Paktia is one of the southeastern provinces of Afghanistan and is widely regarded as a region of major strategic, cultural, and tribal significance. It borders Khost to the south, Paktika to the east, Logar and Wardak to the west, and Nangarhar to the north, while also sharing a long international border with Pakistan’s Kurram and North Waziristan regions. The provincial capital is Gardez, which serves as the main administrative, economic, and military center of the region called Loya Paktia.