Istalif

Istālif استالف
—  Village  —
Istālif Location in Afghanistan
Coordinates: 34°50′N 69°6′E
Country	Afghanistan
Province	Kabul Province
District	Istalif District
Time zone	UTC+4:30

Istālif (Persian: استالف‎) is a village about 18 miles northwest of Kabul, Afghanistan, situated at 34.8403°N 69.1000°E / 34.8403; 69.1000 at 1693 m altitude. It is the center of Istalif District, Kabul Province, Afghanistan. The village was destroyed during the longlasting wars around Kabul. There are a few repaired or newly constructed buildings. The village needs a lot of work to be done to return its previous state. Istalif is famous for its handmade glazed potteries. Its name might derive from Greek staphile 'bunch of grapes' or Parachi estuf 'cow-parsnip'.es Istalif was always renowned as one of the most beautiful places in Afghanistan-the Emperor Babur fell in love with it in the 16th century and used to hold parties in his rose garden and summer house there. Alexander Burnes, a British political agent to Dost Mohammed in the 19th century, had come here to relax amid the plane and walnut trees. He described that the mountains streams are full of fishes and the orchards and vineyards are richest. As a revenge General Pollock leading his "Army of Retribution" wrecked the whole place and made a mess of it. The town was surrounded, attacked and then systemically pillaged. The Britsh and Indian soldiers set fire to the cotton cloth of their victims and burn them alive. They massacred women and children as well. (Source: "Return of a King-the battle for Afghanistan 1839–1842" by William Dalrymple)

External links

• http://www.istalif.com/
• Rehabilitation program
• Photo of a highrise in Istalif