Jalalabad

Jalalabad is a city in eastern Afghanistan. Located at the junction of the Kabul and Kunar rivers near the Laghman valley, Jalalabad is the capital of Nangarhar province. It is linked by approximately 90 miles (140 km) of highway with Kabul to the west and about the same distance to Peshawar in Pakistan to the east. Its population is a mixture of Pashtun and the Dari-speaking Tajiks/Farsiwans. Sunni Islam forms the religion of a solid majority of the population. The Turi Pashtuns and Dari-speaking Kizilbash/Qizilbash inhabitants practice the Shia form of Islam. These, however, suffered immensely under the Wahabbi Taliban government, and were dispersed.

The original name of Jalalabad was Adinapur . Jalalabad/Jalalkot is the largest city of east Afghanistan as well as its social and business center. Major industries include papermaking as well agricultural products including oranges, rice, and sugarcane. The city was a major center of Greco-Buddhist culture in the past until it was conquered by Muslim Turks by the 10th century. The modern city gained prominence during the reign of the Mughal emperor Babur.


In 1505 , Babar meditated an incursion into India and proceeded by Jalalabad (then called Adinapur) and the Khaibar Pass to Peshawar.

In 630 Xuan Zang, the famous Chinese Buddhist monk, arrived in Jalalabad and considered himself to have reached Hindustan. However, the modern city of Jalalabad was built by Jalal-uddin Mohammad Akbar, the third ruler of Mughal Empire.

Seraj-ul-Emarat, the residence of Amir Habibullah and King Amanullah was destroyed in 1929, the other sanctuaries however, retain vestiges of the past and offer a peaceful afternoon's crunch. The mausoleum of both rulers is enclosed by a garden facing Seraj-ul-Emart.

The Provincial Reconstruction Team of the International Security Assistance Force at Jalalabad is led by the US.

Jalalabad Airport is located 3 miles (5 km) southeast of Jalalabad city in Afghanistan. This airport is currently being used only for military purposes and sometimes the United Nation's aircraft use this airport. New Jalalabad Airport The construction of a new civilian airport is underway in Gambiri area to north west of Jalalabad.