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Nurestan,
also spelled NURISTAN, formerly (until 1895) KAFIRISTAN, historic
region in eastern Afghanistan, about 5,000 square miles (13,000 square
km) in area and comprising the upper valleys of the Alingar, Pich,
and Landay Sind rivers and the intervening mountain ranges. Its northern
boundary is the main range of the Hindu Kush, its eastern the Pakistani
border, its southeastern the Konar (Kunar) Valley, and its
western the mountain ranges above the Panjsher and Nejrab valleys.
The region is mountainous, rainy, and forested.
Nurestan's regional unity and distinction from the rest of Afghanistan
spring from its isolation and the common cultural characteristics
shared by its people, who strongly cherish independence, have a
clan organization with village governments, and are now settled
agriculturists (growing cereals and fruits and raising livestock)
living in the valleys. They speak various Kafir languages. The region
did not become part of Afghanistan (poiltically) until the 1890s,
when 'Abd ar-Rahman, the Afghan emir, conquered
it and forcibly converted the inhabitants to Islam. He subsequently
changed its name from Kafiristan ("Land of the Kafirs,"
i.e., infidels) to Nurestan ("Land of the Enlightened").
The forests of Nurestan provide most of Afghanistan's timber. |
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