Zaiwalat, also Zaywalāyat or Zywlayt (Pashto: زیولایت) is a subdistrict and village of Jalrez District, Maidan Wardak Province, Afghanistan.[1] It lies along the Kabul-Behsud Highway, to the west of Kot-e Ashro and to the east of the town of Jalrez.[2] As of 2010 the village itself had a population of about 300 people. It is inhabited mainly by Pashtuns and is a producer of fruit, with extensive orchards in the vicinity.

Zaiwalat
Subdistrict and village
Zaiwalat Location in Afghanistan
Coordinates: 34°27′22″N 68°43′44″E
Country	Afghanistan
Province	Maidan Wardak
District	Jalrez
Elevation	2,303 m (7,556 ft)
Time zone	UTC+4:30

History

In 2009, American convoys were ambushed by the Taliban in the predominantly Pashtun village of Zaiwalat.[3] The US retaliated and invaded the village at 3.15am on November 19, 2009, capturing nine locals, including Habib ur-Rahman, a suspected Talibanist, and taking them by helicopter to Rish-Khor for a three-day interrogation.[4][5] As of 2010 the village had an estimated people of about 300 people.[6]

In 2014, a 12 metres (39 ft) bridge was built in Zaiwalat.[7] In September 2016, 11 men from the village were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen. After 20 days, a group from the village retaliated with an armed attack, capturing six people, leading to the release of the 11 hostages.[8]

Economy

The area is a producer of fruit, such as apples, apricots and peaches,[9] with extensive orchards in Zaiwalat.[3]

Landmarks

The main school is Zaiwalat High School.

Notable people

• Haji Mosa Hotak (born 1954) former Mujahedin commander[10]
• Qari Sayed Agha (died 2019) - a Taliban commander of the Haqqani terrorist network, from Zaiwalat.[1]

References