Islam Qala (Kafir Qala)
Islām Qala (Persian/Pashto: اسلام قلعه, also Eslām Qalʿeh), known historically as Kafir Qala, is a border town in the western Herat province of Afghanistan, near the Afghanistan–Iran border. It is the official port of entry by land from neighboring Taybad in Iran.
Islam Qala is administered as part of Islam Qala District in Herat Province and is linked to the city of Herat via the Islam Qala-Herat Highway. The town plays an important role when it comes to the economy of Afghanistan because a substantial volume of national trade passes through it.
Islam Qala is believed to have a population of about 16,408 residents. It has gradually expanded in the last two decades due to the establishment of various facilities. Among them is a refugees repatriation center in which large number of returnees are processed everyday by the Ministry of Refugees and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The town has Afghan Border Police and other national security forces.
Islam Qala became a border town during the Durrani Empire in the 19th century, after Afghanistan became a sovereign state. Many armies, traders and travelers have passed through the town throughout history. The Asian Highway 1 (AH1), which is part of the Asian Highway Network from Tokyo in Japan to west of Istanbul in Turkey, where it connects to the European route E80 (E80) that reaches to Lisbon, passes in Islam Qala.
On February 13, 2021, due to corruption and negligence, large number of trucks were burnt by a fire incident at a parking area in Islam Qala. On July 9, 2021, the entire town fell to the Taliban forces without incident. Since then the corruption in the town has been eliminated and government revenue increased to over 8 billion afghanis in less than a year.
Islam Qala is administered as part of Islam Qala District in Herat Province and is linked to the city of Herat via the Islam Qala-Herat Highway. The town plays an important role when it comes to the economy of Afghanistan because a substantial volume of national trade passes through it.
Islam Qala is believed to have a population of about 16,408 residents. It has gradually expanded in the last two decades due to the establishment of various facilities. Among them is a refugees repatriation center in which large number of returnees are processed everyday by the Ministry of Refugees and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The town has Afghan Border Police and other national security forces.
Islam Qala became a border town during the Durrani Empire in the 19th century, after Afghanistan became a sovereign state. Many armies, traders and travelers have passed through the town throughout history. The Asian Highway 1 (AH1), which is part of the Asian Highway Network from Tokyo in Japan to west of Istanbul in Turkey, where it connects to the European route E80 (E80) that reaches to Lisbon, passes in Islam Qala.
On February 13, 2021, due to corruption and negligence, large number of trucks were burnt by a fire incident at a parking area in Islam Qala. On July 9, 2021, the entire town fell to the Taliban forces without incident. Since then the corruption in the town has been eliminated and government revenue increased to over 8 billion afghanis in less than a year.
Map - Islam Qala (Kafir Qala)
Map
Country - Afghanistan
Flag of Afghanistan |
Human habitation in Afghanistan dates back to the Middle Paleolithic era, and the country's strategic location along the historic Silk Road has led it to being described, picturesquely, as the ‘roundabout of the ancient world’. Popularly referred to as the graveyard of empires, the land has historically been home to various peoples and has witnessed numerous military campaigns, including those by the Persians, Alexander the Great, the Maurya Empire, Arab Muslims, the Mongols, the British, the Soviet Union, and most recently by a US-led coalition. Afghanistan also served as the source from which the Greco-Bactrians and the Mughals, amongst others, rose to form major empires. The various conquests and periods in both the Iranian and Indian cultural spheres made the area a center for Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and later Islam throughout history.
Currency / Language
ISO | Currency | Symbol | Significant figures |
---|---|---|---|
AFN | Afghan afghani | Ø‹ | 2 |
ISO | Language |
---|---|
PS | Pashto language |
FA | Persian language |
TK | Turkmen language |
UZ | Uzbek language |