View source for Jalalabad

{{Short description|City in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan}}
{{other uses}}
{{distinguish|Jalal-Abad}}
{{use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
| official_name            = Jalalabad
| native_name              = {{nq|جلال‌آباد}}
| other_name               = 
| settlement_type          = City
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
| image_skyline            = {{Photomontage
 | photo1a                  = Aerial view of Jalalabad in 2012.jpg
 | photo2a                  = Irrigation in the fields of Jalalagad, Afghanistan (5774070247).jpg
 | photo2b                  = Ghousejaa.jpg
 | photo3a                  = Jalalabad stadium in 2011.jpg
 | photo3b                  = Bridge in Jalalabad in 2011.jpg
 | photo4a                  = Jalalabad in January 2011.jpg
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| image_caption            = From top counter-clockwise: An aerial view of a section of Jalalabad, Irrigation fields in Jalalabad, Jalalabad Cricket Stadium, Jalalabad in January 2011, Jalalabad Bridge,  Governor's House in Jalalabad
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = 
| image_shield             = 
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = 
| image_map                = 
| map_caption              = 
| pushpin_map              = Afghanistan#Hindu-Kush
| pushpin_label_position   = right
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| pushpin_mapsize          = 300px
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location in Afghanistan
| coordinates              = {{coord|34|26|03|N|70|26|52|E|region:AF|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = {{flag|Afghanistan}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[Provinces of Afghanistan|Province]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Nangarhar Province]]
| subdivision_type2        = District
| subdivision_name2        = 
| established_title        = Founded
| established_date         = 1570
| government_type          = <!-- Politics ----------------->
| government_footnotes     = 
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Qari Ehsanullah Sajid<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://pajhwok.com/2021/08/18/taliban-urged-to-control-food-items-prices-in-nangarhar/|title=Control food prices, Nangarharis urge Taliban|date=18 August 2021|last1=Zarifi|first1=Yousaf|access-date=11 November 2021|archive-date=11 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111024535/https://pajhwok.com/2021/08/18/taliban-urged-to-control-food-items-prices-in-nangarhar/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| leader_title1            = for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager
| leader_name1             = <!-- Area    --------------------->
| area_footnotes           = 
| area_total_km2           = <!-- ALL fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion-->
| area_total_sq_mi         = 
| area_land_km2            = 122
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| area_land_sq_mi          = 
| area_water_km2           = 
| area_water_sq_mi         = 
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| elevation_footnotes      = <!--for references: use<ref> </ref>  tags-->
| elevation_m              = 575
| elevation_ft             = <!-- Population   ----------------------->
| population_footnotes     = <ref name=nsia/>
| population_total         = 280,685
| population_as_of         = 2021
| population_density_km2   = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| population_note          = <ref name=nsia>{{cite web |url=https://www.nsia.gov.af:8080/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Estimated-Population-of-Afghanistan1-1400.pdf |title=Estimated Population of Afghanistan 2021–22 |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=April 2021 |publisher=National Statistic and Information Authority (NSIA) |access-date=June 21, 2021 |quote= |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624204559/https://www.nsia.gov.af:8080/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Estimated-Population-of-Afghanistan1-1400.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<!-- General information  --------------->
| timezone                 = Afghanistan Standard Time
| utc_offset               = +4:30
| timezone_DST             = 
| utc_offset_DST           = <!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
| postal_code_type         = <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... -->
| postal_code              = 
| area_code                = 
| blank_name               = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info               = [[Desert climate#Hot desert climates|BWh]]
| website                  = 
}}
'''Jalalabad''',{{efn|{{IPAc-en|dʒ|ə|ˈ|l|æ|l|ə|ˌ|b|æ|d}}}}{{efn|{{bulleted list|{{langx|ps|جلال آباد|Jalāl Ābād}} {{IPA|ps|d͡ʒa.lɑ'lɑ.bɑd|}}|{{langx|prs|جلال‌آباد|Jalāl Ābād}} {{IPA|prs|d͡ʒä.lɑː.lɑː.bɑːd̪|}}}}}} previously known as '''Tarunshahr''', and historically known as '''Nagarahara''' or '''Adinapur''', is the [[list of cities in Afghanistan|fifth-largest city]] of [[Afghanistan]]. It has a population of about 200,331,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Afghanistan Cities by Population 2025 |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/cities/afghanistan |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=worldpopulationreview.com}}</ref> and serves as the capital of [[Nangarhar Province]] in the eastern part of the country, about {{convert|80|mi|km|-1|order=flip}} from the capital [[Kabul]]. Jalalabad is located at the junction of the [[Kabul River]] and the [[Kunar River]] in a [[plateau]] to the south of the [[Hindu Kush]] mountains.<ref name="dailystar.com.lb">{{Cite journal|title=Afghan poets dream of peace in Pashtun Jalalabad {{!}} Arts & Ent, Culture {{!}} THE DAILY STAR|url=https://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Books/2013/Nov-27/238998-afghan-poets-dream-of-peace-in-pashtun-jalalabad.ashx|access-date=2020-12-03|journal=The Daily Star|archive-date=2021-01-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122021106/https://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Books/2013/Nov-27/238998-afghan-poets-dream-of-peace-in-pashtun-jalalabad.ashx|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is linked by the [[Kabul-Jalalabad Road]] to the west and [[Peshawar]] in [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]], [[Pakistan]], to the east through [[Torkham border crossing|Torkham]] and the [[Khyber Pass]].

Jalalabad is a leading center of social and trade activity because of its proximity with the Torkham [[border checkpoint]] and [[border crossing]], {{convert|65|km|mi|abbr=on}} away.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/299643/Jalalabad |title=Jalālābād |encyclopedia=[[Britannica.com]] |access-date=2011-08-15 |archive-date=2011-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915025443/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/299643/Jalalabad |url-status=live }}</ref> Major industries include papermaking, as well as agricultural products including oranges, lemon, rice, and sugarcane, helped by its warm climate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://afghanistan-photos.com/climate-of-afghanistan/|title=CLIMATE OF AFGHANISTAN – Afghanistan photos|access-date=2019-10-28|archive-date=2019-10-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028164206/https://afghanistan-photos.com/climate-of-afghanistan/|url-status=dead}}</ref> It hosts Afghanistan's second largest educational institute, [[Nangarhar University]]. For centuries the city was favored by Afghan kings<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Burns|first1=John F.|date=1989-05-11|title=Inside Jalalabad: A Sad, Crumbling Shel |language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/11/world/inside-jalalabad-a-sad-crumbling-shel.html|access-date=2020-12-03|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and it has a cultural significance in [[Afghan poetry]].<ref name="dailystar.com.lb"/> During [[Timur Shah Durrani|Timur Shah]]'s reign of the [[Durrani Empire]], Jalalabad served as the Afghan [[winter capital]].<ref name="WrightC"/>

== History ==
{{History of Afghanistan}}
{{Further|History of Afghanistan}}

===Ancient and medieval===
Known at the time by names such as [[Nagara (ancient city)|Nagarahara]] and Adinapur, Jalalabad was a major center of [[Greco-Buddhist art|Greco-Buddhist]] culture during the late [[1st millennium BCE]], focused on sites such as [[Ahin Posh]].

The first surviving references to the city are in early 1st millennium CE accounts by visiting [[Chinese people|Chinese]] Buddhist monks. In or about 400 CE, [[Faxian]] visited "Nagarahara" and worshiped at sacred Buddhist sites, such as the "Cave of the Buddha's Shadow” (佛影窟).<ref>{{cite book |chapter=The Hephthalites in Tokharistan and Northwest India |first=Shoshin |last=Kuwayama |title=India and Central Asia |editor-first=Xinru |editor-last=Liu |publisher=Permanent Black |page=240 |isbn=978-8178243474|year=2012 }}</ref> In 630 CE, [[Xuanzang|Xuan Zang]], visited "Adinapur" and other locations nearby.

The Buddhist era began to end after the region was [[Muslim conquests of Afghanistan|conquered by Muslim forces]] during the late 1st Millennium. However, conversions to Islam evidently  did not occur quickly. In ''[[Hudud ul-'alam|Hudud-al-Alam]]'', written in 982 CE, there is reference to a village near Jalalabad where the local king had Muslim, Buddhist and [[Hindu]] wives.<ref>{{cite book |first=Willem |last=Vogelsang |title=The Afghans |publisher=Wiley-Blackwell |year=2002 |page=18 |isbn=978-0-631-19841-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9kfJ6MlMsJQC&pg=RA1-PA18}}</ref>

[[File:Royal Park Jalalabad postcard.jpg|thumb|left|The Bagh-e Shahi palace and gardens, c. 1920.]]
[[File:The Amir’s Garden, Jalālābād WDL11478.png|thumb|left|The Emir's gardens, pictured in the 19th century.]]

The region became part of the [[Ghaznavids|Ghaznavid Empire]] in the 10th century. [[Sabuktigin]] annexed the land all the way west of the [[Neelum River]] in Kashmir. "The Afghans and Khiljies who resided among the mountains having taken the oath of allegiance to Sabuktigin, many of them were enlisted in his army, after which he returned in triumph to [[Ghazni]]."<ref name=Farishta-2>{{cite web |work=[[Ferishta]], History of the Rise of Mohammedan Power in India, Volume 1: Section 15 |url=http://persian.packhum.org/persian/pf?file=06901021&ct=13 |title=AMEER NASIR-OOD-DEEN SUBOOKTUGEEN |publisher=Packard Humanities Institute |access-date=2012-12-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514092123/http://persian.packhum.org/persian/pf?file=06901021&ct=13 |archive-date=2013-05-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Ghurids]] succeeded the Ghaznavids and expanded the Islamic empire further into Hindustan. The region around Jalalabad later became part of the [[Khalji dynasty|Khalji]] territory, followed by that of the [[Timurids]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hewitt |first1=Cooper |title=Afghanistan {{!}} Countries {{!}} Collection of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/countries/23424739/ |website=collection.cooperhewitt.org |access-date=26 January 2021 |archive-date=20 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420015105/https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/countries/23424739/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Modern===
It is said that the original name of Jalalabad was '''Adinapur or Nagar(a)hara'''.<ref>Gazetteer of the Peshawar District 1897–98 Page 55</ref> Jalalabad was named in the last decade of the sixteenth century in honour of Mughal ruler [[Jalal-uddin Mohammad Akbar]], the grandson of the founder of the [[Mughal Empire]]: [[Babur]]. Babur had chosen the site for this city which was built by his grandson in 1560.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Adamec|first1=Ludwig W.|title=Historical Dictionaries of Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East : Historical Dictionary of Afghanistan|date=2011|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=9780810878150|page=264}}</ref>
[[File:ننګرهار.jpg|thumb| Driving in Jalalabad]]
It remained part of the Mughal Empire until around 1738 when [[Nader Shah]] and his [[Afsharid dynasty|Afsharid forces]] defeated the Mughals. Nader Shah's forces were accompanied by the young [[Ahmad Shah Durrani]] and his 4,000-strong Afghan army from southern Afghanistan. In 1747, he founded the [[Durrani Empire]] (Afghan Empire) after re-conquering the area. The Afghan army has long used the city while going back and forth during their military campaigns into the [[South Asia|Indian-subcontinent]].

In 1834, [[Dost Mohammad Khan]] subjugated Jalalabad in his [[Dost Mohammad's Campaign to Jalalabad (1834)|campaign to Jalalabad]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Noelle |first=Christine |title=State and Tribe in Nineteenth Century Afghanistan The Reign of Amir Dost Muhammad Khan (1826-1863)|publisher=Psychology Press |year=1997 |isbn=9781138982871 |pages=15 |language=English}}</ref>

The British-Indian forces invaded Jalalabad in 1838, during the [[First Anglo-Afghan War]]. In the 1842 [[Battle of Jellalabad]], [[Wazir Akbar Khan|Akbar Khan]] besieged the [[British troops]] on their way to Jalalabad. In 1878, during the [[Second Anglo-Afghan War]], the British again invaded and set up camps in Jalalabad but withdrew two years later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Jalalabad|title=Jalālābād {{!}} Afghanistan|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2019-02-18|archive-date=2019-03-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323001158/https://www.britannica.com/place/Jalalabad|url-status=live}}</ref>

Jalalabad was [[Siege of Jalalabad (1928–1929)|besieged by rebel tribes]] in November 1928, marking the start of the [[Afghan Civil War (1928–1929)|Afghan Civil War of 1928-1929]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Ali |first=Mohammed |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.104149 |title=Progressive Afghanistan |date=1933 |publisher=Punjab Educational Electric Press |pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.104149/page/n33 15]-20}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |url=https://pahar.in/pahar/Books%20and%20Articles/Afghanistan/1932%20Summary%20of%20Events--Afghanistan%20August%201919%20to%20June%201932%20(secret)%20s.pdf |title=Summary of Events--Afghanistan. August 1919 to June 1932 |publisher=General Staff, India |year=1932 |chapter=Appendix. The Rebellion in Afghanistan. 1928-1929}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

Jalalabad is considered one of the most important cities of the [[Pashtun culture]]. Seraj-ul-Emarat, the residence of Amir [[Habibullah Khan|Habibullah]] and King [[Amanullah Khan|Amanullah]] was destroyed in 1929 when [[Habibullah Kalakani]] rose to power; the other sanctuaries however, retain vestiges of the past. The [[mausoleum]] of both rulers is enclosed by a garden facing Seraj-ul-Emart. The [[Sulemankhils]], a Pashtun family famous for their [[scientific research]], is from Jalalabad. Other celebrated Pashtun families originate from the villages near Jalalabad too.

In the 1960s and 1970s, construction started on a new [[planned city]] called Reg-e Shamshad Khan.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://medium.com/@sultanghani/afghanistan-through-a-lifetime-with-hashmat-ghani-part-2-7e0d72b4f278|title = Afghanistan, through a lifetime with Hashmat Ghani: Part 2|date = 6 July 2020|access-date = 2 September 2021|archive-date = 2 September 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210902162912/https://medium.com/@sultanghani/afghanistan-through-a-lifetime-with-hashmat-ghani-part-2-7e0d72b4f278|url-status = live}}</ref>

From 1978 to early 1990s, the city served as a strategic location for the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]]-backed [[Democratic Republic of Afghanistan]] and was temporarily renamed to Tarunshahr, in honour of Daoud Tarun.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1979STATE290144_e.html |title=(u) Current State of the Afghan Insurgency |date=1979-11-06 |publisher=Department of State |issue=1979STATE290144_e}}</ref> In March 1989, two [[Afghan mujahideen|Mujahideen]] rebel factions backed by Pakistan and the U.S. assaulted the city during the [[Civil war in Afghanistan (1989–1992)|Battle of Jalalabad]]. However [[Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan|government forces]] managed to drive them out within two months, which was a major setback to the resistance fighters and the ISI.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1989/07/08/afghanistan-rebels-lose-key-battle/074ff765-327d-4a60-b8ab-ed118a87ba50/|title=AFGHANISTAN REBELS LOSE KEY BATTLE|first=James|last=Rupert|date=8 July 1989|access-date=28 January 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|archive-date=8 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008154605/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1989/07/08/afghanistan-rebels-lose-key-battle/074ff765-327d-4a60-b8ab-ed118a87ba50/|url-status=live}}</ref> The city was heavily bombarded and hundreds of [[civilian]]s were killed. Many buildings, such as schools, hospitals and public buildings were destroyed during the 2-month battle.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/1991/afghanistan/3AFGHAN.htm|title=3Afghan|access-date=2020-06-04|archive-date=2021-08-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817172041/https://www.hrw.org/reports/1991/afghanistan/3AFGHAN.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Aerial view of Jalalabad in 2012.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Jalalabad in 2012]]
After the resignation of [[List of Presidents of Afghanistan|President]] [[Mohammad Najibullah|Najibullah]], Jalalabad quickly fell to mujahideen rebels of [[Yunus Khalis]] on April 19, 1992.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/04/19/Afghan-rebels-capture-Jalalabad/1540703656000/|title=Afghan rebels capture Jalalabad|website=UPI.com|access-date=28 January 2018|archive-date=28 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128021110/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/04/19/Afghan-rebels-capture-Jalalabad/1540703656000/|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 12, 1996, the [[Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001)|Taliban]] took control of the city until they were toppled by the US-backed Afghan forces in late 2001. [[Al-Qaeda]] had been building [[terrorist]] training camps in Jalalabad. The city returned to Afghan government control under [[Hamid Karzai]].

The [[economy of Afghanistan|economy]] of Jalalabad gradually increased in the last decade. Many of the city's population began joining the [[Afghan National Security Forces]]. Construction has also increased. The [[Jalalabad Airport]] has long served as a [[military base]] for the [[Resolute Support Mission|NATO forces]]. In 2011, the [[U.S. Embassy, Kabul|U.S. Embassy in Kabul]] announced that it plans to establish a [[Consul (representative)|consulate]] in Jalalabad.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2011/02/24/us-open-consulates-more-provinces |title=US to open consulates in more provinces |publisher=Pajhwok Afghan News |first=Bashir Ahmad |last=Naadem |date=February 24, 2011 |access-date=2011-08-15 |archive-date=2011-09-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110910224534/http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2011/02/24/us-open-consulates-more-provinces |url-status=dead }}</ref> In March 2007, US marines murdered 19 unarmed civilians and wounded 50 near Jalalabad, in an incident compared by the [[New York Times]] to the [[Haditha massacre]]. None of those responsible received any serious punishment.<ref>[[Fintan O'Toole]], [https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/05/26/our-hypocrisy-on-war-crimes-fintan-otoole/ 'Our Hypocrisy on War Crimes,'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821094729/https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/05/26/our-hypocrisy-on-war-crimes-fintan-otoole/ |date=2022-08-21 }} [[New York Review of Books]]   26 May 2022  pp. 10–13, p. 12.</ref> Many [[suicide attack]]s by [[jihadist]] [[insurgent]]s have taken place, including in [[Bombing of Indian consulate in Jalalabad|August 2013]], [[2015 Jalalabad suicide bombing|April 2015]], [[Save the Children Jalalabad attack|January 2018]], [[July 2018 Jalalabad suicide bombing|July 2018]], [[September 2018 Jalalabad suicide bombing|September 2018]], [[2019 Jalalabad suicide bombing|October 2019]] and [[Jalalabad prison attack|August 2020]]. The groups responsible for the attacks include the Taliban, [[Haqqani Network]], al-Qaeda, and [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province|ISIS]] (Daesh).

On August 15, 2021, the [[Taliban]] again took control of the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/taliban-seize-jalalabad-cut-off-afghan-capital-east-79462637|title = Taliban sweep into Afghan capital after government collapses|website = [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Taliban capture Afghanistan's Jalalabad, cut off Kabul from east |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/15/taliban-capture-afghanistans-jalalabad-cut-off-kabul-from-east |work=[[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]] |date=15 August 2021 |access-date=15 August 2021 |archive-date=16 August 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210816072746/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/15/taliban-capture-afghanistans-jalalabad-cut-off-kabul-from-east |url-status=live }}</ref> Its capture cut off the last highway from [[Kabul]] to the outside world, and the [[Fall of Kabul (2021)|city fell]] later the same day. Three days later on August 18, protestors took down the Afghan Taliban flag and replaced it with a tricolor flag of the previous [[Government of Afghanistan|Afghan government]].

On 31 August 2025 [[2025 Kunar earthquake|a magnitude 6.0 earthquake]] located 27 kilometers east-northeast of Jalalabad killed over 3,000 people and injured 4,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/31/world/asia/afghanistan-earthquake-jalalabad.html|title = Earthquake in Afghanistan Leaves at Least 500 Dead|website = [[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| url=https://geographic.org/earthquakes/real_time_details.php?id=us7000qsvj&lat=34.5191&lon=70.7342&t=%2027%20km%20ENE%20of%20Jal%C4%81l%C4%81b%C4%81d,%20Afghanistan&dt=2025-08-31%2019:17:34%20UTC |title=Map of the earthquake 27 km ENE of Jalālābād, Afghanistan,  2025-08-31 19:17:34 UTC|website = Global Earthquake Epicenters, Geographic.org}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{Further|Demographics of Afghanistan}}
The city population is estimated to be 280,685 in year 2021.<ref name="nsia"/> It has six districts and a total land area of {{convert|12,796|hectare}}. The total number of dwellings in this city is 39,586.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|title=The State of Afghan Cities report 2015|url=http://unhabitat.org/books/soac2015_volume2/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031111658/http://unhabitat.org/books/soac2015_volume2/|archive-date=2015-10-31|access-date=2015-10-21|ref=UN-Habitat}}</ref>

Nearly all residents of Jalalabad are [[Muslim]], followers of [[Sunni Islam]]. Jalalabad is also a center of the country's [[Sikh]]s, although the community has dwindled in the city (and nationwide) since the wars began.<ref>{{Cite news|title='When Are You Going Back?' Afghanistan's Sikhs, Strangers In Their Own Land|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-sikh-minority/26539541.html|access-date=2020-12-03|website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty|language=en|last1=Najibullah|first1=Farangis|archive-date=2020-12-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202224903/https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-sikh-minority/26539541.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kumar|first=Ruchi|title=The decline of Afghanistan's Hindu and Sikh communities|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2017/1/1/the-decline-of-afghanistans-hindu-and-sikh-communities|access-date=2020-12-03|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en|archive-date=2021-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304034538/https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2017/1/1/the-decline-of-afghanistans-hindu-and-sikh-communities|url-status=live}}</ref> Similarly it is also has a [[Hindu]] minority.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bearak|first=Barry|date=2001-05-23|title=Taliban Propose an Identity Label for the 'Protection' of Hindus (Published 2001)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/23/world/taliban-propose-an-identity-label-for-the-protection-of-hindus.html|access-date=2020-12-03|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=2020-11-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122001447/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/23/world/taliban-propose-an-identity-label-for-the-protection-of-hindus.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Land use ===
Jalalabad is the regional hub in eastern Afghanistan, close to the border with Pakistan. Agriculture is the predominant land use at 44%, higher density of dwellings is found in Districts 1–5 and vacant plots are largely clustered in District 6. Districts 1–6 all have a grid network of roads.<ref name="auto1"/>

== Climate ==
[[File:Jalalabad - Spīn Ghar Range.JPG|thumb|View of the [[Spin Ghar]] range from the city of Jalalabad]]
[[File:Jalalabad, Afghanistan (5397994701).jpg|thumb|View towards the city from the [[Kabul River]] banks to the north]]
Jalalabad's climate is [[hot desert climate|hot desert]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: BWh), and it is one of the hottest localities in Afghanistan.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Afghanistan – Drainage|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Afghanistan|access-date=2020-12-03|website=Britannica.com|language=en|archive-date=2021-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111113403/https://www.britannica.com/place/Afghanistan|url-status=live}}</ref> The city's climate has close resemblance to that of [[Arizona]] in the [[United States]].<ref>Michel, p. 29</ref> It receives six to eight inches (152 to 203&nbsp;mm) of rainfall per annum which are limited to winter and the months of spring. Frosts are not common, and during the summer, the temperature can reach a maximum of 120&nbsp;°F (49&nbsp;°C).<ref name="Michel">Michel, p. 30</ref>

The north and southwestern parts of the city which has lower elevation are welcoming places to winds from the north and west cooling the parts in summer months. Jalalabad has the highest relative humidity in summer compared to other Afghan cities. However the moderate temperatures of winter has led to various people down the history establishing their settlements in the city.<ref name="Michel"/> Because of its warm temperature relative to most of Afghanistan, Jalalabad (alongside [[Peshawar]]) was often the "[[winter capital]]" of various Afghan rulers of the past centuries,<ref name="WrightC">{{Cite web|last=Wright|first=Colin|title=Jellalabad, the bastion where General Elphinstone and others were buried during the seige [sic] 1841–42.|url=http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/j/019pho000000487u00082000.html|access-date=2020-12-03|website=www.bl.uk|archive-date=2009-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011051037/http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/j/019pho000000487u00082000.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Latifi|first=Ali M.|title=Afghanistan halts independence festivities after wedding massacre|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2019/8/19/afghanistan-halts-independence-festivities-after-wedding-massacre|access-date=2020-12-03|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en|archive-date=2023-05-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511152113/https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2019/8/19/afghanistan-halts-independence-festivities-after-wedding-massacre|url-status=live}}</ref> while rich people would relocate to villas in Jalalabad to avoid the freezing temperatures in [[Kabul]].<ref>http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=144825 {{Dead link|date=January 2022}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Jalalabad
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 25.0
|Feb record high C = 28.8
|Mar record high C = 34.5
|Apr record high C = 40.5
|May record high C = 45.4
|Jun record high C = 47.5
|Jul record high C = 44.7
|Aug record high C = 42.4
|Sep record high C = 41.2
|Oct record high C = 38.2
|Nov record high C = 32.4
|Dec record high C = 25.4
|Jan high C = 15.9
|Feb high C = 17.9
|Mar high C = 22.5
|Apr high C = 28.3
|May high C = 34.7
|Jun high C = 40.4
|Jul high C = 39.3
|Aug high C = 38.0
|Sep high C = 35.2
|Oct high C = 30.5
|Nov high C = 23.3
|Dec high C = 17.5
|Jan mean C = 8.5
|Feb mean C = 10.9
|Mar mean C = 16.3
|Apr mean C = 21.9
|May mean C = 27.7
|Jun mean C = 32.7
|Jul mean C = 32.8
|Aug mean C = 31.9
|Sep mean C = 28.1
|Oct mean C = 22.2
|Nov mean C = 14.9
|Dec mean C = 9.5
|Jan low C = 2.9
|Feb low C = 5.6
|Mar low C = 10.5
|Apr low C = 15.3
|May low C = 19.8
|Jun low C = 24.7
|Jul low C = 26.7
|Aug low C = 26.2
|Sep low C = 21.4
|Oct low C = 14.4
|Nov low C = 6.9
|Dec low C = 3.5
|Jan record low C = −14.1
|Feb record low C = -9.5
|Mar record low C = -1.0
|Apr record low C = 6.1
|May record low C = 10.6
|Jun record low C = 13.5
|Jul record low C = 19.0
|Aug record low C = 17.5
|Sep record low C = 11.0
|Oct record low C = 2.7
|Nov record low C = −4.5
|Dec record low C = −5.5
|Jan precipitation mm = 18.1
|Feb precipitation mm = 24.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 39.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 36.4
|May precipitation mm = 16.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 1.4
|Jul precipitation mm = 6.9
|Aug precipitation mm = 7.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 8.3
|Oct precipitation mm = 3.2
|Nov precipitation mm = 8.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 12.1
|Jan sun = 180.9
|Feb sun = 182.7
|Mar sun = 207.1
|Apr sun = 227.8
|May sun = 304.8
|Jun sun = 339.6
|Jul sun = 325.9
|Aug sun = 299.7
|Sep sun = 293.6
|Oct sun = 277.6
|Nov sun = 231.0
|Dec sun = 185.6
|Jan rain days = 4
|Feb rain days = 5
|Mar rain days = 8
|Apr rain days = 8
|May rain days = 4
|Jun rain days = 1
|Jul rain days = 1
|Aug rain days = 1
|Sep rain days = 1
|Oct rain days = 1
|Nov rain days = 2
|Dec rain days = 3
|Jan humidity = 61
|Feb humidity = 60
|Mar humidity = 62
|Apr humidity = 59
|May humidity = 47
|Jun humidity = 40
|Jul humidity = 52
|Aug humidity = 58
|Sep humidity = 56
|Oct humidity = 55
|Nov humidity = 58
|Dec humidity = 63
|source 1 = NOAA (1964–1983) <ref name= NOAA>{{cite web
  |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-II/AH/40954.TXT
  |title = Jalal Abad Climate Normals 1964–1983
  |publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
  |access-date = December 25, 2012
  |archive-date = May 8, 2024
  |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240508114804/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-II/AH/40954.TXT
  |url-status = live
}}</ref>
|date=February 2013}}

==Flora and fauna==
Jalalabad is home to a large number of fruit. Various types of citrus fruits like [[orange (fruit)|orange]], [[tangerine]], [[grapefruit]], [[lemon]], [[lime (fruit)|lime]] grow in gardens as well as in orchards.<ref name="Michel"/> The orange trees yield a crop only once in three years. The ''narindj'' variety of orange is the most common one which has yellow skin and its taste is a combination of orange and grapefruit. The grapefruits grown here have a diameter of eight or nine inches. Per year 1800 tonnes of pomegranates, 334 tonnes of grapes, and 7750 tonnes of mulberries are produced in Jalalabad.<ref>Michel, p.32</ref> The fruits are either sold in local markets or transported to [[Kabul]] markets from where they are exported. The second most common crop is local ''vatani'' variety of sugarcane. It contains 15% sugar by weight.<ref>Michel, p.33</ref> Jalalabad also has the largest [[date palm|date farm]] in Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://pajhwok.com/2021/09/09/nangarhar-to-produce-15-tonnes-of-dates-this-year/ |title=Nangarhar to produce 15 tonnes of dates this year |work=Pajhwok Afghan News |date=September 9, 2021 |access-date=2022-08-26 |archive-date=2021-09-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910194539/https://pajhwok.com/2021/09/09/nangarhar-to-produce-15-tonnes-of-dates-this-year/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Transportation ==
{{Further|Transport in Afghanistan}}
[[File:Jalalabad street with rickshaws.jpg|thumb|[[Auto rickshaw]]s in Jalalabad]]
The [[Jalalabad Airport]] (also known as Nangarhar Airport) is located roughly {{convert|3|mi}} southeast from the city's center. It is a [[domestic airport]] for civilian use.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://tolonews.com/business-178539 |title=Civilian Flights Resume at Nangarhar Airport |work=TOLOnews |date=June 18, 2022 |access-date=2022-08-26 |archive-date=2022-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920095113/https://tolonews.com/business-178539 |url-status=live }}</ref> It serves the population of Nangarhar and neighboring provinces.

There are proposals for the establishment of [[Rail transport in Afghanistan|Afghanistan's rail network]] linking Jalalabad with [[Pakistan Railways]], allowing for increased trade of goods, people and commerce between the two countries.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2013/01/03/work-jalalabad-railways-station-launched |title=Work on Jalalabad railways station launched |publisher=Pajhwok Afghan News |date=3 January 2013 |access-date=2013-01-04 |archive-date=2018-12-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215201808/https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2013/01/03/work-jalalabad-railways-station-launched |url-status=live }}</ref>

Jalalabad is connected by main roads with the Afghan capital of Kabul, the city of Peshawar in [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]], Pakistan, and several nearby Afghan cities and towns. All trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan passes through this city. The highway between Jalalabad and Kabul was resurfaced in 2006, reducing the transit time between these two important cities. This highway is considered to be one of the most dangerous in the world because of the large number of accidents.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/world/asia/08road.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220103/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/world/asia/08road.html |archive-date=2022-01-03 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=A Highway in Afghanistan Presents Scenes of Beauty and Death|first=Dexter|last=Filkins|newspaper=The New York Times|date=7 February 2010|access-date=28 January 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> An improvement in the road networks between Jalalabad and Peshawar has also been proposed,{{by whom|date=August 2014}} with the intention of widening the existing road and improving security to attract more tourists and allow for safer passage of goods between to the two countries.

== General places of interest ==
{{Further|Tourism in Afghanistan}}
The [[Ghazi Amanullah International Cricket Stadium]] is next to the [[Ghazi Amanullah Khan Town]], which is about {{convert|15|mi}} of driving distance southeast of Jalalabad. The people of Jalalabad go there not only for sports purposes but also for enjoyment and relaxation. This is especially during holidays or when they receive visiting family or friends from another place. It is also a popular hangout for those with cars.  

[[File:Mausoleum of Amanullah Khan-cropped.jpg|thumb|Mausoleum of King [[Amanullah Khan]] inside the Siraj-ul-Emarat Park]]
[[File:جلا اباد Jalalabad city- sherendel Medical Plaza.jpg|thumb|A shopping area next to Siraj-ul-Emarat Park]]

*'''Hotels'''
** Spinghar Hotel
** Sultan Hotel and Restaurant
** White House Hotel
* '''Mosques'''
** Akhunzada Mosque
** Spin Mosque
* '''Parks'''
** Abdul Haq Park (located next to the city's main stadiums)
** Amir Habibullah Khan Park (across the street from Siraj-ul-Emarat Park)
** Aryan Park (located in the southwestern section of the city)
** Farm Hada Park (located in southern part of the city)
** Siraj-ul-Emarat Park (located next to House of Governor)
* '''Mausoleums'''
** Mausoleum of King [[Amanullah Khan]] (Siraj-ul-Emarat Park)
** Mausoleum of [[Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan]]
** Mausoleum of [[Mohammad Gul Khan Momand]]
* '''Hospitals'''
** Al Shifa Modern Hospital
** Bakhtar Hospital
** Baidara Hospital
** Hassanzai Curative Hospital
** Jalalabad Regional Hospital
** Jalalabad Medical Complex
** Khair-un-Nisa Medical Complex
** Spingha Momand Hospital
** Malalai Curative Hospital
** Nangarhar Teaching Hospital
** Naseri Hospital
** Rokhan Hospital
* '''Universities'''
** [[Alfalah University]]
** [[Ariana University]]
** [[Khurasan University]]
** [[Nangarhar University]]
** [[Spinghar Higher Education Centre]]
* '''Shopping centers'''
** Hejaz Super Market
** Jada Super Store
** Nakamura Super Store

==Sports==
{{Further|Sport in Afghanistan}}
[[File:Jalalabad stadium in June 2011.jpg|thumb|Nangarhar Football Stadium (during construction in 2011)]]
The province is represented in domestic cricket competitions by the Nangarhar province cricket team. National team member Hamid Hasan was born in the province and he currently represents Afghanistan in international cricket. The [[Ghazi Amanullah International Cricket Stadium]] is the first international standard cricket stadium in Afghanistan. It is located in the [[Ghazi Amanullah Town]], a modern suburb on the southeastern fringe of Jalalabad in Nangarhar Province. Construction on the stadium began in March 2010 when the foundation stone was laid by Minister of Finance and president of the [[Afghanistan Cricket Board]], Omar Zakhilwal. The project, which was developed on 30 acres of land donated by the developer constructing the Ghazi Amanullah Town, cost up the first phase of construction $1.8 million. The first phase, which took one year to complete, included the completion of the stadium itself. The remainder of the phases will see the construction of a pavilion, accommodation for players and administrative buildings. The stadium, which has a capacity of 14,000, was completed before the national team and under-19 team left for Canada and the Under-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Ireland respectively. The two sides inaugurated the stadium in a [[Twenty20]] match. It is hoped that the stadium will be able to attract international teams to play Afghanistan, who currently have One Day International status until at least 2013.

;Professional sports teams from Jalalabad
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! scope="col" | Club
! scope="col" | League
! scope="col" | Sport
! scope="col" | Venue
! scope="col" | Established
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;" | [[Nangarhar Leopards]]
|[[Afghanistan Premier League]]
|[[Cricket]]
|[[Sharjah Cricket Stadium]]
|2018
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;" | [[Speenghar Tigers]]
| [[Shpageeza Cricket League]]
| [[Cricket]]
| [[Ghazi Amanullah International Cricket Stadium]]
| 2013
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;" | [[De Spin Ghar Bazan F.C.]]
| [[Afghan Premier League]]
| [[Association football|Football]]
| Nangarhar Football Stadium
| 2012
|}

;Stadiums
** [[Ghazi Amanullah International Cricket Stadium]] (around {{convert|15|mi}} southeast from Jalalabad, next to Ghazi Amanullah Town)
** Nangarhar Football Stadium (next to Abdul Haq Park and House of Governor)
** Behsud Cricket Stadium (next to Abdul Haq Park and House of Governor)

==International sister cities==
*[[San Diego, California]], [[United States]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegojalalabadsistercities.org/|title=San Diego Jalalabad Sister Cities|website=San Diego Jalalabad Sister Cities|access-date=28 January 2018|archive-date=22 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122235156/http://www.sandiegojalalabadsistercities.org/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Notable people ==
* [[Rashid Khan (cricketer)|Rashid Khan]], Afghan cricketer
* [[Abdul Baqi Haqqani]], Afghan Minister of Higher Education
* [[Hazrat Ali (Afghan politician)|Hazrat Ali]], Afghan politician and Former military commander for the [[Northern Alliance]]
* [[Haji Abdul Qadeer]], Former [[Vice President of Afghanistan]] and prominent [[Northern Alliance]] leader
* [[Abdul Haq (Afghan leader)|Abdul Haq]], Afghan Mujahideen leader
* [[Din Mohammad]], Governor of [[Nangarhar Province|Nangarhar]] and [[Kabul Province|Kabul]] Provinces
* [[Zahir Qadeer]], Former Afghan politician and Member of the [[National Assembly (Afghanistan)|National Assembly]]
* [[Hamidullah Enayat Seraj]], Former Afghan civil servant
* [[Latif Nangarhari]], Afghan poet and singer
* [[Ezatullah Zawab]], Journalist for [[Pajhwok Afghan News]]
* Baz Mohammad Abid, Afghan poet
* [[Amanullah Khan]], Emir and King of Afghanistan (1919–1929), buried in the city
* [[Abdul Ghaffar Khan]], buried in the city
* [[Mohammad Gul Khan Momand]], buried in the city
* [[Tetsu Nakamura]], lived and died in the city

== See also ==
* [[List of cities in Afghanistan]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
===Published in the 19th century===
* {{Citation |publisher=B. Quaritch |location=London |author=Edward Balfour |author-link=Edward Balfour |title=Cyclopaedia of India |edition=3rd |date=1885 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/cyclopaediaofind02balfuoft#page/408/mode/2up |chapter=Jalalabad}}

===Published in the 20th century===
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Jalalabad |volume=15 |page=130 |short=1}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
{{EB1911 poster|Jalalabad}}
* {{YouTube|RVbx2X_LkLs|Jalal Abad}}

{{AfghanistanLargestCities}}
{{Nangarhar Province}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Jalalabad| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Nangarhar Province]]
[[Category:Populated places along the Silk Road]]
[[Category:Buddhism in Afghanistan]]
[[Category:History of Nangarhar Province]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1570]]
[[Category:Provincial capitals in Afghanistan]]