Laghman Province

Laghman(Persian/Pashto:لغمان) is one of the 34provinces of Afghanistan, located in the eastern part of the country. It has a population of about 502,148,which is multi-ethnic and mostly a rural society. Laghman hosts a large number of historical landmarks, minarets, monuments, and other cultural relics that are manifestation of its old history and culture. The city ofMihtarlamserves as the capital of the province. In some historical texts the name is written as "Lamghan" or as "Lamghanat".
In 2021, theTalibangained control of the province during the2021 Taliban offensive.
Laghman or Lamghan is originally named afterLamech(Mether Lam Baba), the father ofNoah.
Located currently at theKabul MuseumareAramaicinscriptions that were found in Laghman which indicated an ancient trade route from India to Palmyra.Aramaicwas the bureaucratic script language of theAchaemenidswhose influence had extended toward Laghman.During the invasions ofAlexander the Great, the area was known as Lampaka.
Inscriptions in Aramaicdating from theMauryan Dynastywere found in Laghman which discussed the conversion ofAshokato Buddhism.The inscription mentions that the distance toPalmyrais 300 dhanusha oryojana.
TheMahamayuri Tantradated to between the 1-3rd century mentions several popular Yaksha shrines. It mentions Yaksha Kalahapriya being worshipped in Lampaka.
In the seventh century, the Chinese pilgrimXuanzangvisited Laghman, which he called "Lan-pro" and considered part of India.  He indicated the presence ofMahayanaBuddhistsand numerousHindus, includingBrahmins:
TheḤudūd al-ʿĀlamwhich was finished in 982 AD mentioned the presence of some idol worshipping temples in the area, and describes the province as an emporium ofHindūstān.
The Kabul Shahis only retained Lamghan in theKabul-Gandharaarea by the time ofAlp-tegin. According toFirishta,Sabuktiginhad already begun raiding Lamghan under Alp-begin.He crossed theKhyber Passmany times and raided the territory ofJayapala.He plundered the forts in the outlying provinces of the Kabul Shahi and captured many cities, acquiring huge booty.He also established Islam at many places. Jaipal in retaliation marched with a large force into the valley of Lamghan (Jalalabad) where he clashed with Sabuktigin and his son. The battle stretched on several days until a snowstorm affected Jaipala's strategies, forcing him to sue for peace.
Jayapala then returned to Waihind but broke the treaty and mistreated the amirs sent to collect the tribute. Sabuktigin launched another invasion in retaliation.According to al-Utbi, Sabuktigin attacked Lamghan, conquering it and burning the residences of the "infidels" while also demolishing its idol-temples and establishing Islam.He advanced and butchered the idolaters, destroying the temples and plundering their shrines, even risking frostbite on their hands counting the large booty.
To avenge the savage attack of Sabuktigin, Jayapala, who has earlier taken his envoys as hostage, decided to go to war again in revenge. The forces of Kabul Shahi were however routed and those still alive were killed in the forest or drowned in the river.The second battle that took place between Sabuktigin and Jayapala in 988 A.D., resulted in the former capturing territory between Lamghan andPeshawar. Al-Ubti also states that the Afghans andKhaljis, living there as nomads, took the oath of allegiance to him and were recruited into his army.Sabuktigin won one of his greatest battles in Laghman against Jayapala and his army numbering 100,000.GhaznavidSultanMahmud of Ghaznibuilt the Tomb of Lamech, amid gardens, over the site of his presumed grave, 50 kilometres fromMihtarlam.
In the 14th and 15th centuries, Khārkhay Pashtuns such as Yusupzai and Tarkāṇī invaded the Laghmān valley and displaced the native Indo-Aryans.
During the early years of the 16th century, theMughalrulerBaburspent much time in Laghman, and inBaburnama(memoirs of Babur) he expatiated on the beauty of forested hillsides and the fertility of the valley bottoms of the region.Laghman was recognized as a dependent district ofKabulistanin the Mughal era,and according to Baburnama, "Greater Lamghanat" included the Muslim-settled part of theKafiristan, including the easterly one ofKunar River. Laghman was the base for expeditions against thenon-believersand was frequently mentioned in accounts ofjihadsled by Mughal emperorAkbar's younger brother, Mohammad Hakim, who was the governor of Kabul.In 1747,Ahmad Shah Durranidefeated the Mughals and made the territory part of theDurrani Empire. In the late nineteenth century,AmirAbdur Rahman Khanforced the remaining kafirs (Nuristani people) to convert toIslam.
During theSoviet-Afghan warand the battles that followed between the rivaling warlords, many homes and business establishments in the province were destroyed. In addition, theSovietsare said to have employed a strategy that targeted and destroyed the agricultural infrastructure of Laghman.As of 2007, anInternational Security Assistance ForceProvincial Reconstruction Teamled by theUnited Statesis based at Mihtarlam.
In 2021, the first stadium in Laghman opened inMihtarlam.
The percentage of households with clean drinking water fell from 39% in 2005 to 34% in 2011.The percentage of births attended to by a skilled birth attendant increased from 3% in 2005 to 36% in 2011.There are 57 medical health clinics and 2 government hospitals.
TheAlingarandAlishingrivers pass through Laghman, as the province is known for its lushness. Laghman has sizable amounts of irrigated land as one can find scores of fruits and vegetables from Laghman inKabul. Other main crops in Laghman include rice, wheat and cotton as many people living in the area are involved in agricultural trade and business.
Laghman also has an array of precious stones and minerals,as it is well known for being a relatively untapped source of theTourmalineandSpodumenegemstones which are reported to be in abundance at the northern portions of the province.There are alsomarblemines.
The overall literacy rate (6+ years of age) increased from 14% in 2005 to 26% in 2011.The overall net enrolment rate (6–13 years of age) increased from 48% in 2005 to 52% in 2011.
As of 2021, the total population of the province is about 502,148, which is multi-ethnic and mostly a rural society.According to theNaval Postgraduate School, as of 2010 the ethnic groups of the province are as follows: 52.0%Pashtun, 26.7%PashaiandNuristani(Kata), and 21.7%Tajik.The people of Laghman are overwhelminglySunni Muslim.
Laghman has a population of 396,000 people in 2008. The province has 60,048 households, with an average of six persons per home. Rural areas are home to 99 percent of the population. Sapi, Tajik, Nasir,Ibrahimkhail, Hoodkhail, Nuristani,Kharoti, Jabarkhail, Pashaie,Niazi, Pashtun, andGujjarsare the major ethnic groupings.Pashtois spoken in 345 of the 620 villages, accounting for about 58 percent of the population.Pashayi languagesis the second most common language, spoken by a third of the people in 210 localities.Dariis spoken in 57 localities, accounting for slightly more than 9% of the population.Kochi people(nomads) live in Laghman province, and their numbers fluctuate depending on the season. In the winter, 94,020 people, or around 4% of the Kuchi population, stay in Laghman living in 40 communities.