Farah Province

On the western border with Iran, Farah Province of Afghanistan has Herat Province to the north, Ghor Province on its north and east, and Nimroz and Helmand Provinces on its south. Its capital is Farah city.

Western Afghanistan had been relatively secure, but flared in 2007. The pattern of attacks is hit-and-run, with buses the Herat-Kandahar highway stopped and searched by Taliban looking for government workers and sympathizers. Security forces, both coalition and Afghan police, are weak; the police are poorly paid. Some, such as Wakil Mutawakil, blame Iranian interference for the increased problems. Iran has been expelling more Afghans; there is speculation this may be a way to divert attention from its nuclear program, sending refugees into Farah, Herat, Nimruz and Badghis provinces.

Farah Province is the center of Taliban activity in southwest Afghanistan, within the ISAF Western Regional Command, where Italy, in 2008, said it would begin combat as well as training missions. It is part of ISAF’s Regional Command-West, is the smallest of the five commands, with 2600 troops spread over four provinces. The Taliban had previously come from Helmand Province but now is local.