Tāloqān تالقان
—  City  —
Tāloqān Location in Afghanistan
Coordinates: 36°43′N 69°31′E / 36.717°N 69.517°E / 36.717; 69.517Coordinates: 36°43′N 69°31′E / 36.717°N 69.517°E / 36.717; 69.517
Country	Afghanistan
Province	Takhār Province
District	Taluqan District
Elevation	876 m (2,874 ft)
Population (2006)
• Total	196,400
Time zone	Afghanistan Standard Time (UTC+4:30)

Tāloqān (Persian: تالقان‎, also transcribed Tāleqān or Tāluqān) is the capital of Takhar Province, in northern Afghanistan. It is located in the Taluqan District. The population was estimated as 196,400 in 2006.^[1]

History[link]

A coin minted in Taloqan during the reign of ’Ala ed-Din Mohammed ibn Tekesh (1200-1220), the ruler who suffered Genghis Khan's invasion.

The old city to the west on the riverside was described by Marco Polo in 1275 CE as:

"a castle called Taikhan, where there is a great corn-market, and the country round is fine and fruitful. The hills that lie to the south of it are large and lofty. They all consist of white salt, extremely hard, with which the people for a distance of thirty days' journey round, come to provide themselves, for it is esteemed the purest that is found in the world. It is so hard, that it can be broken only with great iron hammers. The quantity is so great that all the countries of the earth might be supplied from thence."^[2]

In 1603, Taloqan ("Talhan") was visited by another European explorer, Bento de Góis, who was traveling with a caravan from Kabul to Yarkand (then the capital of Kashgaria).^[3]

Recent history[link]

Takhar Provincial Governor Office in Taloqan

Taloqan was the last major city to fall to the Taliban, in January 2001, after a siege which claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians.^[4] Its capture by the Taliban also triggered a mass exodus in the population, with civilians fleeing towards Imam Sahib and the Panjshir Valley. Irregular Northern Alliance brute soldiers managed to stop the Taliban advance to the north and to the east of the city, but weren't able to retake it. Taloqan was besieged again in a bloody siege in November 2001 by Northern Alliance soldiers, a mass grave containing the bodies of 70 women and children was found, they had been brutally murdered for no reason other than possibly being the families of captured fighters and were ethnic Pashtuns.

Taloqan in Islamic sources[link]

The testament of islamic Prophet Mohammad indicates that the first Mahdi is called “Ahmad”, and then we look into the narrations that refer to Al-Yamani, such as the narrations of the black standards, the treasures of Taloqan, the standards of Khurasan and the standards of the east, because there are no narrations that describe them as being disobedient or insubordinate to the standard of Al-Yamani, for he who revolts against him (Al-Yamani) will be cast into the Fire, and all the narrations confirm that those standards will fight to pave the way for the advent of Imam Al-Mahdi.

Following the same narrative chain, Al-Baqir narrated the following on the authority of Jabir: [Allah Almighty has a treasure in Taloqan; it is of neither gold nor silver but consists of twelve thousand (men) in Khurasan, having “Ahmad Ahmad” for emblem. They will be led by a Hashemite young man riding a gray mule and wearing a red headband. I can almost see him crossing the Euphrates; should you hear of his coming, rush to him even if you have to crawl over the snow.].^{[5][6][7][8][9][10][11]}

Taloqan (a region in Afghanistan) that at that place are treasures of Allah, but these are not of gold and silver but consist of people who have recognised Allah as they should have. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-zaman, p. 59)

Demography[link]

Taloqan is dominated by Tajiks (60%). The second largest group are the Uzbeks (32%), followed by Pashtuns and Kyrgyz people.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Photos of Taloqan on TrekEarth.com

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