Sharana (Pashto: ښرنه) is the capital of Paktika Province, Afghanistan. It is located at an altitude of 2,200 meters.[2] Its population was estimated to be 2,200 in 2006.[3]
The city of Sharana has a population of 15,651 (in 2015)[4] and is located within the heartland of the Sulaimankhel tribe of GhiljiPashtuns.[5] It has 6 districts and a total land area of 5,893 hectares.[6] The total number of dwellings in this city are 1,739.[6]
On 14 August 2021, Sharana was seized by Taliban fighters, becoming the twentieth provincial capital to be captured by the Taliban as part of the wider 2021 Taliban offensive.[7]
Climate
With an influence from the local steppe climate, Sharana features a cold semi-arid climate (BSk) under the Köppen climate classification. The average temperature in Sharana is 10.8 °C, while the annual precipitation averages 265 mm. September is the driest month with 1 mm of rainfall, while March, the wettest month, has an average precipitation of 54 mm.
July is the warmest month of the year with an average temperature of 23.6 °C. The coldest month January has an average temperature of -4.5 °C, with the average lows at -10.9 °C.
Barren land and agriculture account for 73% of total land. Sharana has the largest share of land classified as institutional (14%) of any Afghan provincial capital.[6]