muslims, but a few are Shi'a. Tajiks made up the majority of the Northern Alliance, both in terms of membership and leadership. Tribal ties have largely broken down among the Tajiks; therefore, social organization is defined primarily by geography. Despite their lack of cohesiveness the Tajiks are often brought together due to the perceived common threat posed by the Pashtuns.[2] Currently, Tajik warlords vie for control of illicit opium and arms transport with competing Uzbek, and Ismaili militias throughout the Northern provinces. Tajik Tree (PDF)
Turkmen: Turkmen are another Sunni Turkic-speaking group whose language has close affinities with modern Turkish. They are of aquiline Mongoloid stock. The Afghan Turkmen population in the 1990s was estimated at around 200,000. Turkmen also reside north of the Amu Darya in Turkmenistan. The original Turkmen groups came from east of the Caspian Sea into northwestern Afghanistan at various periods, particularly after the end of the nineteenth century when the Russians moved into their territory. They established settlements from Balkh Province to Herat Province, where they are now concentrated; smaller groups settled in the northwest portions of Kunduz Province. Others came in considerable numbers as a result of the failure of the Basmachi revolts against the Bolsheviks in the 1920s. Turkmen tribes, of which there are twelve major groups in Afghanistan, base their structure on genealogies traced through the male line. Senior members wield considerable authority. Formerly a nomadic and warlike people feared for their lightening raids on caravans, Turkmen in Afghanistan are farmer-herdsmen and important contributors to the economy. They brought karakul sheep to Afghanistan and are also renowned makers of carpets, which, with karakul pelts, are major hard currency export commodities. Turkmen jewelry is also highly prized.
Hazara: As a distinct minority ethnic and religious group within the population of Afghanistan; they have often been the target of discriminatory and violent repression. Most likely descended from the Mongols of Genghis Khan, (there is also a strong argument that they are of Eastern Turkic origin), the Hazara are noticeably different in physical appearance when compared to the Pashtun majority. In terms of religion, the vast majority of the Hazara are of the Shia Muslim faith, again in contrast to the Pashtuns who are Sunni Muslim. Due to these differences, "the Hazara have experienced discrimination at the hands of the Pashtun-dominated government throughout the history of modern Afghanistan."[3] As the traditional underclass of Afghan society, Hazara were exploited and made to work as servants and laborers. As a result, there tends to be an anti-government and anti-Pashtun bias among the Hazara. In present day Afghanistan, the Hazara are divided geographically into two main groups: the Hazarajat Hazara and those who live outside the Hazarajat. The Hazarajat is located in the Hindu Kush Mountains in central Afghanistan and is "centered on Bamiyan province and include[s] areas of Ghor, Uruzgan, Wardak, and Ghazni province."[4] The Hazara living outside of the Hazarajat live in and around Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e Sharif and Samangan province. Due to atrocities committed against them by the Taliban, the Hazara by and large are opposed to the Taliban. In August 1998, the Taliban massacred approximately 4,000 Hazara in Mazara-e Sharif; this massacre was followed by another the next month when the Taliban killed another 500 Hazara in Bamiyan. The Hezb-e Wahdat (Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan) is an umbrella political organization which commands the support of large numbers of Hazara. The Hazara are also often at odds with the Kuchi population within the Hazarajat. Hazara Tree (PDF)
Tatars: The Tatars, a group of Turkic people most of them live in Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation, around the Volga River in Russia. Large ethnic Diasporas are Central Asian and Caucasus of the former Soviet Union, Turkey and Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, many of the Tatars settled after either trying to escape the Russians, or as traders. Majority are Sunni Muslims.
Primary Political Parties
Jumbish-i-Milli Islami Afghanistan (Islamic Movement of Afghanistan): General Abdul Rashid Dostum controls a political party called Jumbish-i-Milli Islami (National Islamic Movement) which is a core of Jabhe-ye-Motahed-e-Milli. He claims to have a strong support in up to eight provinces in the north of the country, including Samanagn province, predominantly populated by ethnic Uzbeks. Dostum's major power base is in Uzbek enclaves in the northern provinces of Jowzjan, Balkh, Faryab, and Samangan. Dostum's headquarters is located in Jowzjan's capital, Shiberghan. In the past, Dostum held various official positions (deputy defense minister, a special adviser on security and military affairs, President Karzai's representative in the north) until the relations between President Karzi and General Dostum deteriorated.
Jabhe-ye-Motahed-e-Milli (the United National Front):The largest opposition block built by General Dostum and aimed against President Karzai. Burhanuddin Rabbani and the late Ahmad Shah Massoud's closest advisers joined Dostum in his demands to change the presidential system into parliamentary, to negotiate with armed groups and to recognize the Durand line. On August 27 of 2008 the Front in a statement urged the neighboring countries, members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Russia, India, Saudi Arabia, and members of NATO alliance to hold a crisis meeting on Afghanistan.
Hezb-e Wahdat-e Eslami-ye Afghanistan (Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan): Hezb-e Wahdat-e Eslami-ye Afghanistan began as a Shi'a umbrella party led by Abdul Ali Mazari. Abdul Ali Mazari died under mysterious circumstances while in custody of the Taliban. During the Soviet invasion the party received support from Iran. The party "remains the primary political force among the Hazara." During the period of Taliban rule, the party held on to the Hazarajat against the attempted blockade by the Taliban. It is currently led by Mohammad Karim Khalili, who is currently the Second Vice President to Hamid Karzai. For a time Haji Mohammad Mohaqeq was the military leader of the party under the political leadership of Khalili. Mohaqeq and Khalili had a falling out, however, over Mohaqeq's decision to run for president without the official approval of the party. Subsequently, Mohaqeq split away and formed his own party, Hezb-e Wahdat-e Eslami-ye Mardom-e Afghanistan. The original Wahdat party has begun to lose influence and support among the Hazara, in part because of the pull of Mohaqeq's new party and likely because Khalili's position as Second Vice President distracts from his efforts to look after the needs of the Hazara.
Jamiat-e Islami (Islamic Society of Afghanistan):
Led by Bahadruddin Rabbani, Jamiat-e-Islami became the dominant political resistance party in northeastern Afghanistan. In 1980, Jamiat was the second most popular resistance front and enjoyed strong support from the Tajik communities of Badakshan, the Panjshir Valley and Herat Province in the west. Ahmad Massoud, Ismail Khan, Mullah Naqibullah and Zabibullah, all influential Jamiat military commanders, would help galvanize Jamiat into one of the most formidable resistance movements of the Soviet-Afghan war. The failure of the Soviet Army to pacify the Panjshir Valley despite seven massive military offensives against the region between 1980 and 1984 solidified Ahmad Shah as a legendary commander and helped preserve popular support for Jamiat throughout the region. In general, Jamiat is considered to be a moderate Islamist movement that drew recruits from those educated in government schools (both religious and secular) and among the ulema (in the north) and the naqshbandi Sufi order found throughout the north. Although multiple ethnic groups including Pashtuns formed comprised Jamiat, it is most commonly referred to be dominated by Tajiks from the northeast.
Supervisory Council of the North (SCN):
In 1984, top resistance commanders operating the northern provinces of Takhar, Badakhshan, Balkh and Kunduz formed a council under the leadership of Ahmad Shah Massoud. The Supervisory Council of the North became an integrated military unit comprised of both political and security components and posed the greatest threat to the communist occupation of Afghanistan in the north. Although many of the SCN leaders were affiliates of Rabbani's Jamiat-e-Islami, the SCN established deep ties with local communities and ran its affairs independently from the Jamiat leadership based in Pakistan. Many former SCN commanders and fighters continue to exert influence and power at various levels throughout the Northern provinces.
Shuria-e Nazar:
The party was founded by Ahmed Shah Masood in an effort to offset the power of Pashtun ethnic majority in Afghanistan. The Shuria-e-Nezar group was a key player in the Afghan Civil war that followed the anti-Soviet Jihad. After the Taliban were removed from power in 2001, this same group re-emerged in Afghan politics and has continued to seek power.
Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin (HiG):
Mujahideen party active since the Soviet invasion; led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. HiG was famous for its shifting loyalties, and was the favorite party of Pakistan's ISI until the rise of the Taliban. Former members continue to wield considerable influence. Thus far, HiG has been actively opposed to US-led and Afghan national forces. Hekmatyar is a Kharoti Ghilzai and, therefore, less influential than the much more respected and powerful Khugianis, such as Haji Din Mohammad and Anwarul Haq Mohammad.
General Level of Security:
The security situation in the province is stable. The region, a home of the former Northern Alliance, with little Pashtu population, has opposed the Taliban in the past and communities continue to resist Taliban infiltration. In May 2010, the Taliban Shadow Governor for Samangan, Mullah Gulistan, also known as "Akhundak" and "Shamsur Rahman," was captured during a police operation. He is allegedly linked to the Haqqani Network and has carried out attacks in Ghazni province before being appointed to Samangan. While operating in Samangan, Mullah Gulistan orchestrated the attack that killed the Dehna Ghori district mayor and his son. The small but present Taliban cadres in Samangan are mainly operating within the provincial capital of Aymak. These groups occasionally launch small scale attacks, such as the police ambush north of the city on July 8, 2009 and a suicide attack in Aymak that left one person injured on April 13, 2009.
The larger threat to the province comes from natural disasters which is chiefly a spell of floods and landslides caused by heavy rains and droughts. In late May nearly 200 families were displaced in the Hazrat Sultan district. The locals are vulnerable to these floods occurring during spring months which destroy homes and causes humanitarian problems for population and authorities. According to the Afghanistan National Disasters Management Authority, in 2007, flash floods wiped out hundreds of homes and killed approximately 400 people.
Another great challenge for the province is extreme hunger, unemployment and extreme poverty. Despite generally high level of poverty in the country, Samangan province is among top most impoverished regions. According to Ghulam Sakhi, the former deputy of Samangan province, five thousand families have no food and need urgent help. Inability of the government to solve these socio-economic problems undermines the government's credibility which eventually may cause pro-Taliban sentiments among locals.
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It is unfortunate, the anti union sentiment has once again reared its ugly head. Be great full that you live in America where you have the right to Choose to Bargain Collectively or NOT. The haves are winning by brain washing you into believing that you should just be happy that you even have a job and that the economy is so so bad. Check it out as it is fact that the wealthy have expanded their wealth with such an astronomical percentage since the market collapse of 2008 that if our own personal budgets had expanded consistent with theirs we would all be on easy street. And the unions haven't destroyed all of our local companies our trade agreements and China Alliance have destroyed all our local manufacturing jobs. Thank all Political parties for that!!!!!!
The whole racism thing is out of control. Sending a few jokes which reflect poorly on a particular ethnicity or orientation is not racism. At worst it is poor judgement.
I am curious as to whether Syracuse. com developed this story in conjuction with the Post Standard? Is syracuse. com releasing information relative to usernames, aliases, and legal names such as thoses provided by users under their account info. Although presumptive, connecting a media outlet to a forum such as this without granting the useres the same freedoms granted the media itself stands to develop an extremely "dark agent" media. Can someone from Syracuse. com or the Post Standard respond to this post.
P.S. Remember when posting that you may have all of your comments released under your Real Name at some point in the future.
My thoughts, I have known for some time that this is the demise that Josh would someday face, although not necessarily this exact scenario. To those of you that are still blaming the Law Enforcement Officer. Didn't you get it he truly believed that he would not be effected by bullets. So I assume you still believe that had the officer not fired and took the time to fully exit his vehicle and talk to the suspect prior to escalating to the use of Peper Spray Josh would not have attacked. From the videos of Josh it is a text book case. He repents to those he has wronged and is clearing his conscious. This is often done by individuals prior to a planned suicide(Josh was way too far a coward to do this himself). This is exactly why I believe strongly in legalization of suicide. You apply for the cessation of life certificate which will require an analysis by a certified mental health professional and once he/she has done the review the certificate is issued and you can take this to your family doctor to dispense. Or ....you walk at a Trooper with a knife and crazed look and skip all the aforementioned steps.
Good Thing for Obama that the Bush-Era has allowed for the infringment of our privacy that has allowed these individuals to be caught. I think the whole thing is ironic....Democrats historically opposed to terrorism legislation that allows for the snooping government to eaves drop on us and had it not been for that very legislation, of relaxed standard of Rights, Oboma could very well not be here right now...Shame on those Repuplicans?
2008, Communication. Billy, a child in the eleventh grade answers an incoming text messege on his cell phone! It's his buddy "fighting" Freddy who has been kicked out of school. Is this a distraction from learning or creating an environment that is not conducive to learning? Is this any different than years ago? Now, lets put this into prespective. Its 1908, Fighting Freddy is on suspension, but comes to the window of the classroom where billy is attentively being educated. Just out of site and crouched down below the window sill, Freddy tempts Billy with meaningless bantor. Billy, is brought to the Office where he is paddled for his part in the distraction and Freddy is granted additional suspension time. Billy's father is furious and Billy gets additional chores assigned and a swift lashing. Fast forward to today....Billy has his cell phone confiscated for the day and subsequently his parents cry to the school administration that the long term psychological effects of taking away the boys independece and free thinking status has caused grievous injurey.
The names in the aforementioned post are fictional and are not meant to be representative of any person either living nor dead.

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This double vinyl LP is a real treat for fans of small ensembles or chamber jazz. The first sides, called "Klippe", bring us the trio of Thomas Heberer on trumpet and quarter-tone trumpet, Joachim Badenhorst on clarinet and bass-clarinet, and Pascal Niggenkemper on bass, three stellar musicians from respectively Germany, Belgium and France/Germany combined, but who all met in New York. The trio improvises based on Heberer's self-developed compositional development which gives clues to the players on pulse, density, pitch etc allowing also for spontaneous phrases to be repeated. The end result are quite intimate and abstract miniatures, quite gentle and full of mutual respect, no doubt the result of very attentive listening to each other. Sometimes the music itself has few references to jazz, but more linked to ethereal new music, but at other times, both trumpet, clarinet and bass play deeply emotional bluesy tones, giving the overall tone one of fragile sensitivity.
On the second LP, called "One", Heberer goes solo, demonstrating his incredible skills, especially when his circular breathing allows him to play an entire piece seemingly in one breath, or when he kind of shouts and creates multiphonics on his horn. Yet he is of course too good a musician to just demonstrate technique on his instrument, which is entirely in function of the music. I must say that I prefer the austerity of the solo pieces above the trio. They give the fragility a different, deeper, more personal dimension, of the lone individual struggling, moaning, singing. Unlike other trumpeters like Peter Evans or Nate Wooley, Heberer keeps his tone voiced throughout, which makes this overall somewhat more accessible, although that is of course an extremely relative concept. Some pieces are absolutely astonishingly beautiful.
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The United States Civil Service Commission announces examinations to be held in Boston, on December 9 and 10, for the following positions:
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|Avg. Dinner Entrée
|Greater than $25
|$18.01 - $25
|$12.01 - $18
|$7.01 - $12
|Less than $7
Posted by Anonymous on 02/02/2010
I had lunch here with a friend and it was a most enjoyable experience. Not too crowed and nice and quiet. A classy place and prices were very reasonable.
Posted by Tudor City on 06/22/2009
There is a reason this establishment has been a staple in Murray Hill for so long. They are excellent! Food is top quality, atmosphere is adult and sophisticated, and the service is very good. I honestly can't say enough good things about Hudson Place. This review would take a very long time to read if I got into specifics, so I will sum up my review by saying: Try and see what you think. I doubt you will be disappointed.
Posted by Kimberly on 05/08/2009
This place is delicious. The steak is great, fish is amazing, ribs are good, bread is great. Best of all, it is VERY reasonable. I take all of my guests here and everyone always loves it. My boyfriend's parents never want to go anywhere else! It can be a little cold though so bring a sweater!
Posted by mereditor on 01/17/2009
I was pleasantly surprised by how nice the restaurant was. It felt cozy yet sophisticated. The food was very good too. Not quite top-notch, but a good value. I split the very large caesar salad and had the grilled vegetable risotto. I split the black out cake for dessert and wasn't impressed, unfortunately. My husband liked his steak burger, and I can attest that the french fries are tasty. Our waiter asked us to leave shortly after paying our check, after only being there for an hour. We would have understand if there were people waiting for it, but there were several free tables--and not a single group at the door. That left a bad taste in my mouth, but it was a cute place with good food, so I'd give them another shot.
Posted by Victoria F on 01/08/2009
I have been to this place many times and have never been disappointed. In fact, its the only place where I feel comfortable dining at the bar. The people are mostly locals, so if you're a woman, you dont reallly have to worry about being picked up. The service is always at least decent and the food has been consistent. In my opinion, for the price in NYC and the size of the portions, it can't be beat. This place is perfect for a family dinner or a dates, its a subdued, relaxed atmosphere, you can show up in denims or a dress!
Posted by Anonymous on 11/16/2008
I always order their brunch for delivery. They have a wide range of egg dishes and they're all great. The dishes come with a really tasty side and corn bread.
Posted by Dining Diva on 07/18/2008
Wow, Hudson Place must have modified and "renovated" their menu from two years ago, the last time I had dined there. I was particularly impressed with the lobster cobb salad and the seafood risotto. Although both were on the lunch menu, both entrees were both of fine dining dinner quality. The ambiance seems lovely. Too bad I was in a hurry. Perhaps I'll stay and have a drink next time and dine in. Although this restaurant did not initally stand out when I visited 2 years ago, they definitely left a memorable impression this time around. I will not wait so long in between visits. I am eager to try their brunch and other selections.


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State Panel Recommends Laguna Fishing Closure
Meg Caldwell, director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy Program, served on a state panel that unanimously approved marine protected areas off the Southern California Coast. She is quoted in the following article:
A state task force recommended a ban on fishing along six miles of Laguna Beach coastline Tuesday, along with a variety of other fishing restrictions up and down the Southern California coast.
The 9 1/2-square-mile, triangle-shaped closure area was one of several that the blue-ribbon panel picked after more than a year of work by a 64-member "stakeholder" group, part of the state-sponsored Marine Life Protection Act Initiative.
"We're dealing with something really unprecedented," Meg Caldwell, a Stanford Law School professor and member of the blue-ribbon task force, said shortly before the 5-member panel's unanimous vote. "The original intent of this act is really to bring our marine coastal endowment back to its former glory, and to allow it to really perform as the engine that it is for our state's coastal economy."