Kulob Oblast (Tajik: вилояти Кӯлоб; also Kulyab Oblast from Russian spelling) was an administrative subdivision in Tajikistan during the Soviet period (Tajik SSR).
[1] It was created in 1939 but was abolished in 1955 along with Gharm Oblast and its territory was ceded to the Districts of Republican Subordination.
However, this only lasted 2 more years, because in 1992, it was once again merged with the Qurghonteppa Oblast to recreate Khatlon Region.
Kulob Oblast was a center for fighting in the first year of the civil war in Tajikistan.
Many important figures in the government of Tajikistan originated from Kulob Oblast, including current president Emomali Rahmon.