Editing Herat (section)

===Modern history (1500-2023)===
{{Further|Sadozai Sultanate of Herat|Durrani Empire}}

By the early 18th century Herat was governed by the [[Sadozai Sultanate of Herat|Abdali Afghans]]. After [[Nader Shah]]'s death in 1747, [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]] took possession of the city and became part of the [[Durrani Empire]].<ref name=Singh/>
[[File:Herati Soldiers 1879.jpg|thumb|Herati Soldiers 1879]]
[[File:Qiran Coin of Naser al-Din Qajar minted in Herat.jpg|thumb|248x248px|1 Qiran Coin of [[Naser al-Din Shah Qajar|Naser al-Din Qajar]]; Herat mint, 1861]]
In 1793, [[Herat (1793-1863)|Herat became independent]] for several years when [[Durrani Empire|Afghanistan]] underwent a civil war between different sons of [[Timur Shah Durrani|Timur Shah]]. The [[Qajar Iran|Iranians]] had multiple wars with Herat between 1801 and 1837 (1804, 1807, 1811, 1814, 1817, 1818, 1821, 1822, 1825, 1833).<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Noelle-Karimi|first=Christine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kdl9oAEACAAJ|title=The Pearl in Its Midst: Herat and the Mapping of Khurasan (15th-19th Centuries)|date=2014|publisher=Austrian Academy of Sciences Press|isbn=978-3-7001-7202-4|language=en}}</ref> The Iranians [[Siege of Herat (1838)|besieged the city in 1837]], but the British helped the Heratis in repelling them. In 1856, they invaded again, and briefly managed to take the city on 25 October;<ref name=":0" /> it led directly to the [[Anglo-Persian War]]. In 1857 hostilities between the Iranians and the British ended after the [[Treaty of Paris (1857)|Treaty of Paris]] was signed, and the Persian troops withdrew from Herat in September 1857.<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Avery|editor1-first=Peter|editor2-last=Hambly|editor2-first=Gavin|editor3-last=Melville|editor3-first=Charles|title=The Cambridge History of Iran (Vol. 7): From Nadir Shah to the Islamic Republic|date=1991|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0521200950|pages=183, 394–395}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Afghanistan conquered Herat on 26 May 1863, under [[Dost Muhammad Khan]], two weeks before his death.<ref>{{cite book|author=Ewans|title=Afghanistan: A short History of its People and Politics|date=2002|publisher=Perennial|isbn=006-050508-7|pages=[https://archive.org/details/afghanistanshort00ewan/page/77 77]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/afghanistanshort00ewan/page/77}}</ref>
<gallery>
File:Herat Remains of Musallah complex.jpg|Traffic passing on the road near the Herat minarets, 2005.
File:Gawhar shad-1417-2.jpg| The two mausoleums with the minarets, July 2001. 
</gallery>

The famous [[Musalla Complex|Musalla of Gawhar Shah]] of Herat, a large Islamic religious complex consisting of five minarets, several mausoleums along with [[mosque]]s and [[madrasa]]s was dynamited during the [[Panjdeh incident]] to prevent their usage by the advancing [[Russian Armed Forces|Russian forces]]. Some emergency preservation work was carried out at the site in 2001 which included building protective walls around the [[Gawhar Shad Mausoleum]] and Sultan Husain Madrasa, repairing the remaining minaret of Gawhar Shad's Madrasa, and replanting the mausoleum garden.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.touristspots.org/mousallah-complex-in-herat-afghanistan/|title=Mousallah Complex in Herat – Afghanistan – Tourist Spots Around the World|website=Touristspots.org|access-date=21 January 2019|archive-date=21 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121232855/https://www.touristspots.org/mousallah-complex-in-herat-afghanistan/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1059997.html|title=Afghanistan: Race To Preserve Historic Minarets Of Herat, Jam|newspaper=Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty|access-date=21 January 2019|archive-date=30 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730021724/https://www.rferl.org/a/1059997.html|url-status=live |last1=Podelco |first1=Grant }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adventuretravelphotos.com/|title=Tư vấn sản phẩm|website=Adventuretravelphotos.com|access-date=21 January 2019|archive-date=25 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125042848/http://www.adventuretravelphotos.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the aftermath of the [[Afghan Civil War (1928–1929)]], Herat was the last stronghold of [[Saqqawist]] resistance, holding out until 1931 when it was retaken by forces loyal to [[Mohammad Nadir Shah]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/mohammad-nader-shah-king-of-afghanistan|title=MOḤAMMAD NĀDER SHAH – Encyclopaedia Iranica|website=www.iranicaonline.org|access-date=2019-04-23|quote=The following year, his enthronement was legitimated by a Lōya jerga (9-20 September 1930), whilst the final strongholds of Saqawi resistance were repressed in Kohdāman in 1930 (Eṣlāḥ I/67-70, 1930), and in Herat in 1931.}}</ref>

[[File:1973-12-05 Herat (9).jpg|thumb|left|Bazaar of Herat, 1973]]
[[File:Afghan rugs getting treated for age (1977) - panoramio.jpg|thumb|left|[[Afghan rug]]s in Herat, 1977]]
In the 1960s, engineers from the United States built [[Herat International Airport|Herat Airport]], which was used by the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] forces during the [[Democratic Republic of Afghanistan]] in the 1980s. Even before the [[Soviet–Afghan War|Soviet invasion]] at the end of 1979, there was a substantial presence of Soviet advisors in the city with their families.

Between 10–20 March 1979, the [[Afghan National Army|Afghan Army]] in Herat under the control of commander [[Ismail Khan]] mutinied. Thousands of protesters took to the streets against the [[Khalq]] communist regime's oppression led by [[Nur Mohammad Taraki]]. The new rebels led by Khan managed to oust the communists and take control of the city for 3 days, with some protesters murdering any Soviet advisers and targeting women without [[Hijab|headscarves]], dubbed ''sārluchi''. This shocked the government, who blamed the new administration of [[Iran]] following the [[Iranian Revolution]] for influencing the uprising.<ref>''Revolution Unending: Afghanistan, 1979 to the Present'' by Gilles Dorronsoro, 2005</ref> Reprisals by the government followed, and between 3,000 and 24,000 people (according to different sources) were killed, in what is called the [[1979 Herat uprising]], or in Persian as the ''Qiam-e Herat''.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=buHXFDFdeoQC&q=herat+soviet+revolt+1979+thousand&pg=PA68|title=Resisting Rebellion: The History and Politics of Counterinsurgency|first=Anthony James|last=Joes|date=18 August 2006|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|via=Google Books|isbn=9780813191706|access-date=5 October 2020|archive-date=28 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528204449/https://books.google.com/books?id=buHXFDFdeoQC&q=herat+soviet+revolt+1979+thousand&pg=PA68|url-status=live}}</ref> The city itself was recaptured with by the [[Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan|Afghan Army]]’s 4th and 15th Armoured Brigades, detachments of the [[Afghan Commando Forces]] and the [[Afghan Air Force (1978–1992)|Afghan Air Force]] but at the cost of thousands of civilians killed.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Urban |first=Mark |date=1990 |title=War in Afghanistan |url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-349-20761-9 |journal=SpringerLink |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-1-349-20761-9|isbn=978-0-333-51478-8 }}</ref> This rebellion was the first of its kind since the [[Third Anglo-Afghan War]] in 1919, and was the bloodiest event preceding the [[Soviet–Afghan War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/failings-of-inclusivity-the-herat-uprising-of-march-1979/|title=Failings of Inclusivity: The Herat uprising of March 1979 - Afghanistan Analysts Network|website=www.afghanistan-analysts.org|access-date=2015-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802080317/https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/failings-of-inclusivity-the-herat-uprising-of-march-1979/|archive-date=2015-08-02|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:Herat in June 2011-cropped.jpg|thumb|right|View of Herat, 2011]]
[[File:NATO and Afghan officials at Herat International Airport in 2012.jpg|thumb|right|Afghan and U.S. government officials along with members of the [[International Security Assistance Force]] (ISAF) at [[Herat International Airport]] in 2012.]]
Herat received damage during the [[Soviet–Afghan War]], especially its western side. The province as a whole was one of the worst-hit. In April 1983, a series of Soviet bombings damaged half of the city and killed around 3,000 civilians, described as "extremely heavy, brutal and prolonged".<ref>''Afghanistan: The First Five Years of Soviet Occupation'', by J. Bruce Amstutz – Page 133 & 145</ref> Ismail Khan was the leading [[mujahideen]] commander in Herat fighting against the Soviet-backed government.

After the communist government's collapse in 1992, Khan joined the [[Islamic State of Afghanistan|new government]] and he became governor of [[Herat Province]]. The city was relatively safe and it was recovering and rebuilding from the damage caused in the Soviet–Afghan War.<ref>''War, Exile and the Music of Afghanistan: The Ethnographer's Tale'' by John Baily</ref> However, on 5 September 1995, the city was captured by the [[Taliban]] without much resistance, forcing Khan to flee. Herat became the first Persian-speaking city to be captured by the Taliban. The Taliban's strict enforcement of laws confining women at home and closing girls' schools alienated Heratis who are traditionally more liberal and educated, like the Kabulis, than other urban populations in the country. Two days of anti-Taliban protests occurred in December 1996 which was violently dispersed and led to the imposition of a curfew.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/eoir/legacy/2014/01/16/Af_chronology_1995-.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-01-01 |archive-date=2017-10-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012061437/https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/eoir/legacy/2014/01/16/Af_chronology_1995-.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 1999, a rebellion in Herat was crushed by the Taliban, who blamed Iran for causing it.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=awljDgAAQBAJ&pg=PT81|title=Iran in Crisis?: Nuclear Ambitions and the American Response|isbn=9781848137110|last1=Howard|first1=Roger|date=4 July 2013|publisher=Zed Books |access-date=7 June 2020|archive-date=28 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528204449/https://books.google.com/books?id=awljDgAAQBAJ&pg=PT81|url-status=live}}</ref>

After the [[United States invasion of Afghanistan|U.S. invasion of Afghanistan]], on 12 November 2001, it was captured from the Taliban by forces loyal to the [[Northern Alliance]] and Ismail Khan returned to power (see [[Battle of Herat]]). The state of the city was reportedly much better than that of Kabul.<ref name="rferl.org"/> In 2004, [[Mirwais Sadiq]], Aviation Minister of Afghanistan and the son of Ismail Khan, was ambushed and killed in Herāt by a local rival group. More than 200 people were arrested under suspicion of involvement.<ref>{{cite news|title=More arrests after Herat killing|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3567277.stm|work=BBC News|date=2004-03-25|location=London|access-date=2006-02-18|archive-date=2006-02-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060218165552/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3567277.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2005, the [[International Security Assistance Force]] (ISAF) began establishing bases in and around the city. Its main mission was to train the [[Afghan National Security Forces]] (ANSF) and help with the rebuilding process of the country. [[Train Advise Assist Command – West|Regional Command West]], led by Italy, assisted the [[Afghan National Army]] (ANA) [[207th Corps (Afghanistan)|207th Corps]]. Herat was one of the first seven areas that transitioned security responsibility from NATO to Afghanistan. In July 2011, the Afghan security forces assumed security responsibility from NATO.

Due to their close relations, Iran began investing in the development of Herat's power, economy and education sectors.<ref>Motlagh, Jason.[http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1900013,00.html?xid=rss-topstories-cnnpartner Iran's Spending Spree in Afghanistan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527075726/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1900013,00.html?xid=rss-topstories-cnnpartner |date=2009-05-27 }}. ''[[TIME (magazine)|Time]]''. Wednesday 20 May 2009. Retrieved on 24 May 2009.</ref> In the meantime, the United States built a [[consul (representative)|consulate]] in Herat to help further strengthen its [[Afghanistan – United States relations|relations with Afghanistan]]. In addition to the usual services, the consulate works with the local officials on development projects and with security issues in the region.<ref>[http://kabul.usembassy.gov/amb_speech121609.html "U.S. Ambassador Karl W. Eikenberry Remarks at the Lease-Signing Ceremony for U.S. Consulate Herat"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204654/http://kabul.usembassy.gov/amb_speech121609.html |date=2016-03-03 }}</ref>

On 12 August 2021, the city was [[Fall of Herat|captured]] by the [[Taliban]] during the [[2021 Taliban offensive]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Varshalomidze |first1=Tamila |title=Taliban captures Herat city after taking Ghazni |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/12/afghanistan-taliban-kandahar-prison-police-ghazni-live-updates |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=12 August 2021 |ref=Herat, Afghanistan’s third-largest city, has fallen to the Taliban, residents and local journalists said, becoming the eleventh provincial capital to be captured by the armed group in recent days.}}</ref>