Fortress Afghanistan: Examining The Security Of Remote Outposts

Afghanistan has a rich history that dates back to 3500 BC, with several ancient forts that have been preserved to this day. However, the country has also endured a long period of conflict, with a significant number of military bases and outposts scattered across its landscape. The presence of these military installations has often raised concerns about the safety and preservation of historical sites, particularly ancient forts, which have suffered damage due to modern weaponry and military activities. Locals advocate for the handover of these forts to civilian authorities for better preservation and the potential development of tourism. Afghanistan's long and controversial past raises questions about the safety of its forts and the challenges of balancing military needs with cultural preservation.

The Citadel of Farah and the Fortress of Herat are mentioned in Greek and Macedonian chronicles

The Citadel of Farah and the Fortress of Herat, also known as the Citadel of Alexander, are indeed mentioned in Greek and Macedonian chronicles. The Citadel of Farah, locally known as Shar-e-Farahdun, is believed to have been built by Alexander the Great in 330 BC. However, some claim that the citadel was built by Zoroastrian warriors in the time of Darius the Great, who ruled from 522-486 BC. The fortress is located in the western province of Afghanistan, Farah, and is one of the largest and oldest fortresses in the country. It is strategically located on a high hill, overlooking the city of Farah and the surrounding areas.

The Fortress of Herat, also known as Qala Iktyaruddin, is located in the city of Herat, in the western part of Afghanistan. It is believed to have been built by Alexander the Great, but there are also claims that it was built by Zoroastrian warriors in the time of Darius the Great. The fortress has been used as a headquarters by many empires over the last 2,000 years and has been destroyed and rebuilt many times.

The Fort of Kandahar is associated with the ancient city of Mundigak

Afghanistan is a country with a rich history that dates back to 3500 BC. The fort of Kandahar is an example of ancient architecture, with its oldest mounds and relics associated with the old city of Mundigak, dating back to 3000 BC. Mundigak is an archaeological site in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan, situated approximately 55 kilometres northwest of the city of Kandahar. It was a large prehistoric town with a significant cultural sequence from the 5th to 2nd millennia BCE. The site was excavated by French scholar Jean Marie Casal in the 1950s, and the mound was nine metres tall at the time.

Mundigak is believed to have been a major urban centre in the 3rd millennium BCE, as evidenced by pottery and other artefacts from that period. It flourished during the Helmand Basin culture, also known as the Helmand culture, and by 2400 BCE, it had become the second-largest centre of this culture, covering an area of 52 acres. The city featured a palace complex and a temple, indicating an advanced social structure.

The fort of Kandahar, also known as Old Kandahar or Zorr Shaar in Pashto, was likely established by Alexander the Great in 330 BC on the foundations of the ancient city of Mundigak. It served as the local seat of power for various rulers over the last 2,000 years and was frequently targeted for conquest due to its strategic location along trade routes. The city has been part of many empires, including the Mauryans, Indo-Scythians, Sassanids, Arabs, Zunbils, and more recently, the Taliban.

The fort of Kandahar has a long and tumultuous history, reflecting the region's complex past. Today, Afghanistan is mostly safe for travellers who wish to explore its ancient forts and rich cultural heritage.

The Fortress of Bala Hissar is a tourist hotspot

Afghanistan has a rich history that dates back to 3500 BC. The country is home to several ancient forts, including the Fortress of Bala Hissar, which has become a tourist hotspot. Located in the south of the old city of Kabul, the Bala Hissar, or "High Fort", is an ancient fortress overlooking the city from a perch it has held since the 5th or 6th century AD. The site has played a crucial role in Afghan state affairs and was the seat of power for Afghan rulers for centuries, especially under the Mughal rulers of the 16th and 17th centuries.

The Bala Hissar was originally divided into two parts: the lower fortress, which contained the stables, barracks, and three royal palaces, and the upper fortress, which housed the armory and the dungeon of Kabul, known as the "Black Pit". The upper fortress is the actual fort that bears the name Bala Hissar. The fortress has undergone significant changes through multiple iterations of conflict, reconstruction, and deterioration. It was partially destroyed during the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-1880) by British Indian troops but was later rebuilt.

The Bala Hissar has witnessed many turbulent periods in Afghanistan's history and was once the residence of famous emperors like Babur and Timor Lang. Its walls rise to a height of 23 feet and are about 12 feet thick. The fortress offers breathtaking views of the capital and provides an excellent vantage point for understanding the city's geography. The old city walls snake out from its towers along the mountain ridges, making for a fantastic walk with panoramic views of the entire Peshawar and Kabul valleys.

Today, the Fortress of Bala Hissar is a tourist attraction, offering visitors a glimpse into Afghanistan's rich history. The site is also of great sociocultural and archaeological value, with few historical sites in Afghanistan as well-preserved and documented as the Bala Hissar. While it remains an active military installation, its cultural importance is recognised and remembered. The fortress is a testament to the country's long and tumultuous history and offers valuable insights into the architecture and power dynamics of past dynasties.

The Arg was built after the destruction of the Bala Hissar in 1880

The Arg, meaning 'citadel' in Pashto and Dari, is the presidential palace of Afghanistan, located in Kabul. It was built after the destruction of the Bala Hissar in 1880 by British Indian troops during the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-80). The Bala Hissar, or 'High Fort', was an ancient fortress located in the south of the old city of Kabul, dating back to the 5th century AD.

The Arg was commissioned by Emir Abdur Rahman Khan, who laid its foundation in 1880 after assuming the throne. Designed as a castle with a water-filled trench around it, Abdur Rahman Khan named the palace Arg-e-Shahi, or Citadel of the King. The complex included a residence for his family, barracks for the Afghan Army, and the national treasury.

The Arg has served as the royal and presidential palace for all of Afghanistan's kings and presidents, except for Hafizullah Amin, who used the Tajbeg Palace as his family's residence. The palace has undergone modifications and revitalisation under different rulers and has played a significant role in the country's history. For example, during the Saur Revolution on 28 April 1978, President Mohammed Daoud Khan and his family were assassinated inside the Arg by members of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan.

In recent years, the Arg has continued to be a prominent site. On 15 August 2021, following the Taliban offensive and the near seizure of the capital, the Taliban occupied the Arg after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. Since then, the Arg has served as the meeting place of the Cabinet of Afghanistan, except for those meetings chaired by the Supreme Leader, which are held in Kandahar.

The Qala-ye Jangi fort was badly damaged in a 2001 uprising

The Qala-ye Jangi fort, also known as Qala-i-Jangi, was the site of a bloody 2001 Taliban uprising, which resulted in the death of at least 470 people, including CIA agent Johnny "Mike" Spann. The fort, located near Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan, was built in 1889 by Abdur Rahman, the first ruler to unite Afghanistan.

In 2001, the Taliban surrendered to the Northern Alliance, led by General Abdul Rashid Dostum, outside the city of Kunduz. Over 400 foreign fighters, mostly from Arabic-speaking countries of the Middle East, surrendered their weapons. Dostum described the surrender as a "great victory" for the Alliance. However, the prisoners had not been searched properly, and some had concealed weapons.

On November 25, 2001, two CIA officers, Johnny Micheal Spann and David Tyson, arrived at Qala-ye Jangi to interrogate the prisoners. Approximately two hours after the interviews began, several prisoners with concealed grenades suddenly attacked their captors, who were outnumbered. The prisoners managed to take over the southern half of the fortress, including the armory and ammunition depot. Spann was killed in the attack, while Tyson narrowly escaped to the northern part of the fortress.

Northern Alliance reinforcements, assisted by British and American special forces and air support, arrived to quell the revolt. The fighting lasted for six days, resulting in the deaths of all but 86 prisoners and several Northern Alliance fighters. The Qala-ye Jangi fort was badly damaged during the uprising, with the northeast tower destroyed by an errant American missile.

Frequently asked questions