View source for Nimruz Province

{{Short description|Province of Afghanistan}}
{{redirect|Nimruz|the village in Iran|Nimruz, Iran}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Nimruz
| native_name        = د نيمروز ولايت<br>ولایت نیمروز<br>نݔمرۏچ ولایت
| native_name_lang   = Balochi
| settlement_type    = [[Provinces of Afghanistan|Province]]
| image_skyline      = Nimroz.jpg
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = [[Chakhansur (village)|Chakhansur]] in Nimruz Province
| image_flag         = 
| flag_alt           = 
| image_seal         = 
| seal_alt           = 
| image_shield       = 
| shield_alt         = 
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
| image_map          = Nimruz in Afghanistan.svg
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Map of Afghanistan with Nimruz highlighted
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|31.0|62.5|region:AF_type:adm1st|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint      = Capital
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Afghanistan}}
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
| founder            = 
| seat_type          = Capital
| seat               = [[Zaranj]]
| government_footnotes =<ref>{{cite news|url=https://afghanistan.asia-news.com/en_GB/articles/cnmi_st/features/2020/08/06/feature-01 |title= Al-Qaeda and Taliban collaborate in Nimroz in breach of peace agreement |work=Salaam Times|date=August 6, 2020|access-date=2021-02-04}}</ref>
| leader_party       = 
| leader_title       = [[List of governors of Nimruz|Governor]]
| leader_name        = [[Najibullah Rafi]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://azamnews.com/?p=108148|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107145754/http://azamnews.com/?p=108148|url-status=usurped|archive-date=November 7, 2021|title = د نږدې شلو ولایاتو لپاره نوي والیان او امنیې قوماندانان وټاکل شول|date = 7 November 2021}}</ref>
| leader_title1      = Deputy Governor
| leader_name1       = Ghulam Nabi "Osmani"<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 2021 |title=موخه مو ټولنې ته خدمت او د ظلم او فساد سره مبارزه ده |url=https://dailies.gov.af/anis/%d9%85%d9%88%d8%ae%d9%87-%d9%85%d9%88-%d9%bc%d9%88%d9%84%d9%86%db%90-%d8%aa%d9%87-%d8%ae%d8%af%d9%85%d8%aa-%d8%a7%d9%88-%d8%af-%d8%b8%d9%84%d9%85-%d8%a7%d9%88-%d9%81%d8%b3%d8%a7%d8%af-%d8%b3%d8%b1/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030202706/https://dailies.gov.af/anis/%d9%85%d9%88%d8%ae%d9%87-%d9%85%d9%88-%d9%bc%d9%88%d9%84%d9%86%db%90-%d8%aa%d9%87-%d8%ae%d8%af%d9%85%d8%aa-%d8%a7%d9%88-%d8%af-%d8%b8%d9%84%d9%85-%d8%a7%d9%88-%d9%81%d8%b3%d8%a7%d8%af-%d8%b3%d8%b1/ |archive-date=2022-10-30 |access-date=19 Jun 2023 |website=dailies.gov.af |language=ps}}</ref>
| leader_title2      = Police Chief
| leader_name2       = Sardar Mohammad Ayoubi
| unit_pref          = Metric<!-- or US or UK -->
| area_footnotes     = <ref name=president>{{cite web |url=https://president.gov.af/en/nimroz/ |title=Name of the Province: Nimroz |publisher=Islamic Republic of Afghanistan: President|access-date=2021-02-04}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 43000
| area_land_km2      = 
| area_water_km2     = 
| area_water_percent = 
| area_note          = 
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 
| population_footnotes = <ref name=nsia>{{cite web |url=https://www.nsia.gov.af:8080/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Estimated-Population-of-Afghanistan1-1400.pdf |title=Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2021-22 |date=April 2021 |website= nsia.gov.af |publisher=National Statistic and Information Authority (NSIA) |access-date=June 30, 2021}}</ref>
| population_total   = 186,963
| population_as_of   = 2021
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = 
| population_note    = 
| blank_name_sec1    = [[Languages of Afghanistan|Main languages]] Pashto
| blank_info_sec1    = [[Balochi language|Balochi]]<br />[[Dari language|Dari]]<br /><ref name=president/>
| timezone1          = Afghanistan Time
| utc_offset1        = +4:30
| timezone1_DST      = 
| utc_offset1_DST    = 
| postal_code_type   = Postal code
| postal_code        = 43xx
| area_code_type     = 
| area_code          = 
| iso_code           = AF-NIM
| website            = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Nimruz''' or '''Nimroz''' ([[Pashto]]{{efn|{{IPA|ps|nimˈɾoz}}}} and [[Dari]]:{{efn|{{IPA|prs|niːmˈɾoːz}}}} {{nq|نیمروز}}, {{Literally|Half-day}}), also '''Nimroch''' ([[Balochi language|Balochi]]:{{efn|{{IPA|bal|niːmˈɾoːt͡ʃ}}}} {{lang|bal|{{nq|نݔمرۏچ}}}}), is one of the 34 [[provinces of Afghanistan]], located in the southwestern part of the country. It lies to the east of the [[Sistan and Baluchestan province]] of [[Iran]] and north of [[Balochistan, Pakistan]], also bordering the Afghan provinces of [[Farah Province|Farah]] and [[Helmand Province|Helmand]]. It has a population of about 186,963 people, in which the majority are [[Baloch people|Baloch]].<ref name=nsia/> The province is divided into five [[Districts of Afghanistan|districts]], encompassing about 649 villages.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

The city of [[Zaranj]] serves as the provincial capital and [[Zaranj Airport]], which is located in that city, serves as a domestic airport for the province. The recently built [[Kamal Khan Dam]] is located in [[Chahar Burjak District]].{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

The name ''Nimruz'' means "mid-day" or "half-day" in [[Persian Language]] and [[Balochi language|Balochi]]. The name is believed to indicate that the meridian cutting the old world in half passes through this region. Nimruz covers 43,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=president/> It is the most sparsely populated province in the country,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://communitypolicing.eu/2016/03/30/soldiers-or-police/ |title=Soldiers or Police? A Report from Afghanistan – Community-Based Policing and Post-Conflict Police Reform |access-date=2020-06-07 |archive-date=2020-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924083533/https://communitypolicing.eu/2016/03/30/soldiers-or-police/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> located in the [[Sistan Basin]]. A substantial part of the province is the barren desert area of [[Dasht-e Margo]].{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

In 2021, the [[Taliban]] gained control of the province during the [[2021 Taliban offensive]].{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

==History==
{{Further|History of Afghanistan}}
The name Zaranj was derived from Persian word "Zranka" and is considered to be one of the oldest cities in Nimruz Province. The area now composing Nimruz province of Afghanistan was once part of the historical region of [[Sistan]], which over the many centuries was held by the [[Achaemenid Empire]], [[Alexander the Great]] and others before being conquered and converted to [[Islam]] by the Muslim Arabs in the seventh century. The region became part of the [[Saffarid dynasty]] in 860 CE with its capital at Zaranj, which was one of the first local dynasties of the Islamic era. Its founder [[Ya'qub-i Laith Saffari|Yaqub Saffari]] was born and raised in this region. The territory became part of the [[Ghaznavids]] followed by the [[Ghurid dynasty|Ghurids]], [[Timurids]], and [[Safavid dynasty|Safavids]].{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

In the early 18th century, the region fell to the [[Pashtun people|Afghan]] [[Hotaki dynasty]] until they were removed from power in 1738 by [[Nader Shah]]. By 1747, [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]] made it part of Afghanistan after he conquered the territory from northeastern Iran to [[Delhi]] in India. Under the modern Afghan government, the province was known as [[Farah-Chakansur Province|Chakhansur Province]] until 1968, when it was separated to form the provinces of Nimruz and [[Farah Province|Farah]].<ref>Frank Clements. [https://books.google.com/books?id=bv4hzxpo424C&dq=%22Nimruz+Province%22&pg=PA181 ''Conflict in Afghanistan: A Historical Encyclopedia'']. ABC-CLIO, 2003. {{ISBN|1-85109-402-4}}, {{ISBN|978-1-85109-402-8}}. Pg 181</ref> The city of Zaranj became the capital of Nimroz province at that time. During the [[Soviet–Afghan War]], Nimruz province was used by [[mujahideen]] crossing back and forth between Afghanistan and neighboring countries. It was also used by [[Afghan refugees]] escaping the war as well as by smugglers.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

As the [[Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001)|Taliban]] came to power in 1995, they seized the road-controlling town of [[Delaram]] (now within [[Farah Province]]), and came to an agreement with local mujahideen commanders that the fate of the province would not be decided until a clear victor emerged in the capture of [[Kabul]]. However, the Taliban advanced on Nimruz only days later, and the mujahideen under command of [[Abdul Karim Brahui]] fled to Iran.{{Citation needed|date=December 2012}}

=== 21st century ===

==== 2000s ====
[[File: Abdul Karim Brahawi and John A. Toolan.jpg|thumb|Former Governor [[Abdul Karim Barahawi|General Abdul Karim Barahui]] and Maj. [[John A. Toolan|Gen. John A. Toolan]], commanding general of [[Regional Command Southwest]], discussing local issues in 2011.]]
Following the US-led invasion in October 2001, the Taliban began losing control of the province to the new Afghan government under [[List of Presidents of Afghanistan|President]] [[Hamid Karzai]].<ref>Robert D. Crews, Amin Tarzi. [https://books.google.com/books?id=R4ahq-05YuQC&dq=%22Karim+Brahui%22&pg=PA185 ''The Taliban and the crisis of Afghanistan'']. Harvard University Press, 2008. {{ISBN|0-674-02690-X}}, 9780674026902. Pg 185-187</ref> The area is historically known for drugs and weapons smuggling between Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. Many foreign militants also use the province to go back and forth between the three nations. The [[Delaram–Zaranj Highway]] was built by the Indian government in 2009, which is one of the main trade routes in the country and is expected to boost the socio-economic development in the province.

Since 2002, members of the [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]] were present in the province. When the [[International Security Assistance Force]] (ISAF) arrived at [[Kandahar]], Nimruz province became part of the [[Regional Command Southwest]]. The local [[Afghan National Security Forces]] (ANSF) were being [[NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan|trained]] by these forces. ISAF was also involved in development activities.

==== 2020s ====
In 2021, American forces withdrew from Afghanistan. On August 6, 2021, the Taliban overran Nimruz, when the Afghan government forces in the city of Zaranj, the [[215th Corps (Afghanistan)|215th Corps]], fled.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=August 6, 2021 |title=Taliban fighters overrun an Afghan provincial capital for the first time since withdrawal of foreign forces |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/06/afghanistan-taliban-nimruz/ |access-date=May 12, 2024 |website=The Washington Post}}</ref> There had been a lack of reinforcements from the government.<ref name="Al Jazeera">{{Cite web |title=Major blow to Afghan gov't as Taliban captures provincial capital |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/6/taliban-capture-afghan-provincial-capital-zaranj-nimruz |access-date=2024-05-13 |publisher=Al Jazeera|language=en}}</ref> The fleeing allowed the Taliban to take the city, including the government forces' "military bases and intelligence offices". The government forces then crossed over into Iran.<ref name=":0" /> The Taliban let the city's prisoners go free, but the most "notorious inmates" were already transferred to Kabul.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Al Jazeera"/> The Taliban had been using prison breaks to degrade the security forces' morale and grow their own ranks. The takeover meant that [[Ashraf Ghani]]'s government could no longer get revenue from the region's border crossings with Iran.<ref name=":0" />

In 2025, authorities announced plans to gradually move the provincial capital from [[Zaranj]] to [[Ghurghuri]], the capital of [[Khashrod District]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nimroz Provincial Center to Relocate from Zaranj to Ghurghuri |url=https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-195774 |access-date=15 September 2025 |publisher=TOLO News |language=en}}</ref>

==Healthcare==
{{Further|Health in Afghanistan}}
The percentage of households with clean drinking water fell from 38% in 2005 to 24% in 2011.<ref name="cimicweb.org">Archive, Civil Military Fusion Centre, https://www.cimicweb.org/AfghanistanProvincialMap/Pages/Nimroz.aspx</ref>
The percentage of births attended to by a skilled birth attendant increased from 7% in 2005 to 28% in 2011.<ref name="cimicweb.org"/>

==Education==
{{Further|Education in Afghanistan}}
The overall literacy rate (6+ years of age) increased from 22% in 2005 to 23% in 2011.<ref name="cimicweb.org"/> 
The overall net enrolment rate (6–13 years of age) increased from 33% in 2005 to 49% in 2011.<ref name="cimicweb.org"/>

==Transport and economy==
{{Further|Transport in Afghanistan}}
[[File:Afghanistan-Iran border in Zaranj, Afghanistan, 2011.jpg|thumb|[[Delaram-Zaranj Highway]] at the Afghan-Iranian border crossing in [[Zaranj]]]]
As of June 2014 [[Zaranj Airport]] which is located near the city of Zaranj had regularly scheduled flights to [[Herat International Airport|Herat]].

The [[Delaram–Zaranj Highway]] has been constructed by India via Chaknasur, which is expected to boost the socio economic development in the region.{{citation needed|date=June 2014}}

Trade, farming, and herding is the main source of income for the majority. This includes agriculture and animal husbandry. Animals include sheep, goat, cattle, and poultry. The province produces the following: Wheat, corn, melons, poppies; almost all irrigated.<ref name="nps"/>

Nimruz has always been isolated the past. This led to one author in 2010 calling it Afghanistan's "forgotten province." Historically, the territory served as a major [[smuggling]] hub due to its border with Iran and Pakistan. The province became popular after the trade route between Iran and Afghanistan became operational, which provides another large income to the Afghan government.<ref name="thediplomat.com">{{cite news|url=https://thediplomat.com/2010/12/afghanistans-forgotten-province/|title= Afghanistan's Forgotten Province |publisher=[[The Diplomat (magazine)|The Diplomat]]|date=December 1, 2010|access-date=2021-02-04}}</ref>

==Geography==
The [[Sistan Basin]] dominates the province. Many parts of the south are covered by the [[Godzareh Depression]] which includes marshes and dry lakes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/LIB100035066|title = Gowd-e Zereh &#91;cartographic material&#93; : Afghanistan 1:100,000 / Prepared and published by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency}}</ref>

== Demography ==
{{Further|Demography of Afghanistan}}
[[File:Nimruz districts.png|thumb|Districts of Nimruz]]
The NSIA puts the population of Nimruz Province at approximately 186,963 people. This estimate includes the many [[Kuchi people|Kuchi]] nomads who inhabit the province seasonally and the native settled people.<ref name=cso>{{cite web |url=http://cso.gov.af/Content/files/Nimroz(1).pdf |title=Settled Population of Nimroz province by Civil Division, Urban, Rural and Sex-2012-13 |publisher=Islamic Republic of Afghanistan: Central Statistics Organization |access-date=2012-10-31}}</ref> It is the only province of Afghanistan where the [[Baloch people|Baloch]] ethnic group forms a majority.<ref name="thediplomat.com"/> The Balochs are followed by [[Pashtun people|Pashtun]], [[Brahui people|Brahui]], [[Tajik people|Tajik]], [[Uzbeks|Uzbek]], and [[Hazara people|Hazara]].<ref name=president/> The Pashtun tribes are mostly [[Barakzai]] and [[Nurzai]]. Almost all inhabitants except the [[Shia]] [[Hazaras]] follow [[Sunni Islam]].<ref name="nps">{{cite web |url=http://www.nps.edu/Programs/CCS/Docs/Executive%20Summaries/Nimroz%20Executive%20Summary1.pdf |title=Nimroz |work=Program for Culture & Conflict Studies |publisher=[[Naval Postgraduate School]] |access-date=2012-12-28}}</ref> Languages spoken in the province are [[Balochi language|Balochi]], [[Pashto]] and [[Dari language|Dari]].<ref name=president/>

===Population by districts===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%;" align=center
|+ Districts of Nimruz Province
|-
!align="left"|District
!align="left"|Capital
!align="left"|Population<ref name=mrrd>{{cite web |url=http://www.mrrd-nabdp.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=141&Itemid=130 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130414220939/http://www.mrrd-nabdp.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=141&Itemid=130 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=April 14, 2013 |title=Nimrooz Province |publisher=[[Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development]] |work=Government of Afghanistan and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)|access-date=2012-10-31}}</ref>
!align="left"|Area<br />in km<sup>2</sup>
!align="left"|Pop.<br />density
!align="center"|Number of villages and ethnic groups
|-
|[[Chahar Burjak District|Chahar Burjak]] || || 29,893 || 20,730 || 1 || 65 villages. 88% Baloch, 10% Brahawi, 1% Pashtun, and 1% Tajik.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mrrd-nabdp.org/attachments/article/141/Nimroz_Charborjak_Summary_Finalized.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728162403/http://www.mrrd-nabdp.org/attachments/article/141/Nimroz_Charborjak_Summary_Finalized.pdf|url-status=usurped|title=Charborjak District|archive-date=July 28, 2013}}</ref> 
|-
|[[Chakhansur District|Chakhansur]] || [[Chakhansur (village)|Chakhansur]] || 26,837 || 8,856 || 3 || 160 villages. Mixed Pashtun, Tajik and Baloch .<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mrrd-nabdp.org/attachments/article/141/Nimroz_Chakhansor_Summary_Finalized.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222234639/http://www.mrrd-nabdp.org/attachments/article/141/Nimroz_Chakhansor_Summary_Finalized.pdf|url-status=usurped|title=Chakhansor District|archive-date=December 22, 2015}}</ref>
|-
|[[Kang District|Kang]] || || 25,376 || 898 || 28 || 119 villages. 60% Pashtun, 25% Baloch, 15% Tajik.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mrrd-nabdp.org/attachments/article/141/Nimroz_Kang_Summary_Finalized.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407091057/http://www.mrrd-nabdp.org/attachments/article/141/Nimroz_Kang_Summary_Finalized.pdf|url-status=usurped|title=Kang District|archive-date=April 7, 2014}}</ref>
|-
|[[Khash Rod District|Khash Rod]] || [[Khash, Nimruz|Khash]] || 36,138 || 8,066 || 4 || 63 villages. 55% Pashtun, 20% Baluch, 15% Brahawi, 10% Tajik.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mrrd-nabdp.org/attachments/article/141/Nimroz_Khashrod_Summary_Finalized.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407091036/http://www.mrrd-nabdp.org/attachments/article/141/Nimroz_Khashrod_Summary_Finalized.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 7, 2014|title=mrrd-nabdp.org|website=mrrd-nabdp.org}}</ref> Includes the [[Delaram District]].
|-
|[[Zaranj District|Zaranj]] || '''[[Zaranj]]''' || 65,310 || 1,716 || 38 || 242 villages. 44% Baloch, 34% Pashtun, and 22% Tajik.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mrrd-nabdp.org/attachments/article/141/Nimroz_Zaranj_Summary_Finalized.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728162333/http://www.mrrd-nabdp.org/attachments/article/141/Nimroz_Zaranj_Summary_Finalized.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 28, 2013|title=mrrd-nabdp.org|website=mrrd-nabdp.org}}</ref>
|- bgcolor="#d3d3d3"
|'''Nimruz'''
|
|'''183,554'''
|'''42,410'''
|'''4'''
|42.2% Balochi, 36.3% Pashtuns, 16.9% Tajiks, 4.6% Brahwi.{{refn|group=note|Note: "Predominantely" or "dominated" is interpreted as 99%, "majority" as 70%, "mixed" as 1/(number of ethnicities), "minority" as 30% and "few" or "some" as 1%.}}
|}
{{reflist|group=note}}

== See also ==
* [[Provinces of Afghanistan]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Nimroz Province}}
* [https://my.nps.edu/web/ccs/nimroz Nimroz Province] by [[Naval Postgraduate School]]

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Nimruz Province
|North     = [[Farah Province]]
|Northeast = 
|East      = [[Helmand Province]]
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Balochistan (Pakistan)|Balochistan]], {{flag|Pakistan}}
|Southwest = [[Sistan and Baluchistan Province]], {{flag|Iran}}
|West      = 
|Northwest = 
}}

{{Provinces of Afghanistan}}
{{Nimruz Province}}
{{baloch nationalism}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Nimruz Province| ]]
[[Category:Provinces of Afghanistan]]
[[Category:Provinces of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan]]