Kabul
Kabul (käbool, kbool), capitallargest cityAfghanistanpopulationover 1.5 million,an economiccultural centerstrategically situated innarrow valley alongKabul River high inmountains beforeKhyber Pass. Kabullinked withTajikistan border viatunnel underHindu Kush Mountains. Its main products include ordnance, cloth, furniture,beet sugar, though continual warfare since 1979 has limitedeconomic productivity ofcity. Kabul remains one ofmost mined cities inworld.
The old sectionKabulfilledbazaars nestled along its narrow, crooked streets. Kabul hasuniversity, established1931, andnumbercolleges. Cultural sites includevery good museum, Babur's tombgardens,mausoleumNadir Shah,Minar-i-Istiklal (columnindependence) built1919 afterThird Afghan War,tombTimur Shah,some important mosques. Bala Hissar,fort destroyedretaliation fordeaththeir envoy byBritish1879, was restored asmilitary college. Outsidecity proper iscitadel androyal palace.
Notable spotsinterest include: West Kabul,Kabul Museum, Darul Aman Palace,Kabul Zoo, Babur Gardens, Bala Hisar, Shah Do Shamshera Mosque,Afghan National Gallery,Afghan National Archive,Afghan Royal Family Mausoleum,OMAR Mine Museum, Bibi Mahroo Hill,Kabul Christian Cemetry,Paghman Gardens.
History
The historyKabulonecontinual destructionrebuilding,well over three thousand years. It was taken byArabs in7th century,made intocapital by Babur (1504-26)subsequent Mughal rulers. Nadir ShahPersia capturedin 1738,it became Afghanistan's capital1773.
It was taken byBritish army1839 duringAfghan Warspartially burned by them1842revenge forambushBritish troops withdrawing underflagtruce. The British again tookcity1879 aftermassacreBritish officials.
AfterSoviet invasionAfghanistan,U.S.S.R occupiedcity on December 23, 1979, turninginto their command center during10-year conflict betweenSoviet-allied government andmujahedeen rebels. The American embassyKabul was closed on January 30, 1989. Kabul fell into guerrilla hands after1992 collapse ofMohammad Najibullah government. As these forces divided into rival warring factions,city increasingly suffered,(as2002)in poor condition.
It wassite ofIslamic CouncilAfghanistan untilTaliban took control1996.
The Taliban abandonedcity on November 12, 2001it came undercontrol ofNorthern Alliance. AfterU.S. invasionAfghanistan, Kabul becamecapital ofAfghan Transitional Administration.
See also: Afghan National Museum, Radio Kabul, TimelineAfghan history, Camp Julien, International Security Assistance Force, ListcitiesAfghanistan.
External link
Kabulalsoname ofvillageIsrael. See Kabul, Israel
