Kabul, << KAH bool >> (pop. 3,289,000), is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It spreads along the banks of the Kabul River in eastern Afghanistan. The city lies 5,890 feet (1,795 meters) above sea level in the Hindu Kush mountains.
Ancient coins found in Kabul indicate that the city existed during the 500’s to the 300’s B.C. Various tribes of Afghanistan and other parts of Asia controlled the Kabul area from that time until the A.D. 1700’s. Kabul became the capital of Afghanistan in 1776. During a civil war in Afghanistan in the 1990’s, Kabul was shelled repeatedly by various groups fighting for control of the country. Thousands of people in Kabul were killed, and many buildings were destroyed or damaged. In 2001, Afghan rebels, aided by United States air strikes, forced Afghanistan’s militant Taliban rulers from power. In the following years, Kabul grew rapidly. The Taliban forces seized control again in 2021 (see Taliban ).
Kabul is a center of government and trade. It lies near key mountain passes on routes between South and Central Asia. Regional trade includes agricultural goods, carpets, and wool. Kabul’s industrial products have included drugs, farm tools, furniture, machine tools, and textiles.
