User:Severnjc/Khost-Gardez Pass

The Khowst-Gardez Pass, known locally as the Seti-Kandow Pass and frequently abreviated as the K-G Pass, is the main land route connecting the Afghan province Khost and Gardez, the capital of Paktia province. The pass currently consists of a rutted dirt road, though it is slowly being improved by construction crews as part of the international reconstruction effort in Afghanistan.

History
The Khost-Gardez Pass has been in use since Antiquity, serving as one of the main routes connecting Kabul to locations in India. During the Soviet occupation the pass was a frequent location for mujahadeen attacks on Soviet convoys. Portions of the pass were paved or otherwise improved by German international development efforts during the 1970s, prior to the Soviet occupation. Remants of these improvements exist in the form of culverts and some asphalt on the Gardez side of the pass.

Geography
The Khost-Gardez Pass ascends approximately 2,000' from the Gardez river valley to its highest point, then winds down 4,000' to the floor of the Khost bowl. The pass runs through multiple administrative and tribal areas, including the districts of Swak, Gerda Serai and Waze Zadra in Paktia, and Besmil in Khost. The pass receives a high amount of snowfall in winter months, but is largely arid during the rest of the year. Vegetation consists of scrub and small trees, with small irrigated areas existing in the lower river areas.

People
The Zadran tribe is the the predominant Pashtun tribe living in the K-G Pass area.

Security
The security situation in the Khost-Gardez Pass remains precarious. Attacks by militant elements remain frequent, and Coalition and Afghan forces and civilians are occasionally killed by IEDs. The ANP and Coalition forces maintain outposts at various points in the pass to provide security for travellers.