Photo: PRT Maimana
Faryab has approximately 1 million inhabitants which consist primarily of ethnically Uzbek and Tajik in addition to Pashtuns, Turkmen and Hazara. The province is rich in natural resources; salt, marble and some traces of oil have been found. Almost all roads are unpaved resulting in poor accessibility including lack of access to markets.
Faryab province has been one of the more peaceful areas in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban after the U.S. invasion of 2001. However, like many areas in the north of Afghanistan, warlords and criminal gangs who flourished under the lawless conditions that pervaded Afghanistan are still very powerful in the province.
Additionally, it seems that insurgents may be increasing their activities in Faryab leading to a deterioration of the security situation. Recent developments have resulted in a raised threat level which indicate a change in thesecurity situation in the province. During its first years the PRT was not a target for local disputes, however, the former tactics of soft propaganda seems to have turned into more aggressive action towards the Government of Afghanistan and international forces.
Norwegian Embassy