The Mystique Of Afghanistan's Ab-E-Village: A Nuristan Enclave

Do Ab is a district of Nuristan Province, located in eastern Afghanistan. Nuristan is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, situated in the country's east. It is Afghanistan's least populous province, with a population of around 167,000. The province is bordered by Badakhshan to the north, Pakistan to the east, Kunar and Laghman to the south, and Panjshir to the west. The origins of the Nuristani people date back to the 4th century BC, with some claiming descent from the Greek occupying forces of Alexander the Great. The region was formerly known as Kafiristan, meaning Land of the Infidels, until its inhabitants were forcibly converted to Islam in the late 19th century, after which it became known as Nuristan, meaning Land of Light.

Do Ab is one of eight districts in the Nuristan province

The Nuristan province is known for its mountainous terrain and river gorges, making it extremely difficult to access, especially during the winter months. The region has a rich biodiversity and is covered mostly by mountainous forests. The province is also home to the basins of the Alingar, Pech, Landai Sin, and Kunar rivers. The local population is primarily engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry, and day labour. Wheat, corn, and beans are common crops, while cows, sheep, and goats are the primary livestock.

Due to its challenging topography and lack of infrastructure, Nuristan is one of the most volatile and inaccessible provinces in Afghanistan. The province has few roads and is geographically isolated from the rest of the country. This isolation has made it a haven for foreign militants and a challenging area for governance and security. The province has seen heavy guerrilla fighting and has been influenced by various armed groups throughout its recent history, including during the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s and the Taliban's rise to power.

The Do Ab district, also known as Du Ab, Du'ab, or Du Ab District, is situated in the eastern part of Afghanistan, within the Nuristan province. The district has a population of around 300,000 and is home to various ethnic groups, including Nuristanis, Gujars, and Tajiks. The district, like the rest of the province, faces challenges due to its remote location and lack of infrastructure.

The Nuristan province is geographically cut off from the rest of Afghanistan

The Nuristan province is bordered by Badakhshan in the north, Pakistan in the east, Kunar and Laghman in the south, and Panjshir in the west. The province is divided into seven or eight districts, including Do Ab, Bargi Matal, Kamdesh, Mandol, Nurgeram, Wama, and Waygal. The provincial capital, Parun, is disconnected from six of its seven districts, and one of them, Barg-e Matal, has been under Taliban siege for years. The villages are isolated from each other and the district centers, and most roads are only passable by pack animals. The difficult terrain has brought little development to the province, despite the hundreds of billions of dollars in foreign aid flowing into the rest of the country.

The Nuristan province is extremely difficult to access, and often impossible in the winter. Neighboring districts can take a week to reach, often via other provinces. The lack of roads and difficulty in transport is a massive problem province-wide. The province has some of the poorest communications in Afghanistan, and there is no road link with Kabul. The closest thing to a decent healthcare facility in the province is a 50-bed hospital, which is still under construction. The rugged conditions recently became the talk of Kushteki, a hamlet just outside the provincial capital, when a regular Toyota Corolla successfully braved the treacherous road winding through pine-covered mountains and cutting through streams that are half-frozen this time of year. Usually, only vehicles with four-wheel drive even attempt the journey, and locals often hitch rides with the police in their trucks.

The Nuristan province has a population of around 167,000-300,000 and is almost exclusively inhabited by the Nuristani people, with small representations of Gujar, Tajik, and Pashtun residents. The Nuristanis are an ethnic group native to the province and the Chitral District of northwestern Pakistan. They speak a unique Indo-European language and are known for their fierce independence and aversion to outside interference. The Nuristanis were conquered and forcibly converted to Islam in the late 19th century, and the region was renamed from Kafiristan ("Land of the Infidels") to Nuristan ("Land of Light").

The Nuristanis are an ethnic group native to the Nuristan province

The origins of the Nuristanis trace back to the 4th century BC. Some Nuristanis claim to be descendants of the Greek occupying forces of Alexander the Great. The Nuristan region was formerly called Kafiristan ("Land of the Infidels") until its inhabitants were forcibly converted from a form of ancient Hinduism to Islam in the mid-1890s, after which the region was renamed Nuristan ("Land of Light").

The Nuristanis primarily reside in the east of the country, between the Pashtun tribes of Kunar, the Kalash in Pakistan's Chitral, and the Tajiks of Badakhshan in the north. The Nuristan province is located on the southern slopes of the Hindu Kush mountain range and is spread over four valleys, with each valley having its own distinct language or dialect: Kati, Waigali, Ashkun, and Parsun. The Nuristanis' ancient rituals often involved shamanism and ritualistic animal sacrifices, with dancing—which often included the twirling of war axes—playing an important ceremonial role in their religion.

The Nuristan province has a population of around 140,000-300,000 people, with its capital in Parun. The region enjoys a moderate climate with reasonable precipitation levels, making it suitable for irrigated agriculture. However, its mountainous geography restricts extensive farming. As a result, the province's population has shifted towards cattle breeding and goat-herding. Nuristan's food production is centred around subsistence agriculture, with grains, and dairy products from goats and cattle forming the basis of their diet.

The Nuristanis have a clan organisation, with the village being the basic socio-political unit. Men who promote cohesiveness rise in the ranks to village leadership, acting as mediators in conflicts with other tribes. Despite historical conflicts between tribes, the Nuristani culture praises those who can help others reach an agreement. Hospitality is an important aspect of their culture, with guests expected to offer something subtle to their hosts in return for their hospitality.

Nuristan is an impoverished region, and wealth plays a significant role in establishing authority among the tribes. To be elected as a tribe leader, a man must host many feasts for the village, which can be financially ruinous. The Nuristanis have a class-based society, with "free men" making up 90% of the population, and the "Bari" comprising the underprivileged 10% who perform most of the manual work.

The Nuristan province is one of the poorest and most remote provinces in Afghanistan

Nuristan has a population of around 167,000, making it Afghanistan's least populous province. The people of Nuristan primarily work in agriculture, animal husbandry, and day labour. The region has very little arable land, with most of the territory covered by forest. The main economic activity is animal husbandry, with goat-herding being the most common. Wheat, fruit, and goats are the primary food sources for the Nuristani people, who survive on subsistence agriculture.

The province is divided into seven districts, with Parun serving as the provincial capital. The villages are isolated from each other and from the district centres, with poor road conditions making travel difficult. The lack of roads and the challenging terrain make transportation a significant problem. Neighbouring districts often take a week to reach, and often the only way to get there is via other provinces. The province also has some of the poorest communication systems in Afghanistan, with no road link to Kabul.

The Nuristan region has a long history of war, which has resulted in the deaths of many indigenous people. The area has been a haven for foreign militants, and with the absence of the Afghan army on the ground, it is in danger of being taken over by the Taliban. The province is also a key support route for numerous insurgents, with the presence of the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and the Islamic State. The influence of these groups has led to a widespread lack of law and order in the province.

The formal education sector in Nuristan is weak, with a low literacy rate and a shortage of qualified teachers. The health sector also faces challenges, with a lack of medical facilities and high maternal mortality rates. The province has a high rate of infant mortality, with measles outbreaks in 2017 killing 70 children.

The Nuristan province faces many challenges, including poverty, isolation, and a lack of infrastructure and basic services. The central government has been accused of neglecting the region, and the presence of militant groups further exacerbates the issues.

The Nuristan province is bordered by Badakhshan province in the north, Pakistan in the east, Kunar and Laghman provinces in the south, and Panjshir in the west

The Nuristan province is located in the eastern part of Afghanistan and is divided into seven districts. It is bordered by the Badakhshan province in the north, Pakistan in the east, the Kunar and Laghman provinces in the south, and the Panjshir province in the west.

The province is geographically cut off from the rest of the country and has very few roads. It is extremely difficult to access, especially during the winter, due to its topography of mountains and river gorges. The Nuristan province is one of the most volatile and inaccessible provinces in Afghanistan.

The population of the province is estimated to be around 300,000, with the Nuristani people making up almost the entirety of it. The Nuristanis are native to the province and Chitral District of northwestern Pakistan. They speak the Nuristani branch of Indo-Iranian languages. The primary occupations in the province are agriculture, animal husbandry, and day labor.

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