# Kunduz

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City in Kunduz Province, Afghanistan

Provincial city in Afghanistan

Kunduz کندز قندوز Provincial city Kunduz Location in Afghanistan Show map of Afghanistan Kunduz Kunduz (Bactria) Show map of Bactria Kunduz Kunduz (West and Central Asia) Show map of West and Central Asia Coordinates: 36°43′43″N 68°52′5″E / 36.72861°N 68.86806°E / 36.72861; 68.86806 Country Afghanistan Province Kunduz District Kunduz First mention 329 BCE Government • Type Municipality • Mayor Mawlavi Gul Mohammad Elyas Area [1] • Provincial city 11,206 ha (27,690 acres) • Land 112 km2 (43 sq mi) Elevation 351 m (1,152 ft) Population (2025)[2] • Provincial city 413,996 • Urban 221,932 • Rural 192,064 Time zone UTC+04:30 (Afghanistan Time) Postal code 35XX ISO 3166 code AF-KDZ Climate BSk

**Kunduz**,[a][b] also written as **Qunduz**, is a [city](/source/List_of_cities_in_Afghanistan) in northern [Afghanistan](/source/Afghanistan), serving as the capital of [Kunduz Province](/source/Kunduz_Province). It is within the jurisdiction of [Kunduz District](/source/Kunduz_District) and has an estimated population of 413,996 people as of September 2025.[2] Mawlavi Gul Mohammad Elyas is the [mayor](/source/Mayor) of the city.[3]

Kunduz has a [domestic](/source/Domestic_airport) [airport](/source/Kunduz_Airport) and an [industrial park](/source/Industrial_park),[4] including a growing number of public parks, markets, [hospitals](/source/List_of_hospitals_in_Afghanistan), [mosques](/source/List_of_mosques_in_Afghanistan), [universities](/source/List_of_universities_in_Afghanistan), guesthouses and restaurants. The [Kunduz University](/source/Kunduz_University) is located in the middle part of the city.

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

## Etymology

[Kunduz](/source/Kunduz_Province) is also sometimes spelled ([romanized](/source/Romanized)) as **Kundûz**, **Qonduz**, **Qondûz**, **Konduz**, **Kondûz**, **Kondoz**, or **Qhunduz**. The name of the city is believed to have derived from the [Persian](/source/Persian_language) compound, *kohan dež*, "old/ancient fort".[5]

## Geography

Further information: [Geography of Afghanistan](/source/Geography_of_Afghanistan)

Kunduz is located in the northern part of Afghanistan, near southern Tajikistan. It is at an altitude of 351 m (1,152 ft) 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 112 km2 (43 sq mi) or 11,206 ha (27,690 acres).[1]

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.[1]

### Climate

Kunduz has a [cold semi-arid climate](/source/Cold_semi-arid_climate) ([Köppen climate classification](/source/K%C3%B6ppen_climate_classification) *BSk*) with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is generally low except from January to April, with summers almost always rainless.

Climate data for Kunduz Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 21.2 (70.2) 25.0 (77.0) 32.8 (91.0) 38.9 (102.0) 42.2 (108.0) 46.2 (115.2) 45.3 (113.5) 44.2 (111.6) 39.2 (102.6) 39.4 (102.9) 28.4 (83.1) 21.6 (70.9) 46.2 (115.2) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 6.3 (43.3) 9.5 (49.1) 15.8 (60.4) 23.0 (73.4) 29.8 (85.6) 37.3 (99.1) 39.0 (102.2) 36.9 (98.4) 31.8 (89.2) 24.5 (76.1) 16.0 (60.8) 9.7 (49.5) 23.3 (73.9) Daily mean °C (°F) 1.6 (34.9) 4.4 (39.9) 10.4 (50.7) 17.2 (63.0) 22.9 (73.2) 29.3 (84.7) 31.3 (88.3) 29.2 (84.6) 23.9 (75.0) 16.9 (62.4) 9.5 (49.1) 4.4 (39.9) 16.8 (62.1) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −2.4 (27.7) 0.0 (32.0) 5.7 (42.3) 11.6 (52.9) 15.7 (60.3) 20.9 (69.6) 23.3 (73.9) 21.5 (70.7) 16.3 (61.3) 10.6 (51.1) 4.1 (39.4) 0.0 (32.0) 10.6 (51.1) Record low °C (°F) −22.7 (−8.9) −23.1 (−9.6) −11.8 (10.8) −2.1 (28.2) 4.2 (39.6) 12.5 (54.5) 15.7 (60.3) 12.6 (54.7) 3.5 (38.3) −2.0 (28.4) −9.8 (14.4) −20 (−4) −23.1 (−9.6) Average precipitation mm (inches) 44.0 (1.73) 56.5 (2.22) 76.7 (3.02) 54.4 (2.14) 29.8 (1.17) 0.1 (0.00) 1.3 (0.05) 0.3 (0.01) 0.1 (0.00) 7.3 (0.29) 23.7 (0.93) 28.4 (1.12) 322.6 (12.68) Average rainy days 5 6 11 10 9 1 1 0 0 3 5 6 57 Average snowy days 5 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 14 Average relative humidity (%) 80 75 75 71 54 31 28 29 32 44 63 76 55 Mean monthly sunshine hours 114.4 114.6 158.9 201.0 276.5 332.1 340.2 315.5 289.7 221.8 169.3 118.3 2,652.3 Source: NOAA (1958–1983)[6]

## History

Part of a series on the History of Afghanistan Timeline Ancient Indus Valley Civilisation 2200–1800 BC Oxus civilization 2100–1800 BC Gandhara kingdom 1500–535 BC Median Empire 728–550 BC Achaemenid Empire 550–330 BC Macedonian Empire 330–312 BC Seleucid Empire 312–150 BC Maurya Empire 305–180 BC Greco-Bactrian kingdom 256–125 BC Parthian Empire 247 BC–224 AD Indo-Greek kingdom 180–90 BC Indo-Scythian kingdom 155–80? BC Kushan Empire 135 BC – 248 AD Indo-Parthian kingdom 20 BC – 50? AD Sasanian Empire 230–651 Kidarite kingdom 320–465 Rob Alchon Huns 380–560 Hephthalite Empire 410–557 Nezak Huns 484–711 Medieval Kabul Shahi 565–879 Principality of Chaghaniyan 7th–8th centuries Rashidun Caliphate 652–661 Tang China 660–669 Tibetan Empire 660–842 Umayyads 661–750 Zunbils 680–870 Lawik 750-977 Abbasids 750–821 Tahirids 821–873 Saffarids 863–900 Samanids 875–999 Banjurid dynasty 900–1030 Ghaznavids 963–1187 Ghurids before 879–1215 Seljuks 1037–1194 Khwarezmids 1215–1231 Mongol Invasion 1219–1226 Chagatai Khanate 1226–1245 Qarlughids 1224–1266 Ilkhanate 1256–1335 Kartids 1245–1381 Timurids 1370–1507 Arghuns 1520–1591 Modern Mughals 1501–1738 Safavids 1510–1709 Kunduz Khanate ?–1859 Hotak dynasty 1709–1738 Sadozai Sultanate 1716–1732 Afsharid Iran 1738–1747 Durrani Empire 1747–1823 Maimana Khanate 1747–1892 Herat 1793–1863 Principality of Qandahar 1818–1855 Emirate 1823–1926 Saqqawist Emirate 1929 Kingdom 1926–1973 Daoud coup 1973 Republic 1973–1978 Saur Revolution 1978 Democratic Republic 1978–1987 Republic 1987–1992 Tanai coup attempt 1990 Islamic State 1992–1996 Islamic Emirate 1996–2001 US invasion 2001 Islamic State (reinstated) 2001 Interim/Transitional Administration 2001–2004 Islamic Republic (politics) 2004–2021 Islamic Emirate (reinstated) since 2021 Related historical regions Arachosia Aria Ariana Bactria Gandhara Iran Kabulistan Kafiristan Khorasan Kushanshahr Paropamisadae Sistan Zabulistan Related topics Political history Political violence Culture Economic history Name Afghan (ethnonym) List of years List of heads of state Wars List of wars Hinduism history Hindu and Buddhist heritage Jewish history Muslim conquests Category Afghanistan portal v t e

Further information: [History of Afghanistan](/source/History_of_Afghanistan)

Kunduz is believed to be the site of the ancient city of **Drapsaka**. It was a great centre of [Buddhist](/source/Buddhism) learning and very prosperous during the 3rd century AD.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

The city used to be called [Aornos](/source/Aornos) ([Bactrian](/source/Bactrian_language): οαρνο, romanized: *warn*)[7] and later **Walwalij**[8] or **Varvaliz**, a compound of the old name Warn and [Bactrian](/source/Bactrian_language): λιζο, romanized: *lizo*, [lit.](/source/Literal_translation) 'fortress'.[9] The name *Kuhandiz* began to be used from the time of the [Timurid Empire](/source/Timurid_Empire), before the 16h century.

In the 18th century the region became part of the [Durrani Empire](/source/Durrani_Empire). Kunduz served as a capital of an [Uzbek](/source/Uzbeks) [Khanate](/source/Kunduz_Khanate) which reached its largest extent, from [Balkh](/source/Balkh) to the [Pamir Mountains](/source/Pamir_Mountains), during the reign of [Mohammad Murad Beg](/source/Mohammad_Murad_Beg) (1815–1842). Murad Beg faced the decline of his rule [after being defeated](/source/Afghan_Turkestan_Campaign_(1838%E2%80%9339)) by [Dost Mohammad Khan](/source/Dost_Mohammad_Khan).[10] After Murad's death, the Khanate declined and was eventually [subjugated](/source/Afghan_Conquest_of_Kunduz) by the [Emirate of Afghanistan](/source/Emirate_of_Afghanistan) in 1859.[11]

In the early 20th century, between 100 and 200,000 [Tajiks](/source/Tajiks) and [Uzbeks](/source/Uzbeks) fled the conquest of their homeland (now southern [Tajikistan](/source/Tajikistan)) by the [Soviet](/source/Soviet_Union) [Red Army](/source/Red_Army) and settled in northern Afghanistan.[12]

In the early 20th century, under the governance of [Sher Khan Nashir](/source/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.[13] At its peak, the Spinzar Cotton Company employed 5,000 people full time. Kunduz is the most important agricultural province which produces [wheat](/source/Wheat), [rice](/source/Rice), [millet](/source/Millet), and other products and obtained the nickname of "the hive of the country."[14]

### 21st century

Further information: [Battle of Kunduz (2015)](/source/Battle_of_Kunduz_(2015)), [Battle of Kunduz (2016)](/source/Battle_of_Kunduz_(2016)), and [Kunduz hospital airstrike](/source/Kunduz_hospital_airstrike)

A scenery in the [rural](/source/Rural) part of [Kunduz province](/source/Kunduz_province) in 2005

Kunduz is the center for the northeast provinces and was captured by the [Taliban](/source/Taliban) in 1997. It was the last major city held by the Taliban before its fall to US-backed [Afghan Northern Alliance](/source/Afghan_Northern_Alliance) forces on 26 November 2001. NATO forces killed over 100 civilians in the [2009 Kunduz airstrike](/source/2009_Kunduz_airstrike). During the summer of 2015, the Taliban advanced and attacked the city, which resulted in a [battle for control of the city](/source/Battle_of_Kunduz_(2015)) against US-funded [Afghan Armed Forces](/source/Afghan_Armed_Forces). Tens of thousands of inhabitants were displaced internally by the fighting.[15][16][17] 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.[18][19] On 3 October 2015, a [United States Air Force](/source/United_States_Air_Force) [AC-130U](/source/Lockheed_AC-130) gunship [attacked](/source/Kunduz_hospital_airstrike) the [Kunduz Trauma Centre](/source/Kunduz_Trauma_Centre) operated by [Médecins Sans Frontières](/source/M%C3%A9decins_Sans_Fronti%C3%A8res) (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](/source/Zabiullah_Mujahid), a Taliban spokesperson, said that their main object in leaving the city is to avoid civilian casualties from air raids.[20] In April 2018 the Afghan Air Force conducted [an airstrike](/source/Kunduz_Madrassah_Attack) that killed and injured dozens of civilians at a [religious school](/source/Madrasa) in Kunduz.[21] On 31 August 2019, the Taliban forces launched another attack on the city, setting off a major battle with local security forces.

On [19 May 2020](/source/May_2020_Afghanistan_attacks), 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.[22]

On 8 August 2021, the Taliban as part of their [nationwide military offensive](/source/2021_Taliban_offensive) fully captured Kunduz, along with [Sar-e-Pul](/source/Sar-e-Pol%2C_Afghanistan) and [Taloqan](/source/Taloqan) after heavy clashes with Afghan forces.[23][24]

On 8 October 2021, a militant of [ISKP](/source/Islamic_State_%E2%80%93_Khorasan_Province) [detonated a suicide vest targeting Shia worshippers](/source/2021_Kunduz_mosque_bombing) at the Gozar-e-Sayed Abad Mosque, killing 50+ people and wounding over 100.

## Demographics

Further information: [Demographics of Afghanistan](/source/Demographics_of_Afghanistan)

[Ethnolinguistic](/source/Ethnolinguistics) groups of [Afghanistan](/source/Afghanistan)

The Kunduz municipality has an estimated population of 413,996 people.[2][25] [Ethnically](/source/Ethnicity_in_Afghanistan), they are [Pashtuns](/source/Pashtuns) followed by [Uzbeks](/source/Uzbeks), [Tajiks](/source/Tajiks), [Arabs](/source/History_of_Arabs_in_Afghanistan) and a few [others](/source/Ethnicity_in_Afghanistan).[12][26][27] The Pashtuns became the majority after the [Pashtun colonization of northern Afghanistan](/source/Pashtun_colonization_of_northern_Afghanistan) in the late 19th century.[28]

The [Arabs](/source/History_of_Arabs_in_Afghanistan) of Kunduz speak Dari and Pashto, Afghanistan's two official languages, rather than [Arabic](/source/Arabic). However, they claim a strong Arab identity, based on their tribal origins in the [Arabian Peninsula](/source/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](/source/Muslim_conquests_of_Afghanistan).[29]

## Economy

Further information: [Economy of Afghanistan](/source/Economy_of_Afghanistan)

The economy of Kunduz is mainly based on [agriculture](/source/Agriculture), [trade](/source/Trade), [transport](/source/Transport_in_Afghanistan), and [tourism](/source/Tourism_in_Afghanistan).[30] The city has a [domestic airport](/source/Kunduz_Airport) and a small [industrial park](/source/Industrial_park). Many residents of Kunduz go to work in Kabul and other Afghan cities.

## Sports

Further information: [Sport in Afghanistan](/source/Sport_in_Afghanistan)

The most popular sports in Kunduz are [cricket](/source/Cricket_in_Afghanistan), [football](/source/Association_football), [futsal](/source/Futsal), [volleyball](/source/Volleyball) and [buzkashi](/source/Buzkashi).[31][32]

**Professional sports teams from Kunduz**

Club League Sport Venue Established Pamir Zalmi Shpageeza Cricket League Cricket Kunduz Cricket Ground 2021 Mawjhai Amu F.C. Afghan Premier League Football Kunduz Football Stadium 2012

**Stadiums**

- [Kunduz Cricket Ground](/source/Kunduz_Cricket_Ground)

- Kunduz Football Stadium

## Notable people

- [Sher Khan Nasher](/source/Sher_Khan_Nasher), politician and entrepreneur

- [Sayed Noorullah Murad](/source/Sayed_Noorullah_Murad), politician, military commander and scholar

- [Gulbudin Hekmatyar](/source/Gulbudin_Hekmatyar), politician and former commander in the [Afghan mujahideen](/source/Afghan_mujahideen)

- [Hamidullah Yousafzai](/source/Hamidullah_Yousafzai), football player who played for [Afghanistan national football team](/source/Afghanistan_national_football_team)

- [Javed Ahmadi](/source/Javed_Ahmadi), cricket player of the [Afghanistan national cricket team](/source/Afghanistan_national_cricket_team)

- [Aziza Ahmadyar](/source/Aziza_Ahmadyar), politician and [women's rights](/source/Women's_rights) activist.

- [Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi](/source/Abdul_Rauf_Ibrahimi), former speaker of Afghan Parliament

- [Farhad Darya](/source/Farhad_Darya), Afghan singer

## See also

- [List of cities in Afghanistan](/source/List_of_cities_in_Afghanistan)

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [/kʊnduːz/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** - [Pashto](/source/Pashto_language): کندز, [romanized](/source/Romanization_of_Pashto): *Kunduz* [\[kun.d̪uz\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Pashto) - [Dari](/source/Dari_language): قندوز, romanized: *Qundūz* [\[qʊn̪.d̪úːz\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Persian)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-land_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-land_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-land_1-2) ["State of Afghan Cities report 2015 (Volume-I English)"](https://unhabitat.org/soac2015). UN-Habitat. pp. 8, 130. Retrieved 26 October 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-population_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-population_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-population_2-2) ["Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2025-26"](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) (PDF). *National Statistics and Information Authority*. September 2025. p. 70. Retrieved 31 December 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Kunduz residents complain about swelling garbage piles"](https://pajhwok.com/2022/07/16/kunduz-residents-complain-about-swelling-garbage-piles/). *Pajhwok Afghan News*. 16 July 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Kunduz commerce department's revenues rise by 48%"](https://www.ariananews.af/kunduz-commerce-departments-revenues-rise-by-48/). *Ariana News*. 19 March 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Branch, India Army General Staff (1972). [*Historical and Political Gazetteer of Afghanistan*](https://books.google.com/books?id=SPVtAAAAMAAJ). Akadem. Druck- u. Verlagsanst. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9783201012720](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9783201012720).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NOAA_8-0)** ["Kunduz Climate Normals 1958-1983"](https://web.archive.org/web/20240507185737/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-II/AH/40913.TXT). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from [the original](https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-II/AH/40913.TXT) on 7 May 2024. Retrieved 25 December 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Sims-Williams. *New Light on Ancient Afghanistan*. pp. 16–17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Asien-Afrika-Institut"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120509204821/http://www.aai.uni-hamburg.de/voror/Personal/Islamic_Numismatics.html). *uni-hamburg.de*. Archived from [the original](http://www.aai.uni-hamburg.de/voror/Personal/Islamic_Numismatics.html) on 9 May 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Gholami, Saloumeh. *Selected Features of Bactrian Grammar*. p. 80.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Noelle-Karimi, Christine (1997). [*State And Tribe In Nineteenth Century Afghanistan: The Reign Of Amir Dost Muhammad Khan (1826-1863)*](http://archive.org/details/state-and-tribe-in-nineteenth-century-afghanistan-the-reign-of-amir-dost-muhamma). p. 84.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [Noelle-Karimi 1997](#CNK97), p. 88.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Wörmer_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Wörmer_14-1) Wörmer, Nils (2012). ["The Networks of Kunduz: A History of Conflict and Their Actors, from 1992 to 2001"](https://www.swp-berlin.org/publications/products/fachpublikationen/wrm_2012_the_networks_of_Kunduz.pdf) (PDF). *Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik*. Afghanistan Analysts Network. p. 8. Retrieved 12 January 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["All units of Spinzar State Owned Corporation operational"](https://www.alemarahenglish.af/all-units-of-spinzer-state-owned-corporation-operational/). *Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan*. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** del Castillo, Graciana (28 January 2014). ["Afghanistan's Misguided Economy"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140208005722/https://bostonreview.net/world/graciana-del-castillo-afghanistans-misguided-economy). *Boston Review*. Archived from [the original](https://bostonreview.net/world/graciana-del-castillo-afghanistans-misguided-economy) on 8 February 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Afghans counter Taliban offensive in northern Kunduz province"](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33215948). *BBC News*. 21 June 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Taliban and Afghan Government Dispute Status of Kunduz"](https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/22/world/asia/taliban-and-afghan-government-dispute-status-of-kunduz.html?_r=0). *New York Times*. 21 June 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Afghanistan: Taliban advance on key northern city"](http://www.smh.com.au/world/afghanistan-taliban-advance-on-key-northern-city-20150621-ghtu5f.html). *The Sydney Morning Herald*. 21 June 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Taliban 'seize half' of Afghanistan's Kunduz city"](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34377565). *www.bbc.com*. BBC. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Afghan Taliban seize northern city center in major attack"](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-attack-idUSKCN0RS0A820150928). *Reuters*. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Taliban admit Kunduz withdrawal"](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34520318). *BBC News*. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["Carnage as airstrike hits boy's\[sic\] school in Taliban territory"](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/afghanistan-airstrike-kunduz-dashte-archi-district-kabul-says-taliban-hit/). *CBS News*. cbs/AFP. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Eight Afghan soldiers die fighting off Taliban attack on key city"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210412224754/https://au.news.yahoo.com/afghan-forces-repel-taliban-attack-key-city-113732943--spt.html). 19 May 2020. Archived from [the original](https://au.news.yahoo.com/afghan-forces-repel-taliban-attack-key-city-113732943--spt.html) on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2020 – via au.news.yahoo.com/.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["Taliban Take Over Kunduz Airport, Media Restricted in Takhar"](https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-174160). *TOLOnews*. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** Latifi, Ali. ["Taliban captures Kunduz, third provincial capital in three days"](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/8/taliban-captures-third-provincial-capital-in-three-days). *Al Jazeera*. Retrieved 8 August 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** ["State of Afghan Cities report 2015 (Volume-I English)"](https://unhabitat.org/soac2015). UN-Habitat. p. 12. Retrieved 26 October 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-nps_28-0)** ["Kunduz Province"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121002214003/http://www.nps.edu/programs/ccs/Kunduz/Kunduz_Executive_2009.pdf) (PDF). *Program for Culture & Conflict Studies*. Naval Postgraduate School. Archived from [the original](http://www.nps.edu/Programs/CCS/Kunduz/Kunduz_Executive_2009.pdf) (PDF) on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** ["2003 National Geographic Population Map"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080227220328/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0311/feature2/images/mp_download.2.pdf) (PDF). *Thomas Gouttierre, Center For Afghanistan Studies, University of Nebraska Omaha; Matthew S. Baker, Stratfor*. National Geographic Society. 2003. Archived from [the original](http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0311/feature2/images/mp_download.2.pdf) (PDF) on 27 February 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** Bleuer, Christian (1 January 2012). ["State-building, migration and economic development on the frontiers of northern Afghanistan and southern Tajikistan"](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.euras.2011.10.008). *Journal of Eurasian Studies*. **3** (1): 69–79. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.euras.2011.10.008](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.euras.2011.10.008).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** Barfield, T.J. (1981), [*The Central Asian Arabs of Afghanistan: Pastoral Nomadism in Transition*](https://books.google.com/books?id=usKgVnMJMXUC), University of Texas Press, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780292710665](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780292710665)[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** ["New Dam Project to Irrigate 132,000 Hectares in Takhar and Kunduz"](https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-196844). *TOLOnews*. 2 December 2025. Retrieved 1 January 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** ["Wakhan T20 Cup commences in Kunduz"](https://pajhwok.com/2025/06/28/wakhan-t20-cup-commences-in-kunduz/). *TOLOnews*. 28 June 2025. Retrieved 1 January 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-34)** ["Suicide bomber killed near Buzkashi field in Kunduz, Taliban say"](https://amu.tv/209595/). *Amu TV*. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 1 January 2026.

## 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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Kunduz](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Kunduz).

- [Report from kunduz City](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o3MG6K-uPs) on [YouTube](/source/YouTube_video_(identifier))

- [Kunduz, Afghanistan Landscape_Afghan Geographic Cinematic Drone 2024 Part 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVYFll2mNcg) on [YouTube](/source/YouTube_video_(identifier))

- [Kunduz Province](https://web.archive.org/web/20150628124105/http://www.nps.edu/Programs/CCS/Kunduz/Kunduz.html) by [Naval Postgraduate School](/source/Naval_Postgraduate_School)

- ["Kunduz"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Kunduz). *[Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition)* (11th ed.). 1911.

v t e Twenty-six largest cities in Afghanistan by population Kabul Kandahar Herat Mazar-e-Sharif Kunduz Jalalabad Taloqan Pul-e-Khumri Charikar Baghlan Sheberghan Ghazni Lashkargah Khost Mehtarlam Balkh Farah Sar-e-Pul Pul-e-Alam Aybak Firozkoh Terinkot Spin Boldak Maimana Gardez Bamyan

v t e Kunduz Province Capital: Kunduz Districts Aliabad Aqtash Char Dara Dasht-e-Archi Imam Sahib Khanabad Kunduz Qala-e-Zal Populated Places Ak Tapa Ak Toba Amrut Archi Asqalan Divaneh Imam Sahib Khanabad Sher Khan Bandar Other Khanabad River Kunduz Airport Kunduz River Kunduz Trauma Centre Kunduz University

Authority control databases International VIAF GND National United States Israel Geographic Pleiades Other NARA Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kunduz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunduz) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunduz?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.