Mazar-e Sharif
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Mazār-e Sharīf , also known as Mazar-e-Sharif, Mazar-i Sharif and Mazar-i-Sharif (in Persian مزار شریف), is the biggest city in northern Afghanistan and the capital of Balkh province. The dominant language in the city is Dari. The city is significant to local Shi'ite Muslims. The population is 183,000 (2002 official estimate).
Mazar-e Sharif remained a stronghold of opposition groups (notably the Uzbek-Afghan leader Abdul Rashid Dostum, and those who followed) for several years after the Taliban took control of much of Afghanistan. Between May and July 1997 the Taliban unsuccessfully attempted to take control of the city until August 8, 1998, reportedly leading to a six-day killing frenzy of Hazaras and other locals.
On November 9, 2001 the city was recaptured by the Afghan Northern Alliance after heavy battles with help from the United States. An alleged massacre of Taliban soldiers by US allies is said to have taken place near the city.
Mazar-e Sharif was formerly the capital of the historical province of Afghan Turkestan. Mazar-e Sharif is located near to the much older cultural center, Balkh, which was destroyed by Genghis Khan.
Mazar-e-Sharif continues to be a major tourist point of interest because of its fabulous Muslim and Ancient Greek architecture. It also contains the extraordinary Rawze-e-Sharif or the Blue Mosque.
However, in May 2006, the Swedish Armed Forces which is establishing a significant presence there, characterizes the situation in the area as "neither quiet nor stable"[1].
The name "Mazar E Sharif" has also been applied to a potent strain of marijuana sold in North America, apparently because the "strain" of plants originated in Northern Afghanistan.
Mazar i Sharif also means 'Holy Grave' OR 'Sacred Grave'.
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