Ishkashim, Afghanistan

This article is about the border town in Afghanistan. For the adjacent border town in Tajikistan, see Ishkoshim, Tajikistan.
Ishkashim
A bridge over the Panj River at Ishkashim
A bridge over the Panj River at Ishkashim
Ishkashim is located in Afghanistan
Ishkashim
Ishkashim
Location in Afghanistan
Coordinates: 36°42′33″N 71°34′26″E / 36.70917°N 71.57389°E / 36.70917; 71.57389
Country Afghanistan
ProvinceBadakhshan
DistrictIshkashim
Elevation
[1]
8,500 ft (2,600 m)
Population
 • Total
12,120
Time zoneUTC+4:30 (AFT)

Ishkashim (Dari: اشکاشم; also transliterated Eshkashem or Ashkāsham) is a border town in Badakhshan Province of Afghanistan,[2][3] which has a population of around 12,120 people.[4] The town serves as the capital of Ishkashim District. Another town by the same name is located on the other side of the Panj River in the Gorno-Badakhshan region of Tajikistan, although that town is normally transliterated Ishkoshim following Tajik practice. A bridge linking the two towns was reconstructed in 2006.[5]

Ishkashim lies in a fertile valley at an elevation of 3,037 m (9,964 ft) meters.[4] There are roughly 20 settlements in the valley, but considering the cultivation in the valley is contiguous, it could also be considered a single larger settlement. The valley has only one harvest per year. Wheat and barley are cultivated.[6] Poplar, chinar and maple trees grow as well, but there is little firewood.

Ishkashim is connected by road with Fayzabad in the northwest, through the town of Baharak.[7] It is also connected to the towns of Zebak in the southwest and Khandud in the northeast. The valley lies in an important strategic area, as it commands the only route between Fayzabad, Shighnan, and Wakhan accessible during the winter. It has a number of small shops, hotels, guest houses, schools and government buildings, including a base for the Afghan Border Police. Many local and foreign tourists visit the town.[8]

  1. ^ Adamec, Ludwig W., ed. (1972). Historical and Political Gazetteer of Afghanistan. Vol. 1. Graz, Austria: Akadamische Druck-u. Verlangsanstalt. p. 85.
  2. ^ "Analysts Predict Decrease in Govt Revenue as Border Town Falls". TOLOnews. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  3. ^ "4 Common Markets Between Afghanistan and Tajikistan Open After 4 Years". TOLOnews. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  4. ^ a b Population of Ashkāsham, Afghanistan Archived 2009-07-03 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "News: Aga Khan and President Rahmonov inaugurate reconstructed bridge in Ishkashim". Asia-Plus. October 31, 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference National Geographic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Multimillion Dollar Road Project Launched in North of Afghanistan". Ariana News. May 13, 2017. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  8. ^ "Badakhshan sees tourist numbers spike". Ariana News. September 1, 2023. Retrieved 2024-03-11.