Turkestan Province

Turkestan Province was a province in Afghanistan.

It was located in northern Afghanistan in the region still known as Afghan Turkestan. In 1890, Qataghan-Badakhshan Province was separated from Turkestan Province. It is present in an administrative map of 1929, but was abolished by the time of the 1946 population census.

From its founding in 1850 until 1854, Balkh was the capital of the province. However, the city of Balkh was deprecated and in ruins. As a result, in 1854 the capital was moved by Muhammad Afzal Khan to Takhtapul. It would remain the capital until the governor Muhammad 'Alam Khan transitioned to Mazar-i-Sharif between July 1869 and 1873/74.

Political administration
In the 19th century, Afghan Turkestan was governed by a governor (hakim) appointed by the Amir. Below is a list of governors of Afghan Turkestan.


 * Sardar Mohammad Akram Khan - 1850 - 1852
 * Sardar Mohammad Afzal Khan - 1852 - 1864
 * Sardar Fath Mohammad Khan - 1864 - 1865
 * Fayz Mohammad Khan - 1865 - 1867
 * Naib Muhammad Alam Khan - 1868 - 1876
 * Shahghasi Sherdil Loynab Khan - 1876 -1878
 * Sardar Abdul Wahab Khan - 1911 - 1919

Subdivisions
In 1886 the administrative divisions of Afghan Turkestan were as follows:


 * 1) Mazar-i Sharif (with the districts of Shor Tapa, Boinkara, Kishindi, Aq Kupruk, Tunj
 * 2) Balkh (directly administered by the Sardar of Turkistan)
 * 3) Aqcha (with the districts of Khwaja Salar and Dawlatabad)
 * 4) Tashkorgan (with the districts of Pir Nakchir and Ghaznigak)
 * 5) Sheberghan
 * 6) Andkhui
 * 7) Aybak
 * 8) Dara-i Suf
 * 9) Doab
 * 10) Saighan and Kahmard
 * 11) Balkh-ab (high up the Band-i Amir river)
 * 12) Sangcharak
 * 13) Sar-i Pol
 * 14) Maimana