Tarinkot

Tarinkot, also spelled as Tarin Kowt, is a city in south-central Afghanistan, serving as the capital of Uruzgan Province. It sits at 1317 m above sea level, and is connected by a road network with Kandahar to the south, Nili in Daykundi Province to the north, and Malistan in Ghazni Province to the northeast.

Located within the Tarinkot District, the city had a population of approximately 71,604 people in 2015. In the district, two major Pashtun tribal confederations are represented, Tareen tribes: Popalzai, Barakzai, Nurzai, Achakzai; and the Ghilzai tribes: Tokhi, Hotak.

The majority of land in the district is classified as non built-up (69%) of which agriculture is 67%. Residential land accounts for 47% of built-up land. The Tarinkot Airport is located within the municipal boundaries, accounting the second largest built-up land use (24%).

During the August 2021 Taliban offensive, all Afghan National Security Forces under President Ashraf Ghani surrendered to the Taliban. Tarinkot continues to be one of the least developed populated places in the country.

History
Tarinkot was historically part of the Loy Kandahar (Greater Kandahar) region. This locale remained a seat of some of the Tarin (or Tareen) Pashtun tribal sardars, as early as the 12th-13th centuries AD and some of them later migrated to the Indian subcontinent during or after the Mughal-Safavid War (1622-23).

21st century
On November 16, 2001, anti-Taliban groups in the area rose up against their Taliban governor, which marked the first organized Pashtun resistance against the Taliban. Hamid Karzai, then an obscure statesman, was in the region at the time trying to organize a militia while accompanied by an 11-man U.S. Special Forces team, known as Operational Detachment Alpha 574. The Taliban launched a counterattack, confronting Karzai and his militia who dug in to defend the town. With the help of U.S. air power, they drove the Taliban back from Tarinkot.

In 2004, an American base called FOB Ripley, named after U.S. Marine John Ripley was built in Tarinkot. It was established by a Joint Task Force made up mainly of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (22ndMEU SOC), 2-5 Infantry (bobcats)/3rd BDE/ 25th Infantry Division, US Army Civil Affairs, and the Florida and Iowa National Guard Task Force 168 in May 2004. Subsequently, other foreign military forces have operated at the base outside Tarinkot.

After the 22nd MEU SOC led Operation Mountain Storm, most of the Taliban forces moved to the mountainous region between Afghanistan and Pakistan. In August 2006, as ISAF's mission assumed responsibility for security in Afghanistan's south, Dutch troops built Kamp Holland, later becoming the Multi National Base Tarin Kot.

Beginning in March 2007, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) began construction of a road from Tarinkot westward to Deh Rahwod and then to Shahidi Hassas District, in the western areas of Oruzgan province. At the same time, the USACE also started paving and bridge construction to improve the road to Kandahar.

On 4 July 2010, U.S. soldiers from 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment assumed responsibility over operations in Tarinkot and Deh Rahwod in the wake of the Dutch withdrawal from Uruzgan.

On 27 July 2011, a young Pakistani man from the Waziristan region was captured by the Afghan National Army and ISAF forces during a raid on the house of Mullah Qasim in the Sur Marghab area near Tirinkot. The would-be bomber named Saifullah was interviewed by Pajhwok Afghan News reporter Ahmad Omaid Khpalwak. In the interview Saifullah said he and 14 other Pakistanis spent at least two months wandering around the city to select a proper time and place for an attack. "Many times we encountered foreigners, but Mullah Qasim would escape after seeing foreigners and finally we were arrested without carrying out any attack," he said. The next day, at around 12 pm, 28 July, three suicide attackers blew up vehicles packed with explosives at the gates of government compounds while other suicide bombers equipped with heavy weapons entered the buildings and began killing everyone inside. After the shooting ended at least 19 people were killed and 37 others wounded. The dead included Pajhwok reporter Khpalwak, 10 children, 2 women and 1 member of the Afghan National Police. Khpalwak was shot 20 times in different parts of his body.

On March 1, 2011, U.S. soldiers from 4th Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment assumed responsibility of Tarinkot and Deh Rawod. On November 23, 2011, U.S. soldiers from the 1st Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment assumed responsibility over operations in Tarinkot.

In September 2016, Tarinkot was under threat by Taliban militants, who had occupied the Kandahar–Tarinkot Highway, while also launching an attack on Tarinkot itself. It was fully captured by the Taliban during the August 2021 Taliban offensive.

Geography
Tarinkot is somewhat isolated. It sits next to two rivers with a network of various size canals that provide water to nearby farms.

Climate
Tarinkot has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk) with hot summers and cool to cold winters. Precipitation is low, and mostly falls from December to March. Snow can be seen every winter.

Economy
The main source of income of Tarinkot residents has always been agriculture and transport. The city is connected by a road network with Kandahar to the south, Nili in Daykundi Province to the north, and Malistan in Ghazni Province to the northeast. Tarinkot Airport serves the population of both Uruzgan and Daykundi provinces.

Sport
Cricket and association football are the most popular sports in the area. The city has one major multipurpose stadium.