Kunduz

{{pp-pc|small=yes}} {{Short description|City in Kunduz Province, Afghanistan}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox settlement | name =  | official_name = Kunduz | native_name = {{hlist|{{lang|ps|{{nq|کندز}}}}|{{lang|prs|{{nq|قندوز}}}}}} | native_name_lang = | other_name = | settlement_type = [[List of cities in Afghanistan|Provincial city]]  | image_skyline = | imagesize = | image_alt = | image_caption = | image_flag = | flag_size = | flag_alt = | flag_border = | flag_link = | image_seal = | seal_size = | seal_alt = | seal_link = | seal_type = | image_shield = | shield_size = | shield_alt = | shield_link = | image_blank_emblem = | blank_emblem_type = | blank_emblem_size = | blank_emblem_alt = | blank_emblem_link = | etymology = | nickname = | nicknames = | motto = | mottoes = | anthem =  | image_map = | mapsize = | map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Afghanistan#Bactria#West Asia | pushpin_mapsize = 300 | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Afghanistan | pushpin_map_caption_notsmall = | pushpin_label_position = above | pushpin_outside = | pushpin_relief = yes | pushpin_image = | pushpin_overlay = | coordinates = {{coord|36|43|43|N|68|52|5|E|region:AF-KDZ_type:city(269,000)|display=inline,title}} | coor_pinpoint =  | coordinates_footnotes =  | grid_name =  | grid_position =  | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Afghanistan}} | subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of Afghanistan|Province]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Kunduz Province|Kunduz]] | subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of Afghanistan|District]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Kunduz District|Kunduz]]  | established_title = First mention | established_date = 329 BCE | established_title1 =  | established_date1 =  | established_title2 =  | established_date2 =  | founder = | named_for =  | seat_type =  | seat = | seat1_type =  | seat1 = | parts_type =  | parts_style =  | parts =  | p1 =   | government_footnotes =  | government_type = [[Municipality]] | governing_body = | leader_party = | leader_title = [[Mayor]] | leader_name = Mawlavi Gul Mohammad Elyas | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 =   | unit_pref = Metric  | area_footnotes = <ref name="land" /> | area_total_km2 =  | area_total_ha = 11206 | area_land_km2 = 112 | area_land_ha = | area_water_km2 = | area_water_ha = | area_water_percent = | area_urban_footnotes =  | area_urban_km2 = | area_urban_ha = | area_rural_footnotes =  | area_rural_km2 = | area_rural_ha = | area_metro_footnotes =  | area_metro_km2 = | area_metro_ha = | area_rank = | area_blank1_title = | area_blank1_km2 = | area_blank1_ha = | area_note =  | dimensions_footnotes =  | length_km = | width_km =  | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 351 | elevation_point =  | elevation_max_footnotes =  | elevation_max_m = | elevation_max_point =  | elevation_max_rank = | elevation_min_footnotes =  | elevation_min_m = | elevation_min_point =  | elevation_min_rank =  | population_footnotes = <ref name="population" /> | population_as_of = 2025 | population_total = 413996 | population_rank = | population_density_km2 = | population_density_sq_mi = | population_urban_footnotes = | population_urban = 221932 | population_density_urban_km2 = | population_density_urban_sq_mi = | population_rural_footnotes = | population_rural = 192064 | population_density_rural_km2 = | population_density_rural_sq_mi = | population_metro_footnotes = | population_metro = | population_density_metro_km2 = | population_density_metro_sq_mi = | population_density_rank = | population_blank1_title = Ethnicities | population_blank1 = | population_density_blank1_km2 = | population_density_blank1_sq_mi = | population_blank2_title = Religions | population_blank2 = | population_density_blank2_km2 = | population_density_blank2_sq_mi = | population_demonym =  | population_demonyms = | population_note =  | demographics_type1 = | demographics1_footnotes =  | demographics1_title1 = | demographics1_info1 =   | demographics_type2 = | demographics2_footnotes =  | demographics2_title1 = | demographics2_info1 =   | timezone_link = | timezone_location = | timezone = [[Time in Afghanistan|Afghanistan Time]] | utc_offset = +04:30 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST =  | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 35XX | area_code_type =  | area_code = | area_codes = | geocode = | iso_code = AF-KDZ | registration_plate_type = | registration_plate = | code1_name = | code1_info =  | blank_name_sec1 = | blank_info_sec1 =  | blank_name_sec2 = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]] | blank_info_sec2 = [[Cold semi-arid climate|BSk]]  | website =  | module = | footnotes = }}

'''Kunduz''',{{efn|{{IPAc-en|k|ʊ|n|d|uː|z}}}}{{efn|{{bulleted list|{{langx|ps|کندز |Kunduz}} {{IPA|ps|kun.d̪uz|}}|{{langx|prs|قندوز |Qundūz}} {{IPA|prs| qʊn̪.d̪úːz |}}}}}} also written as '''Qunduz''', is a [[list of cities in Afghanistan|city]] in northern [[Afghanistan]], serving as the capital of [[Kunduz Province]]. It is within the jurisdiction of [[Kunduz District]] and has an estimated population of 413,996 people as of September 2025.<ref name="population" /> Mawlavi Gul Mohammad Elyas is the [[mayor]] of the city.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://pajhwok.com/2022/07/16/kunduz-residents-complain-about-swelling-garbage-piles/ |title=Kunduz residents complain about swelling garbage piles |work=Pajhwok Afghan News |date=16 July 2022 |access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref>

Kunduz has a [[domestic airport|domestic]] [[Kunduz Airport|airport]] and an [[industrial park]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ariananews.af/kunduz-commerce-departments-revenues-rise-by-48/ |title=Kunduz commerce department's revenues rise by 48% |work=Ariana News |date=March 19, 2023 |access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref> including a growing number of public parks, markets, [[list of hospitals in Afghanistan|hospitals]], [[list of mosques in Afghanistan|mosques]], [[list of universities in Afghanistan|universities]], guesthouses and restaurants. The [[Kunduz University]] is located in the middle part of the city.

Kunduz is in the historical [[Tokharistan]] region of [[Bactria]], near the confluence of the [[Kunduz River]] with the [[Khanabad River]]. The city is linked by a road network with [[Imam Sahib]] to the north, [[Taloqan]] to the east, [[Baghlan]] to the south, [[Mazar-i-Sharif]] to the west, and [[Sher Khan Bandar]] to the northwest. Many foreign [[tourism in Afghanistan|tourists]] coming from [[Tajikistan]] pass through the city.

== Etymology == [[Kunduz Province|Kunduz]] is also sometimes spelled ([[romanized]]) as '''Kundûz''', '''Qonduz''', '''Qondûz''', '''Konduz''', '''Kondûz''', '''Kondoz''', or '''Qhunduz'''. The name of the city is believed to have derived from the [[Persian language|Persian]] compound, ''kohan dež'', "old/ancient fort".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Branch|first=India Army General Staff|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SPVtAAAAMAAJ|title=Historical and Political Gazetteer of Afghanistan|date=1972|publisher=Akadem. Druck- u. Verlagsanst.|isbn=9783201012720|language=en}}</ref>

== Geography == {{Further|Geography of Afghanistan}} Kunduz is located in the northern part of Afghanistan, near southern Tajikistan. It is at an altitude of {{cvt|351|m}} above sea level and surrounded by vast farmlands. Kunduz is a strategic city that connects many other Afghan cities and towns. It is administratively divided into about 8 city districts ('nahias') with a total land area of {{cvt|112|km2}} or {{cvt|11206|ha}}.<ref name="land">{{cite web |url=https://unhabitat.org/soac2015 |title=State of Afghan Cities report 2015 (Volume-I English) |pages=8, 130 |access-date=2021-10-26 |publisher=UN-Habitat}}</ref>

Land use of the city (within the municipal boundary) is largely agricultural (65.8% of total area). Residential land comprises nearly half of the 'built-up' land area (48.3%) with 29,877 dwellings. Institutional land comprises 17.9% of built-up land use, given that the airport is within the municipal boundary.<ref name="land" />

=== Climate === Kunduz has a [[cold semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''BSk'') with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is generally low except from January to April, with summers almost always rainless. {{Weather box |width = auto |location = Kunduz |metric first = Yes |single line = Yes |Jan record high C = 21.2 |Feb record high C = 25.0 |Mar record high C = 32.8 |Apr record high C = 38.9 |May record high C = 42.2 |Jun record high C = 46.2 |Jul record high C = 45.3 |Aug record high C = 44.2 |Sep record high C = 39.2 |Oct record high C = 39.4 |Nov record high C = 28.4 |Dec record high C = 21.6 |Jan high C = 6.3 |Feb high C = 9.5 |Mar high C = 15.8 |Apr high C = 23.0 |May high C = 29.8 |Jun high C = 37.3 |Jul high C = 39.0 |Aug high C = 36.9 |Sep high C = 31.8 |Oct high C = 24.5 |Nov high C = 16.0 |Dec high C = 9.7 |Jan mean C = 1.6 |Feb mean C = 4.4 |Mar mean C = 10.4 |Apr mean C = 17.2 |May mean C = 22.9 |Jun mean C = 29.3 |Jul mean C = 31.3 |Aug mean C = 29.2 |Sep mean C = 23.9 |Oct mean C = 16.9 |Nov mean C = 9.5 |Dec mean C = 4.4 |Jan low C = -2.4 |Feb low C = 0.0 |Mar low C = 5.7 |Apr low C = 11.6 |May low C = 15.7 |Jun low C = 20.9 |Jul low C = 23.3 |Aug low C = 21.5 |Sep low C = 16.3 |Oct low C = 10.6 |Nov low C = 4.1 |Dec low C = 0.0 |Jan record low C = −22.7 |Feb record low C = -23.1 |Mar record low C = −11.8 |Apr record low C = -2.1 |May record low C = 4.2 |Jun record low C = 12.5 |Jul record low C = 15.7 |Aug record low C = 12.6 |Sep record low C = 3.5 |Oct record low C = -2.0 |Nov record low C = −9.8 |Dec record low C = −20.0 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 44.0 |Feb precipitation mm = 56.5 |Mar precipitation mm = 76.7 |Apr precipitation mm = 54.4 |May precipitation mm = 29.8 |Jun precipitation mm = 0.1 |Jul precipitation mm = 1.3 |Aug precipitation mm = 0.3 |Sep precipitation mm = 0.1 |Oct precipitation mm = 7.3 |Nov precipitation mm = 23.7 |Dec precipitation mm = 28.4 |Jan rain days = 5 |Feb rain days = 6 |Mar rain days = 11 |Apr rain days = 10 |May rain days = 9 |Jun rain days = 1 |Jul rain days = 1 |Aug rain days = 0 |Sep rain days = 0 |Oct rain days = 3 |Nov rain days = 5 |Dec rain days = 6 |Jan snow days = 5 |Feb snow days = 4 |Mar snow days = 2 |Apr snow days = 0 |May snow days = 0 |Jun snow days = 0 |Jul snow days = 0 |Aug snow days = 0 |Sep snow days = 0 |Oct snow days = 0 |Nov snow days = 1 |Dec snow days = 2 |Jan sun = 114.4 |Feb sun = 114.6 |Mar sun = 158.9 |Apr sun = 201.0 |May sun = 276.5 |Jun sun = 332.1 |Jul sun = 340.2 |Aug sun = 315.5 |Sep sun = 289.7 |Oct sun = 221.8 |Nov sun = 169.3 |Dec sun = 118.3 |Jan humidity = 80 |Feb humidity = 75 |Mar humidity = 75 |Apr humidity = 71 |May humidity = 54 |Jun humidity = 31 |Jul humidity = 28 |Aug humidity = 29 |Sep humidity = 32 |Oct humidity = 44 |Nov humidity = 63 |Dec humidity = 76 |source = NOAA (1958–1983)<ref name=NOAA>{{cite web|url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-II/AH/40913.TXT|title=Kunduz Climate Normals 1958-1983|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date=25 December 2012|archive-date=7 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240507185737/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-II/AH/40913.TXT|url-status=dead}}</ref> |date=September 2011 }}

== History == {{History of Afghanistan}} {{Further|History of Afghanistan}} Kunduz is believed to be the site of the ancient city of '''Drapsaka'''. It was a great centre of [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] learning and very prosperous during the 3rd century AD.{{cn|date=January 2026}}

The city used to be called [[Aornos]] ({{langx|xbc|οαρνο|translit=warn}})<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sims-Williams |title=New Light on Ancient Afghanistan |pages=16–17}}</ref> and later '''Walwalij'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aai.uni-hamburg.de/voror/Personal/Islamic_Numismatics.html|title=Asien-Afrika-Institut|work=uni-hamburg.de|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509204821/http://www.aai.uni-hamburg.de/voror/Personal/Islamic_Numismatics.html|archive-date=2012-05-09}}</ref> or '''Varvaliz''', a compound of the old name Warn and {{langx|xbc|λιζο|lit=fortress|translit=lizo}}.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gholami |first=Saloumeh |title=Selected Features of Bactrian Grammar |pages=80}}</ref> The name ''Kuhandiz'' began to be used from the time of the [[Timurid Empire]], before the 16h century.

In the 18th century the region became part of the [[Durrani Empire]]. Kunduz served as a capital of an [[Uzbeks|Uzbek]] [[Kunduz Khanate|Khanate]] which reached its largest extent, from [[Balkh]] to the [[Pamir Mountains]], during the reign of [[Mohammad Murad Beg]] (1815–1842). Murad Beg faced the decline of his rule [[Afghan Turkestan Campaign (1838–39)|after being defeated]] by [[Dost Mohammad Khan]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Noelle-Karimi |first=Christine |ref=CNK97 |url=http://archive.org/details/state-and-tribe-in-nineteenth-century-afghanistan-the-reign-of-amir-dost-muhamma |title=State And Tribe In Nineteenth Century Afghanistan: The Reign Of Amir Dost Muhammad Khan (1826-1863) |publication-date=1997 |page =84}}</ref> After Murad's death, the Khanate declined and was eventually [[Afghan Conquest of Kunduz|subjugated]] by the [[Emirate of Afghanistan]] in 1859.<ref>[[#CNK97|Noelle-Karimi 1997]], p. 88.</ref>

In the early 20th century, between 100 and 200,000 [[Tajiks]] and [[Uzbeks]] fled the conquest of their homeland (now southern [[Tajikistan]]) by the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[Red Army]] and settled in northern Afghanistan.<ref name="Wörmer">{{cite web|url=https://www.swp-berlin.org/publications/products/fachpublikationen/wrm_2012_the_networks_of_Kunduz.pdf|title=The Networks of Kunduz: A History of Conflict and Their Actors, from 1992 to 2001|last=Wörmer|first=Nils|date=2012|website=Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik|publisher=Afghanistan Analysts Network|page=8|access-date=2014-01-12}}</ref>

In the early 20th century, under the governance of [[Sher Khan Nashir]], Kunduz became one of the wealthiest Afghan provinces. This was mainly due to Nasher's founding of the Spinzar Cotton Company, which is state-owned and still operational to the present day.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.alemarahenglish.af/all-units-of-spinzer-state-owned-corporation-operational/ |title=All units of Spinzar State Owned Corporation operational |work=Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan |date=September 30, 2024 |access-date=2026-01-01}}</ref> At its peak, the Spinzar Cotton Company employed 5,000 people full time. Kunduz is the most important agricultural province which produces [[wheat]], [[rice]], [[millet]], and other products and obtained the nickname of "the hive of the country."<ref>{{Cite magazine |first=Graciana |last=del Castillo |date=28 January 2014 |title=Afghanistan's Misguided Economy |work=Boston Review |url=https://bostonreview.net/world/graciana-del-castillo-afghanistans-misguided-economy | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208005722/https://bostonreview.net/world/graciana-del-castillo-afghanistans-misguided-economy |archive-date=8 February 2014 }}</ref>

===21st century=== {{Further|Battle of Kunduz (2015)|Battle of Kunduz (2016)|Kunduz hospital airstrike}} [[File:Kunduz.JPG|thumb|A scenery in the [[rural]] part of [[Kunduz province]] in 2005]] Kunduz is the center for the northeast provinces and was captured by the [[Taliban]] in 1997. It was the last major city held by the Taliban before its fall to US-backed [[Afghan Northern Alliance]] forces on 26 November 2001. NATO forces killed over 100 civilians in the [[2009 Kunduz airstrike]]. During the summer of 2015, the Taliban advanced and attacked the city, which resulted in a [[Battle of Kunduz (2015)|battle for control of the city]] against US-funded [[Afghan Armed Forces]]. Tens of thousands of inhabitants were displaced internally by the fighting.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33215948|title=Afghans counter Taliban offensive in northern Kunduz province|work=BBC News |date=21 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/22/world/asia/taliban-and-afghan-government-dispute-status-of-kunduz.html?_r=0|title=Taliban and Afghan Government Dispute Status of Kunduz|work=New York Times|date=21 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/afghanistan-taliban-advance-on-key-northern-city-20150621-ghtu5f.html|title=Afghanistan: Taliban advance on key northern city|work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=21 June 2015 }}</ref> On 28 September 2015 the Taliban flag was again raised in the city center and the Taliban managed to capture the city prison and free many prisoners.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34377565 |title=Taliban 'seize half' of Afghanistan's Kunduz city |date=28 September 2015 |website=www.bbc.com |publisher=BBC |access-date=28 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Afghan Taliban seize northern city center in major attack|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-attack-idUSKCN0RS0A820150928|newspaper=Reuters|date=2015-09-28|access-date=2015-09-28}}</ref> On 3 October 2015, a [[United States Air Force]] [[Lockheed AC-130|AC-130U]] gunship [[Kunduz hospital airstrike|attacked]] the [[Kunduz Trauma Centre]] operated by [[Médecins Sans Frontières]] (MSF, or Doctors Without Borders). The US-backed Afghan forces counter-attacked and managed to re-capture the city in 15 days. The Taliban announced that, after achieving their objectives, they have withdrawn from the city's center. [[Zabiullah Mujahid]], a Taliban spokesperson, said that their main object in leaving the city is to avoid civilian casualties from air raids.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34520318|title=Taliban admit Kunduz withdrawal|work=BBC News |date=13 October 2015|access-date=8 April 2018}}</ref> In April 2018 the Afghan Air Force conducted [[Kunduz Madrassah Attack|an airstrike]] that killed and injured dozens of civilians at a [[madrasa|religious school]] in Kunduz.<ref>{{cite news|date=3 April 2018|agency=cbs/AFP|title=Carnage as airstrike hits boy's[sic] school in Taliban territory|website=CBS News|access-date=2018-04-13|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/afghanistan-airstrike-kunduz-dashte-archi-district-kabul-says-taliban-hit/}}</ref> On 31 August 2019, the Taliban forces launched another attack on the city, setting off a major battle with local security forces.

On [[May 2020 Afghanistan attacks|19 May 2020]], the Taliban killed one policeman and one civilian and injured 18 others in a motorbike bomb blast in Kunduz. On the same day, the Taliban attempted to re-capture Kunduz, attacking several government posts but were repelled by the Afghan security forces. The Taliban were forced to flee the city, leaving ten dead bodies behind. Eight Afghan soldiers and three civilians were killed and 55 others were wounded during the Taliban attack.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/afghan-forces-repel-taliban-attack-key-city-113732943--spt.html|title=Eight Afghan soldiers die fighting off Taliban attack on key city|date=May 19, 2020|via=au.news.yahoo.com/|access-date=28 May 2020|archive-date=12 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412224754/https://au.news.yahoo.com/afghan-forces-repel-taliban-attack-key-city-113732943--spt.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 8 August 2021, the Taliban as part of their [[2021 Taliban offensive|nationwide military offensive]] fully captured Kunduz, along with [[Sar-e-Pol, Afghanistan|Sar-e-Pul]] and [[Taloqan]] after heavy clashes with Afghan forces.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-174160 |title=Taliban Take Over Kunduz Airport, Media Restricted in Takhar |work=TOLOnews |date=11 August 2021 |access-date=2026-01-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Latifi |first=Ali |title=Taliban captures Kunduz, third provincial capital in three days |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/8/taliban-captures-third-provincial-capital-in-three-days |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=8 August 2021}}</ref>

On 8 October 2021, a militant of [[Islamic State – Khorasan Province|ISKP]] [[2021 Kunduz mosque bombing|detonated a suicide vest targeting Shia worshippers]] at the Gozar-e-Sayed Abad Mosque, killing 50+ people and wounding over 100.

== Demographics == {{Further|Demographics of Afghanistan}} [[File:US Army ethnolinguistic map of Afghanistan -- circa 2001-09.jpg|220x220px|thumb|[[Ethnolinguistics|Ethnolinguistic]] groups of [[Afghanistan]]]] The Kunduz municipality has an estimated population of 413,996 people.<ref name="population">{{cite web |url=https://nsia.gov.af:8443/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D9%86%D9%81%D9%88%D8%B3-%DA%A9%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84-1404.pdf#page=93 |title=Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2025-26 |page=70 |work=National Statistics and Information Authority |date=September 2025 |access-date=2025-12-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://unhabitat.org/soac2015 |title=State of Afghan Cities report 2015 (Volume-I English) |page=12 |publisher=UN-Habitat |access-date=2021-10-26}}</ref> [[Ethnicity in Afghanistan|Ethnically]], they are [[Pashtuns]] followed by [[Uzbeks]], [[Tajiks]], [[History of Arabs in Afghanistan|Arabs]] and a few [[Ethnicity in Afghanistan|others]].<ref name="Wörmer"/><ref name="nps">{{cite web|url=http://www.nps.edu/Programs/CCS/Kunduz/Kunduz_Executive_2009.pdf |title=Kunduz Province |work=Program for Culture & Conflict Studies |publisher=Naval Postgraduate School |access-date=2014-01-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002214003/http://www.nps.edu/programs/ccs/Kunduz/Kunduz_Executive_2009.pdf |archive-date=2 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0311/feature2/images/mp_download.2.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227220328/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0311/feature2/images/mp_download.2.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 February 2008|title=2003 National Geographic Population Map |work=Thomas Gouttierre, Center For Afghanistan Studies, University of Nebraska Omaha; Matthew S. Baker, Stratfor |publisher=National Geographic Society |year=2003 |access-date=18 June 2017}}</ref> The Pashtuns became the majority after the [[Pashtun colonization of northern Afghanistan]] in the late 19th century.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Bleuer |first=Christian |title=State-building, migration and economic development on the frontiers of northern Afghanistan and southern Tajikistan |journal=Journal of Eurasian Studies |date=1 January 2012 |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=69–79 |doi=10.1016/j.euras.2011.10.008 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

The [[History of Arabs in Afghanistan|Arabs]] of Kunduz speak Dari and Pashto, Afghanistan's two official languages, rather than [[Arabic]]. However, they claim a strong Arab identity, based on their tribal origins in the [[Arabian Peninsula]]. This may point to the seventh-century and later migration to this area of many Arab tribes, especially in the wake of the [[Muslim conquests of Afghanistan]].<ref>{{citation |author=Barfield, T.J. |year=1981 |title=The Central Asian Arabs of Afghanistan: Pastoral Nomadism in Transition |publisher=University of Texas Press |isbn=9780292710665 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=usKgVnMJMXUC }}{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

== Economy == {{Further|Economy of Afghanistan}} The economy of Kunduz is mainly based on [[agriculture]], [[trade]], [[transport in Afghanistan|transport]], and [[tourism in Afghanistan|tourism]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-196844 |title=New Dam Project to Irrigate 132,000 Hectares in Takhar and Kunduz |work=TOLOnews |date=2 December 2025 |access-date=2026-01-01}}</ref> The city has a [[Kunduz Airport|domestic airport]] and a small [[industrial park]]. Many residents of Kunduz go to work in Kabul and other Afghan cities.

== Sports == {{Further|Sport in Afghanistan}} The most popular sports in Kunduz are [[cricket in Afghanistan|cricket]], [[association football|football]], [[futsal]], [[volleyball]] and [[buzkashi]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://pajhwok.com/2025/06/28/wakhan-t20-cup-commences-in-kunduz/ |title=Wakhan T20 Cup commences in Kunduz |work=TOLOnews |date=28 June 2025 |access-date=2026-01-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://amu.tv/209595/ |title=Suicide bomber killed near Buzkashi field in Kunduz, Taliban say |work=Amu TV |date=November 7, 2025 |access-date=2026-01-01}}</ref>

;Professional sports teams from Kunduz {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! scope="col" | Club ! scope="col" | League ! scope="col" | Sport ! scope="col" | Venue ! scope="col" | Established |- ! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;" | Pamir Zalmi | [[Shpageeza Cricket League]] | [[Cricket in Afghanistan|Cricket]] | [[Kunduz Cricket Ground]] | 2021 |- ! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;" | [[Mawjhai Amu F.C.]] | [[Afghan Premier League]] | [[Association football|Football]] | Kunduz Football Stadium | 2012 |} '''Stadiums''' * [[Kunduz Cricket Ground]] * Kunduz Football Stadium

== Notable people == *[[Sher Khan Nasher]], politician and entrepreneur *[[Sayed Noorullah Murad]], politician, military commander and scholar *[[Gulbudin Hekmatyar]], politician and former commander in the [[Afghan mujahideen]] *[[Hamidullah Yousafzai]], football player who played for [[Afghanistan national football team]] *[[Javed Ahmadi]], cricket player of the [[Afghanistan national cricket team]] *[[Aziza Ahmadyar]], politician and [[women's rights]] activist. *[[Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi]], former speaker of Afghan Parliament *[[Farhad Darya]], Afghan singer

== See also == *[[List of cities in Afghanistan]]

== Notes == {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==Further reading== *Dupree, Nancy Hatch (1977): ''An Historical Guide to Afghanistan''. 1st Edition: 1970. 2nd Edition. Revised and Enlarged. Afghan Tourist Organization. *Thomas J. Barfield, The Central Asian Arabs of Afghanistan: Pastoral Nomadism in Transition. 1982.

==External links== {{Commons category|Kunduz}} *{{YouTube|8o3MG6K-uPs|Report from kunduz City}} *{{YouTube|qVYFll2mNcg|Kunduz, Afghanistan Landscape_Afghan Geographic Cinematic Drone 2024 Part 1}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20150628124105/http://www.nps.edu/Programs/CCS/Kunduz/Kunduz.html Kunduz Province] by [[Naval Postgraduate School]]

*{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Kunduz|short=x}}

[[Category:Populated places in Kunduz Province]] [[Category:Cities in Afghanistan]] [[Category:Cities in Central Asia]] [[Category:Kunduz Province]] [[Category:Populated places along the Silk Road]] [[Category:Provincial capitals in Afghanistan]] [[Category:Populated places with period of establishment missing]]