Jalalabad جلال آباد
Mausoleum of Amanullah Khan
Jalalabad Location in Afghanistan
Coordinates: 34°26′03″N 70°26′52″E / 34.43417°N 70.44778°E / 34.43417; 70.44778Coordinates: 34°26′03″N 70°26′52″E / 34.43417°N 70.44778°E / 34.43417; 70.44778
Country	Afghanistan
Province	Nangarhar Province
District
Elevation	1,886 ft (575 m)
Population (2007)
• Total	205,423
	[1]
Time zone	UTC+4:30

Jalalabad (Pashto: جلال آباد Jalālābād), formerly called Adinapour (Pashto: آدينه پور) as documented by the 7th century Hsüan-tsang, is a city in eastern Afghanistan. Located at the junction of the Kabul River and Kunar River near the Laghman valley, Jalalabad is the capital of Nangarhar province. It is linked by approximately 95 miles (153 km) of highway with Kabul to the west. Jalalabad is the second-largest city in eastern Afghanistan as well as the centre of its social and business activity. Major industries include papermaking, as well as agricultural products including oranges, rice and sugarcane. Jalalabad is one of the leading trading centres with neighbouring Pakistan.^[2]

History[link]

History of Afghanistan

See also: Timeline

Pre-Islamic Proto-Elamite civilization (2300–1800 BC) Indus valley civilization (2200–1800 BC) Oxus civilization (2100–1800 BC) Aryans (1700–700 BC) Median Empire (728–550 BC) Achaemenids (550–330 BC) Seleucids (330–150 BC) Mauryans (305–180 BC) Greco-Bactrians (256–125 BC) Indo-Greeks (180–130 BC) Indo-Scythians (Sakas) (155–80? BC) Indo-Parthians (20 BC–50? AD) Kushans (135 BC–248 AD) Sassanids (230–565) Indo-Sassanids (248–410) Kidarites (320–465) Hephthalites (410–557) Kabul Shahi (565–879) Islamic period Rashidun Caliphate (642–641) Umayyads (661–750) Abbasids (750–821) Tahirids (821–873) Saffarids (863–900) Samanids (875–999) Ghaznavids (963–1187) Seljukids (1037–1194) Khwarezmids (1077–1231) Ghorids (1149–1212) Ilkhanate (1258–1353) Kartids (1245–1381) Timurids (1370–1506) Arghun (1479-1522) Mughals (1501–1738) |Safavids (1510–1709) Hotaki dynasty (1709–1738) Afsharids (1738–1747) Modern history Durrani Empire (1747–1826) Emirate (1826–1919) Kingdom (1919–1973) Republic (1973–1978) Democratic Republic (1978–1992) Islamic State (1992–1996) Islamic Emirate (1996–2001) Islamic Republic (2001–present) Afghan Civil War  (1979–present) Soviet war  (1979–1989) Civil War, first phase (1989–1992) Civil War, second phase (1992–1996) Civil War, third phase (1996–2001)  War in Afghanistan (2001–present)

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In 630 Xuan Zang, the famous Chinese Buddhist monk, visited Jalalabad. The city was a major center of Gandhara's Greco-Buddhist culture in the past until it was conquered by Muslim Arabs in the 7th century. However, not everyone converted to Islam at that period as some still refused to accept it. In a book called Hudud-al-Alam, written in 982 CE, it mentions a village near Jalalabad where the local king used to have many Hindu, Muslim and Afghan wives.^[3]

The region became part of the Afghan Ghaznavid Empire in the 10th century, during the Indian invasions by Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni. Later, it was controlled by the successor Ghurids until the Mongols invaded the area. It then became part of the Timurids.

The modern city gained prominence during the reign of Babur, founder of the Mughal Empire. Babur had chosen the site for this city and was built by his grandson Jalal-uddin Mohammad Akbar in 1570. The original name of Jalalabad was Adinapur as mentioned here:

'In the following year 1505, Babar meditated an incursion into India and proceeded by Jalalabad (then called Adinapur) and the Khaibar Pass to Peshawar^[4]

In the last decade of the sixteenth century Adinapur was renamed to Jalalabad after the son of Pir Roshan, Jalala who was fighting the Mughals in the Waziristan area. It remained part of the Mughal Empire until around 1738 when Nader Shah and his Afsharid forces from Khorasan came to take over control. Nader Shah was accompanied by the young Ahmad Shah Durrani, founder of the modern state of Afghanistan, who would re-conquer the area in 1747 after becoming the new ruler of the Afghans. He used the city while going back and forth during his nine military campaigns into India.

The city was invaded by Ranjit Singh and his Sikh army in the early 19th century but was quickly chased out a few days later by Afghan forces of Durrani Empire. The British forces invaded Jalalabad in 1838, during the First Anglo-Afghan War. In the 1842 Battle of Jellalabad, Akbar Khan besieged the British troops on their way to Jalalabad. In 1878, during the Second Anglo-Afghan War, the British again invaded and set up camps in Jalalabad but withdrew two years later.

Jalalabad is considered one of the most important cities of the Pashtun culture. Seraj-ul-Emarat, the residence of Amir Habibullah and King Amanullah was destroyed in 1929 when Habibullah Kalakani rose to power; the other sanctuaries however, retain vestiges of the past. The mausoleum of both rulers is enclosed by a garden facing Seraj-ul-Emart.

From 1978 to early 1990s, the city served as a strategic location for the pro-Soviet Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. It fell to the Mujahideen in 1992 when they were on their way to capture Kabul. It was conquered by the Taliban and became part of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in the mid 1990s. During Operation Enduring Freedom after the September 11 attacks in the United States, the city was invaded and fell to US-backed Afghan forces.

Since late 2001, the military of Afghanistan and the United States armed forces have established a number of bases, with the one at Jalalabad Airport being the largest. The Afghan National Police is in control of security while the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) also has a heavy presence in and around the city. In early 2011, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul announced that it plans to establish a consulate in Jalalabad.^[5] As is the case with other Afghan cities, occasional suicide attacks by militants have taken place in recent years.

Demographics[link]

The population of the city is mostly Pashtun people, at 90%. Pashais are 7%. The remaining 3% are Tajiks, Punjabi Gujjars, Jats & (Sikhs/Hindus).^[1]

Pashto is the main language of the city and is also used throughout the province. Many people in the city are also fluent in Dari (Persian) and Urdu. Although English is very little in use, it is now being taught in most schools.

Nearly everyone in Jalalabad are Muslim, followers of Sunni Islam. The city is home to one of Afghanistan's few Hindu temples, the Dargha Hindu Temple on Chowk Omomi Street.

Climate[link]

Transportation[link]

The Jalalabad Airport serves as the main airport for air travellers in the region. There have been proposals for the establishment of Afghanistan's rail network linking Jalalabad with Pakistan Railways, allowing for increased trade of goods, people and commerce between the two countries.

Jalalabad is connected by roads with Kabul and Peshawar in Pakistan. All the trade between the two nations pass through this city. The highway between Jalalabad and the capital Kabul has been re-surfaced in recent years, reducing the transit time between these two important cities. Because of the many traffic accidents, the highway between the city of Jalalabad and Kabul is considered to be one of the most dangerous in the world.^[7] An improvement in the road networks between Jalalabad and Peshawar has also been proposed, with the intention of widening the existing road and improving security to attract more tourism and allow for safer passage of goods between to the two countries.

Places of interest[link]

Sherzai Cricket Stadium (under construction)

Jalalabad is considered one of the most beautiful cities of Afghanistan. It has plenty of greenery and water. About 15 Kilometers from Jalalabad a new city called Ghazi Amanullah Khan City is under development. Named after King Amanullah Khan, it is said to be the first, the biggest and the most modern city in the history of Afghanistan.^[8]

Jalalabad is considered the capital of Afghan cricket, with many of the national players coming from the surrounding areas. Construction has begun near the city on one of Afghanistan's cricket stadium. It is hoped that this ground will serve the domestic competition and attract international teams.

• Airports
  • Jalalabad Airport

• Stadiums
  • Sherzai Cricket Stadium (under construction)
  • National Football Stadium

• Mausoleums
  • Mausoleum of King Amanullah Khan
  • Mausoleum of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
  • Mausoleum of Mohammad Gul Khan Momand

• Mosques

• Hospitals

• Universities
  • Nangarhar University

Sister Cities[link]

• San Diego, California

See also[link]

• Battle of Jellalabad
• Gul Agha Sherzai
• Jalalabad Airport
• Provincial Reconstruction Team
• International Security Assistance Force

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jalalabad

• Ghazi Amanullah Khan City on YouTube
• Images of Jalalabad

شفیق مرید Shafiq Mureed
Shafiq Mureed
Background information
Born	Shorbazar, Afghanistan
Genres	Pop Dance
Occupations	Singer
Instruments	Guitar, Harmonium, keyboard
Years active	2008 — Present
Labels	Various

Shafiq Mureed (Pashto: شفیق مرید ) is an Afghan singer born in Kabul, Afghanistan. His Parents are from the Laghman Province of Afghanistan. Shafiq is of Pashtun origin. As a singer he was influenced by Nazir Khara who taught him for few months. Later he went on to produce one of his singles in Pakistan. "Dar Aan Nafas Ki Bimiram" was recorded in Lahore city and arranged by Ivan Shafiq. Later it was edited in Lala Studios, Kabul. Since then Shafiq has gained popularity in Afghanistan. He is known for his songs "Wali Rana Lari", "Hara Lar ran wroka" and “Shabo Roz Dar Feraq”.

He won an award for his song “Beautiful Afghanistan” from the Ministry of Information and Culture for its inspiration and patriotism. This well loved anthem is regarded as an unprecedented service for Afghan music, especially for Pashtu singing.

Shafiq Mureed has a natural voice and sings with great expression and passion. He takes pride in singing in his unique, spontaneous voice without the need for computerized effects. He is popular all over the subcontinent with a wide base of fans in Afghanistan and in several other countries where Afghans dwell.

Discography[link]

Shafiq Mureed sings both in Pashto and Dari languages. The theme of his music centers mainly around romance and love, tragedy, and patriotism.

Ehsas[link]

• Ba Negahe^[1]
• Che Da Ghooro
• Che La Mana Lari
• Hasto Boodam
• Khaista Afghanistan
• Lamba Di Shwama
• Moray (Mother)
• Sarkhel-o Naazaneena
• Taa Sara Mina Larem

Singles[link]

• Shabo Roz Dar Feraq ^[2]
• Beautiful Afghanistan ^[3]
• Zewar Maband Ba Khud^[4]
• Ta De Tel Khushala Ye
• Hara Laar Da
• Bangri
• Dar Aan Nafas
• Bia Aye Raahat
• Shab Wa Roz
• Wale Raana Laare
• Zema Mina Neda
• Bewafa Wale Raata Waye
• Yaar Ko Main Ne

External links[link]

• Listen to Shafiq Mureed’s music
• Watch Shafiq Mureed videos
• Listen to Shafiq Mureed @ Bakhtar Radio

1. ^ http://www.mastana.net/music/index.php?p=Shafiq%20Mureed/Ehsaas
2. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbHKWArRlCw
3. ^ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIf2Od5hS6E
4. ^ http://www.mastana.net/music/index.php?p=Shafiq%20Mureed/Singles