Gardez

Gardez is home to Paktia University, which is located in the northern part of the city. The Gardez Airport is in the same area of the city. Gardez also has a number of bazaars, business centers, public parks, banks, hotels, restaurants, mosques, hospitals, universities, and places to play sports or just relax. The city is connected by a road network with Aryob to the northeast, Khost to the southeast, Sharan to the southwest, Ghazni to the west, and Puli Alam to the northwest.

Named after 'mountain fortress' in Middle Persian, Gardez was established at a junction between two important roads that cut through a huge alpine valley. Surrounded by the Sulaiman Mountains, it is a city of commerce for a huge area of eastern Afghanistan and has been a strategic location for armies throughout the country's long history. Observation posts believed to be built by Alexander the Great are still crumbling on the hilltops just outside the city limits.