Herat Calmly Awaits for the Elections

The province of Herat prepares for the August 20 election date, the populace roughly numbered at 300,000 in the 2006 census have lived relatively peaceful lives but only in comparison to the rest of Afghanistan.

The province has managed to maintain some of its historical sites such as the beautiful Friday Mosque that was built in the 12th century. It is a grand structure that withstood demolition by the British in the third Anglo-Afghan war, yet two other mosques built by the Timurids in the 9th century were dynamited by the invading forces in order to create a fort to guard British India from Russian forces.

Remains of Alexander the Greats citadels can be seen in the province that was governed by Ismail Khan a 'warlord' who protected the province from Soviet invasion leading the local mujahideen (Afghan resistance)

Many speculate that it his diplomatic capabilities that have made Herat one of the safest provinces in Afghanistan, his educational contracts with Iran won over popular support until central government speculated that Iran was becoming too involved in the region that was once known as the 'Pearl of Khorasan'.

However, Herat has a bloody past, in 1979 Ismail Khan led a garrison against Soviet political advisor's, they responded by bombing the province killing 24,000 people in less than a week and destroying much of the city, including irreplaceable historical sites. Khan escaped to the countryside where he organised a local army that was backed by the Northern Alliance re-capturing the province.

The leader managed to defend Herat from the Taliban however was betrayed by General Dostum when he switched over temporarily to the Taliban attacking the province with his air force and the support of the Pakistani ISI. In 2004 he was deposed for refusing to hand over tax to Hamid Karzai's central government and was replaced by Amanullah Khan.

In 2007 Herat signed a contract to begin building a railway route from Herat to Iran.

On Sunday August 9, rocket attacks landed near the Spanish (ISAF) base.

The province of Herat prepares for the August 20 election date, the populace roughly numbered at 300,000 in the 2006 census have lived relatively peaceful lives but only in comparison to the rest of Afghanistan.

The province has managed to maintain some of its historical sites such as the beautiful Friday Mosque that was built in the 12th century. It is a grand structure that withstood demolition by the British in the third Anglo-Afghan war, yet two other mosques built by the Timurids in the 9th century were dynamited by the invading forces in order to create a fort to guard British India from Russian forces.

Remains of Alexander the Greats citadels can be seen in the province that was governed by Ismail Khan a 'warlord' who protected the province from Soviet invasion leading the local mujahideen (Afghan resistance)

Many speculate that it his diplomatic capabilities that have made Herat one of the safest provinces in Afghanistan, his educational contracts with Iran won over popular support until central government speculated that Iran was becoming too involved in the region that was once known as the 'Pearl of Khorasan'.

However, Herat has a bloody past, in 1979 Ismail Khan led a garrison against Soviet political advisor's, they responded by bombing the province killing 24,000 people in less than a week and destroying much of the city, including irreplaceable historical sites. Khan escaped to the countryside where he organised a local army that was backed by the Northern Alliance re-capturing the province.

The leader managed to defend Herat from the Taliban however was betrayed by General Dostum when he switched over temporarily to the Taliban attacking the province with his air force and the support of the Pakistani ISI. In 2004 he was deposed for refusing to hand over tax to Hamid Karzai's central government and was replaced by Amanullah Khan.

In 2007 Herat signed a contract to begin building a railway route from Herat to Iran.

On Sunday August 9, rocket attacks landed near the Spanish (ISAF) base.

The province of Herat prepares for the August 20 election date, the populace roughly numbered at 300,000 in the 2006 census have lived relatively peaceful lives but only in comparison to the rest of Afghanistan.

The province has managed to maintain some of its historical sites such as the beautiful Friday Mosque that was built in the 12th century. It is a grand structure that withstood demolition by the British in the third Anglo-Afghan war, yet two other mosques built by the Timurids in the 9th century were dynamited by the invading forces in order to create a fort to guard British India from Russian forces.

Remains of Alexander the Greats citadels can be seen in the province that was governed by Ismail Khan a 'warlord' who protected the province from Soviet invasion leading the local mujahideen (Afghan resistance)

Many speculate that it his diplomatic capabilities that have made Herat one of the safest provinces in Afghanistan, his educational contracts with Iran won over popular support until central government speculated that Iran was becoming too involved in the region that was once known as the 'Pearl of Khorasan'.

However, Herat has a bloody past, in 1979 Ismail Khan led a garrison against Soviet political advisor's, they responded by bombing the province killing 24,000 people in less than a week and destroying much of the city, including irreplaceable historical sites. Khan escaped to the countryside where he organised a local army that was backed by the Northern Alliance re-capturing the province.

The leader managed to defend Herat from the Taliban however was betrayed by General Dostum when he switched over temporarily to the Taliban attacking the province with his air force and the support of the Pakistani ISI. In 2004 he was deposed for refusing to hand over tax to Hamid Karzai's central government and was replaced by Amanullah Khan.

In 2007 Herat signed a contract to begin building a railway route from Herat to Iran.

On Sunday August 9, rocket attacks landed near the Spanish (ISAF) base.

The province of Herat prepares for the August 20 election date, the populace roughly numbered at 300,000 in the 2006 census have lived relatively peaceful lives but only in comparison to the rest of Afghanistan.

The province has managed to maintain some of its historical sites such as the beautiful Friday Mosque that was built in the 12th century. It is a grand structure that withstood demolition by the British in the third Anglo-Afghan war, yet two other mosques built by the Timurids in the 9th century were dynamited by the invading forces in order to create a fort to guard British India from Russian forces.

Remains of Alexander the Greats citadels can be seen in the province that was governed by Ismail Khan a 'warlord' who protected the province from Soviet invasion leading the local mujahideen (Afghan resistance)

Many speculate that it his diplomatic capabilities that have made Herat one of the safest provinces in Afghanistan, his educational contracts with Iran won over popular support until central government speculated that Iran was becoming too involved in the region that was once known as the 'Pearl of Khorasan'.

However, Herat has a bloody past, in 1979 Ismail Khan led a garrison against Soviet political advisor's, they responded by bombing the province killing 24,000 people in less than a week and destroying much of the city, including irreplaceable historical sites. Khan escaped to the countryside where he organised a local army that was backed by the Northern Alliance re-capturing the province.

The leader managed to defend Herat from the Taliban however was betrayed by General Dostum when he switched over temporarily to the Taliban attacking the province with his air force and the support of the Pakistani ISI. In 2004 he was deposed for refusing to hand over tax to Hamid Karzai's central government and was replaced by Amanullah Khan.

In 2007 Herat signed a contract to begin building a railway route from Herat to Iran.

On Sunday August 9, rocket attacks landed near the Spanish (ISAF) base.

The province of Herat prepares for the August 20 election date, the populace roughly numbered at 300,000 in the 2006 census have lived relatively peaceful lives but only in comparison to the rest of Afghanistan.

The province has managed to maintain some of its historical sites such as the beautiful Friday Mosque that was built in the 12th century. It is a grand structure that withstood demolition by the British in the third Anglo-Afghan war, yet two other mosques built by the Timurids in the 9th century were dynamited by the invading forces in order to create a fort to guard British India from Russian forces.

Remains of Alexander the Greats citadels can be seen in the province that was governed by Ismail Khan a 'warlord' who protected the province from Soviet invasion leading the local mujahideen (Afghan resistance)

Many speculate that it his diplomatic capabilities that have made Herat one of the safest provinces in Afghanistan, his educational contracts with Iran won over popular support until central government speculated that Iran was becoming too involved in the region that was once known as the 'Pearl of Khorasan'.

However, Herat has a bloody past, in 1979 Ismail Khan led a garrison against Soviet political advisor's, they responded by bombing the province killing 24,000 people in less than a week and destroying much of the city, including irreplaceable historical sites. Khan escaped to the countryside where he organised a local army that was backed by the Northern Alliance re-capturing the province.

The leader managed to defend Herat from the Taliban however was betrayed by General Dostum when he switched over temporarily to the Taliban attacking the province with his air force and the support of the Pakistani ISI. In 2004 he was deposed for refusing to hand over tax to Hamid Karzai's central government and was replaced by Amanullah Khan.

In 2007 Herat signed a contract to begin building a railway route from Herat to Iran.

On Sunday August 9, rocket attacks landed near the Spanish (ISAF) base.