KABUL, AFGHANISTAN AND PESHAWER
Peshawar, the city of proud Pathans; it acts as a frontier town, and marks as the important meeting place of the
subcontinent and Central Asia. It is also a place where ancient traditions exist, with its bazaar in the old city
and buildings. Peshawar’s history runs long; in 1747, it was taken by Ahmed Shah Durrani, founder of the Afghan
Durrani Empire. Peshawar was once the capital of the ancient Buddhist Kingdom of Gandhara, the city was also called
Begram. For centuries, it was one of the oldest cities in Asia, and the language spoken predominantly Pashto.
During the decade-long Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, it was the centre of safety for Afghan refugees.
Peshawar and its geographical location make way for the River Indus, where it gradually paves its way to the
south out of the hills between Peshawar and Rawalpindi. 1 Coming to Kabul, it is known as the largest urban centre
in the country of Afghanistan and also its political and economic hub. Places of living have existed near Kabul for
over 3000 years and not only till the 20th century, the city now extended north of the Kabul River. One of the key
ancient Silk Road cities, Kabul as a city sits strategically along the trade routes of South and Central Asia. Due
to its geographic location, this town serves as a link between Pakistan and Afghanistan, benefitting trade but it
is rich in history and culture which makes it a favourite hometown for most of its people.