Kandahar (Pashto: د کندهار ولايت, romanized: Da Kandahār Wilāyat and Dari: ولایت قندهار, romanized: Wilāyat-e Qandahār) is one of the southern provinces of Afghanistan and is widely regarded as one of the country's most historically influential and politically significant regions. It borders Helmand to the west, Uruzgan to the north, Zabul to the east, and the Balochistan province of Pakistan to the south. The provincial capital is the city of Kandahar, which functions as the main administrative, economic, and cultural center of southern Afghanistan called Loy Kandahar.
Covering an area of approximately 54,000 square kilometers and having an estimated population of about 1.5 million people, Kandahar is characterized by its arid climate, desert landscapes, and fertile agricultural zones along the Arghandab River. The province plays a central role in Afghanistan's agricultural economy, particularly in the production of pomegranates, grapes, wheat, and other cash crops. Kandahar also contains numerous archaeological and historical sites, reflecting its long and continuous human habitation.
Historically, Kandahar has served as a crucial gateway between South Asia, the Iranian Plateau, and Central Asia. The region was part of ancient Arachosia and later became an important center under Achaemenid, Hellenistic, Kushan, and Islamic rule. In the modern era, Kandahar gained national prominence as the birthplace of Ahmad Shah Durrani, the founder of the modern Afghan state in the 18th century, establishing the province as the symbolic heartland of Afghan statehood and Pashtun political power.
Today, Kandahar remains one of the most strategically important provinces of Afghanistan due to its geographic position, economic role, and political influence, with the city of Kandahar de facto serving as the seat of national power since 2021 due to the permanent presence of the Taliban's supreme leadership in the city. While the province continues to face significant challenges related to security, governance, and infrastructure development, it retains a strong regional identity rooted in its historical legacy, tribal traditions, and agricultural productivity.