Chaman


Chaman is a city located on the Durand line, the capital of Qilla Abdullah District, Balochistan Province, Pakistan. It is situated just south of the Wesh-Chaman Durand line crossing with the neighbouring Kandahar Province of Afghanistan. After the capital Quetta, Chaman is the second-largest city and tehsil in the Pashtun majority northern part of Balochistan Province.

Climate

With an influence from the local steppe climate, Chaman features a hot semi-arid climate. The average annual temperature in Chaman is 19.0 °C, while the annual precipitation averages 232 mm. June is the driest month with 0 mm of rainfall, while the wettest month is January, with an average 65 mm of precipitation.
July is the hottest month of the year with an average temperature of 31.0 °C. The coldest month January has an average temperature of 6.4 °C.

Transport

Chaman has a railway station which accommodates services with Kandahar as well as other parts of Afghanistan. A slow passenger train runs between Chaman and Quetta daily. In 2008, it was proposed to extend this railway through Afghanistan to Central Asia. Chaman is on the silk road on the eastern side.

Trade

The town is an important trade point in the Balochistan region, providing a gateway on the trade routes between Afghanistan and Karachi. It underwent development during the martial law period of the 1980s.

Sports

Chaman has been known for its football since the 1940s and is home of Afghan Football Club and Muslim Football Club, which plays in the Pakistan Premier League. There were more than 80 local football clubs in the chaman during 2001 and more than 2000 players participate in intra-district football tournament every year. The Jamal Nasir Shaheed Stadium, Millat stadium, Baghicha ground and Essa Khan Stadium are located in the town. More than a dozen players of Afghan FC and Muslim FC played for the Pakistan national football team, including the captain Mohammad Essa, Jadid Khan Pathan, Kaleem Ullah Achakzai. Also Chaman have many popular soccer players Like, former Pakistan Team Captain, Kaleem Ullah Mehmood Khan, Dawood Khan, Himat Khan, Majeed Khan and Saeed Khan, Shams ud din Achakzai, Sadullah and Hayat Ullah International.
One of the oldest players, Haji abdul Qayyum aka Khadako, currently coaches the Pak Army football Club Chaman. Mohammad Essa was also the head coach of Pakistan national team during 2017–18. Chaman City football teams include:
  1. Afghan FC Chaman
  2. Muslim FC Chaman
  3. Millat Stadium FC
  4. Shaista Pashtoon FC
  5. Pak Afghan FC
  6. Chaman Football Club
  7. Buldia FCC
  8. Shaista Abbaseen Shaeed Football Club
  9. Gulshan football club Chaman
Besides football, Chaman is the home of Asian Gold Medalist in Boxing Meer Wais Khan. He belongs to Akbar Boxing Club led by Khudaidad Khan Achakzai.

Afghanistan War

Chaman has been used by NATO forces as a major supply route into Afghanistan since 2000 till now.
On August 30, 2009, an attack on a NATO convoy destroyed 20 fuel tankers and other supply trucks. The attackers reportedly fired rockets and small arms before destroying the trucks.
The former Afghan president Amanullah Khan escaped to Europe by way of Chaman.
Thousands of Afghan refugees entered Pakistan via the Chaman route.

Notable people