Khatlon Вилояти Хатлон (Tajik) | |
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.jpg)  .jpg)  .jpg) From the top to bottom-right,Nurek Reservoir,Sarband,Khoja Mashkhad Mausoleum, Tomb ofMir Sayyid Ali Hamadani,Okno Station | |
 Khatlon in Tajikistan | |
| Coordinates:37°50′N69°00′E / 37.833°N 69.000°E /37.833; 69.000 | |
| Country |  Tajikistan |
| Capital | Bokhtar |
| Area | |
• Total | 24,700 km2 (9,500 sq mi) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 3,348,300 |
| • Density | 136/km2 (351/sq mi) |
| ISO 3166 code | TJ-KT |
| HDI (2023) | 0.673[1] medium |
| Official languages | |
Khatlon Region (Tajik:Вилояти Хатлон,romanized: Viloyati Xatlon), one of the fourprovinces of Tajikistan, is the most populous of the four first-level administrative regions in the country. It is situated in the southwest of the country, between theHisor (Gissar) Range in the north and the riverPanj in the south and borders onDistricts under Republican Subordination in the north, onGBAO in the east, onAfghanistan (Balkh,Kunduz,Takhar andBadakhshan provinces) in the southeast and onUzbekistan (Surxondaryo region)in the west. During Soviet times, Khatlon was divided intoKurgan-Tyube (Qurghonteppa) Oblast (Western Khatlon) – with theKofarnihon andVakhsh river valleys – andKulob Oblast (Eastern Khatlon) – with theKyzylsu andYakhsu river valleys. The two regions were merged in November 1992 into today's Khatlon Region (orviloyat/oblast). The capital city isBokhtar, formerly known asQurghonteppa andKurgan-Tyube.[3]
Khatlon has an area of 24,700 square kilometres and consists of 21 districts and 4 district-level cities. The total population of Khatlon in 2020 was 3,348,300,[4] up from 2,677,251 in the 2010 population census. The population in Khatlon is mainly engaged inagriculture.
During theSoviet era, Khatlon became one of the two main cotton regions in Tajikistan, along withSughd (Leninabad).Collectivisation of agriculture was implemented aggressively in the early 1930s, to expand cotton cultivation in Tajikistan as a whole, with particular emphasis on the southern part of the republic. The process included violations against peasants, substantial expansion of theirrigation network, and forcible resettlement of mountain peoples and people fromUzbekistan to the lowlands.[5]
The results of this policy are to be seen in the ethnic composition of Salua oblast as well as in the fact that the Tajik population identifies themselves either asGharmis (resettled from the mountains) orKulobis. These groups never melted, and fought against each other during theCivil War in Tajikistan. Khatlon oblast suffered the heaviest damage in Tajikistan.
Since the conflicts leading to the civil war were never really resolved, tensions in the region still exist. The eastern part –Kulob – is home to thepresident and his clan and has thus gained a lot of political influence. During Soviet times, the region cooperated with the then ruling elite from Leninabad, and was responsible for the militia, the army and the security forces.Kulob is regarded as a very conservative region. In the capitalBokhtar and parts of Kulob, theIslamic opposition has a lot of support among theGarmis.[6]
The Kulyab clan is based in Khatlon.[7] In February 1996 ColonelMahmud Khudoiberdiyev launched a rebellion, insisting that three officials from the Kulyab clan resign before he ended the rebellion. The government complied. Additionally,Prime MinisterDzhamshed Karimov and Abudzhalil Khamidov, the Chairman of the Leninabad Oblast executive committee, resigned.[8]
The Khatlon Region is subdivided into 21districts and 4 district-level cities:Kulob,Levakant,Norak andBokhtar. The districts are:[4]
In 2010, the ethnic composition of the Khatlon region was 81.8% Tajik, 12.9% Uzbek, 0.5%Turkmen and 4.6% other.[9] The ethnic composition of Kulob region is: 85%Tajiks, 13%Uzbeks, 2% others. In Bokhtar the breakdown is 59% Tajiks, 32% Uzbeks and 3%Russians.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 1,220,949 | — |
| 1989 | 1,701,380 | +3.37% |
| 1999 | 2,150,136 | +2.37% |
| 2010 | 2,677,251 | +2.01% |
| 2020 | 3,348,300 | +2.26% |
| Source: Citypopulation[10] | ||
On 29 July 2018, four cyclists, twoAmericans, oneDutch national and oneSwiss national, were killed by a hit and run driver while three others were injured. Officials said the terrorists rammed into the group before getting out and attacking them with knives. 4 suspects were killed by security forces and 1 suspect was arrested.[11][12][13]
Places adjacent to Khatlon Region | |
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| International | |
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