Qalat, sometimes spelled as Kalat, and historically referred to as Qalāti Khaljī or Qalat-i Ghilzai, is a city in southern Afghanistan that serves as the capital of Zabul Province. It is linked by Highway 1 with Kandahar to the southwest and Ghazni to the northeast. The city had 5,462 dwellings in 2014, with an estimated population of approximately 49,158 people. Qalat is divided by at least 4 police districts (nahias) with land area of 4,820 hectares.
The historical citadel in Qalat
American soldier walking with local children during a survey of a street drainage project in 2011
Bibi Khala School
Zabul is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the south of the country. It has a population of 249,000. Zabul became an independent province from neighbouring Kandahar in 1963. Historically, it was part of the Zabulistan region. Qalat serves as the capital of the province. The major ethnic group are Pashtuns. Primary occupations within Zabul are agriculture and animal husbandry.
Almond trees in Zabul Province
A bull walks at the foot of a mountain near Mizan in the southeast of Zabul Province.
An Afghan National Police officer, right, stands watch over food before distributing it to families Feb. 5, 2012, in Pinzo village, Zabul province, Afghanistan. The food distribution was intended to supplement the villagers winter food reserves from the fall harvest.
Bibi Khala School in Qalat