Shīnḍanḍ ( Pashto : شينډنډ ; Persian : سبزوار ) is a town and the center of the Shindand District , Herat Province , Afghanistan . It is located at 33°18′13″N 62°08′24″E / 33.3036°N 62.14°E / 33.3036; 62.14 at 1,066 m altitude on the Harut River . The Shindand Air Base is located about 15 miles northeast of the town.
6-469: Shindand is at the northern end of Zirko Valley , which is one of main centers of poppy production in western Afghanistan. The town is located south of Adriskan , where a large police training facility exists. The population includes Pashtuns , Tajiks and others, though Pashtuns make up the majority. The main languages spoken in the area are Pashto and Dari. During the Soviet–Afghan War (1979–1989)
12-477: Is located about 15 miles to the northeast of the town, which was occupied by Afghan and NATO 's International Security Assistance Force . It is a former Soviet airfield, repaired by U.S. forces. The area is flat and arid, with foothills to the north and west. The Kandahar–Herat Highway , which is part of Afghanistan's Highway 1 , passes next to the Shindand Air Base. A free medical clinic supported by
18-540: The 5th Guards Motor Rifle Division was headquartered in the town. The name Shindand means "green pond" in Pashto . The town was previously known as Sabzwar and Asfezar . Shindand was once a city of considerable size, and still possesses a fortress with sides of about 200 metres. In the 19th century the city was said to have a diverse population composed of Ghilzais , Durranis ( Alakozais , Popalzais , Barakzais ), Tajiks , Zuris , Timuris , Jews , and Hindus . By
24-535: The Afghan National Army (ANA) provided free medical care for the population of the town. Zirko Valley Zerkoh Valley (alternately Zirko , Zer-e-koh , Zir Koh ) runs for 30 miles through Shindand District , Herat Province , Afghanistan. On 29 April 2007, a number of Afghan civilians in Zerkoh were killed in airstrikes conducted in support of US Special Operations Forces. Estimates of
30-629: The early 20th century this fortress had been abandoned, and the town, at the centre of a group of villages, was fairly prosperous, with a bazaar of about 800 shops. The plains about Shindand were highly cultivated by the Nurzai Duranis , each village protected by its own little mud fort. On August 10, 1990, an Antonov An-12 of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Air Force (DRAAF) crashed during initial climb after takeoff from Shindand Airport, killing all 83 onboard. This crash
36-601: Was Afghanistan's deadliest until the crash of Kam Air Flight 904 in 2005. With an influence from the local steppe climate, Shindand features a cold semi-arid climate ( BSk ) under the Köppen climate classification . The average temperature in Shindand is 16.5 °C, while the annual precipitation averages 168 mm. July is the hottest month of the year with an average temperature of 29.4 °C. The coldest month January has an average temperature of 4.1 °C. The Shindand Air Base
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