Gardez, Afghanistan

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Gardez is the capital of Paktia Province, Afghanistan.

The city is not far from the Tora Bora region of caves and tunnels, where it was believed that Osama bin Laden hid.

It was also the birthplace of President Mohammad Najibullah, the last ruler of the Soviet-backet Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. After his overthrown, he was murdered by the Taliban. He is also buried in this city.

The city of Gardez is also a major fuel wood market for Kabul. Many of its natural forests are being cut down to provide fuel wood especially during winter. Gardez is also the regional center for the southeastern Afghanistan that includes Paktika, Khost and Ghazni provinces. Gardez the capital of Paktia is a region embedded in tribal traditions and customary law. The first PRT (provincial reconstruction team) was also established in Paktia headed by the US army.

In 1960 the German government had their biggest rural development project with a budget of 2.5 million Deutch Marks for the development of Paktia. The project was unsuccessful as the communist regime came to power, the commuist lost control of most of Paktia during the 80s as the country plunged in to war with only Gardez remaining in government control. Today Paktia remians one of the most stable provinces in the southeast compared to Khost and Patika. Gardez is west of Khost and 60 miles south of Kabul.

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