Gandhara

جمهورية غانذارا العربية Jumhūriyyat Gāndhāra al-ʿArabiyyah (Arabic) Arab Republic of Gandhara
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: بالله نثق (Arabic) In God we trust
Anthem: ترنيمة من غانذارا (Arabic) Hymn of the Gandhari
Capital	Rhea
Largest city	Manas
Official languages	Arabic
Recognised regional languages	Sorani Balochi
Ethnic groups	71.6% Gandhari 12.5% Kurds 10.2% Baloch 5.7% others
Demonym	Gandhari
Government	Unitary semi-presidential republic
• President	Yasser Thunayan
• Prime Minister	Ahmad Jamil Bhatti
Area
• Total	672,172 km2 (259,527 sq mi)
Population
• 2014 estimate	32,114,607
• Density	47.78/km2 (123.7/sq mi)
Currency	Gandhari dinar (GAD)
Time zone	GAT (UTC+9)
Date format	DD/MM/YYYY
Drives on the	right
Calling code	969
Internet TLD	.ga

Gandhara (Arabic: غانذارا, Gāndhāra), officially the Arab Republic of Gandhara, is a country located in Outernatia. It is bordered by Lettuce in the west, by Dalmadria in the north, and by Almarania in the south. It has a population of around 32 million people and its territory covers 672,172 km² (259,527 sq mi). Its capital Rhea is among the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world.

The modern Gandhari state was established after the Gandhari Revolution, which led to the establishment of an Arab republic on 10 December 1957. The president of Gandhara is Yasser Thunayan since 4 September 2004.

Modern Gandhara is considered to be a regional and middle power, with significant cultural, political, and military influence in Outernatia and the Muslim world. Its economy is one of the largest and most diversified in Outernatia, and its extensive mineral and energy resources have made it one of the largest producers of oil and natural gas globally. While the capital Rhea is the political center, the city of Manas is considered the economic and business center of Gandhara. The national currency is the Gandhari dinar, and Arabic is the official language.

Etymology

The country's name derives from the ancient kingdom Gāndhāra (Sanskrit: गन्धार), that lasted from the Vedic period (ca.1750–500 BCE). The kingdom was located in modern day Sadat. The origin of the name is not certain, but it has been suggested that it originates from the Sanskrit word gandha, meaning perfume, referring to the spices and aromatic herbs which the inhabitants of the ancient kingdom traded and with which they anointed themselves.

History

Mustafa dynasty

At the beginning of the 1500s, modern day Gandhara was divided into a patchwork of independent, mostly Arab states. Emir Shamal Mustafa of Sadat conquered Wakra in 1522. Several tribes opposed the Emir's rule and a period of civil war and turmoil began, after which Shamal Mustafa defeated most of his opponents. In 1530 Mustafa adopted the title of sultan and founded the Sultanate of Gandhara. After the death of Mustafa in 1535, his son Mustafa II, also known as Mustafa the Conqueror, ascended the throne.

Geography

Topography of Gandhara.

Gandhara is located in eastern Outernatia. The country lies between latitudes 6°N and 3°S, and longitudes 127° and 137°E. It straddles the Equator, with 86% to the North and 14% to the South. The territory covers 672,172 km² (259,527 sq mi).

The landscape is dominated by rugged mountain ranges, desert basins, and, in the eastern part of the country, dense rain forests. Despite having numerous rivers and reservoirs, large parts of the country are dry. It is a very mountainous country, with the Hare Krishna mountain range, that extends north to south across the country, and contains Outernatia's highest point, Mount Taysir, at 7,412 m (24,318 ft).

Climate

The climate of Gandhara varies due to its geographical size. The largest part of the country has an arid or semi-arid climate, while the western and northern edge, and the eastern and southern part of the country have a subtropical climate.

High-lying areas can have harsh winters, with an average temperature in January below −15 °C (5 °F), while the low-lying areas have hot summers, where average summer temperatures exceed 38 °C (100.4 °F).

Administrative divisions

Main articles: Administrative divisions of Gandhara and Governorates of Gandhara

Gandhara is divided into 30 governorates. The governorates are further divided into districts.

Governorates of Gandhara.

1. Abyad 2. Adnan 3. Badawi 4. Balochistan 5. Bayazidi 6. Bazegha 7. Caesarea 8. Dabbagh 9. Dimashqi 10. Dinawar

11. Farabi 12. Haydar 13. Kashani 14. Khani 15. Khuzaymah 16. Kirmani 17. Maajid 18. Malekian 19. Mawardi 20. Miskawayh

21. Morteza 22. Nasr 23. Qumi 24. Sabbah 25. Sadarak 26. Sadat 27. Sijistan 28. Tayran 29. Umayyah 30. Wakra

Demographics

Gandhara is a diverse country, consisting of different religious and ethnic groups that are unified through a shared Arab language and culture. The Gandhari people are the largest ethnic group of the country. Other major ethnic groups are the Kurdish and Baloch people, accounting for almost 23% of the total population.

As of 2014, the population of Gandhara is around 32,114,607. In 1950, the population was reported to be about 20.5 million. There are three cities with over a million residents: Manas, the capital Rhea, and Kazmi.