Asadabad (Pashto; Dari: ), historically called Chighansarai (Pashto; Dari: چغسرای), Mullah Nazar Mohammad Attiq is the current mayor of the city.

Asadabad is home to the Sayed Jamaluddin Afghani University, which is located in the southwestern part of the city. Asadabad also has a number of bazaars, business centers, public parks, banks, hotels, restaurants, mosques, hospitals, universities, and places to play sports or just relax. In 2015 there were 6,350 dwelling units in the city.

In the past, the area near Asadabad was referred to as "Chighan Sarai", with various spellings (Chaga Serai, Chagasaray, Chigur Serai, Chughansuraee).

In the late 19th century/early 20th century the capital of the region was moved from Pushoot/Pasat/Pasad to the present Asadabad location. Over the 20th century, various technical improvements were made such as roads, a shopping area, schools, a bridge, a gas station, etc.

Soviet Afghan war

In the opening times of the Soviet Afghan war (1979–1988), Kunar province saw some of the first rebellions against the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA). As punishment, PDPA troops with Soviet advisors massacred the males of the nearby village of Kerala, burying their bodies in a field near Pech River. Several Russian websites, like http://asadabad.ru , contain discussions and photos regarding this era.

In January 1979, an estimated 5,000 members of the Afghan mujahideen attempted to capture the town, which was the headquarters of the Afghan Army's 9th Division. In 1985, in the Battle of Maravar Pass the mujahideen killed 31 Soviet troops in an ambush.

The mujahideen later took control of the town from the Soviet forces. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's Hezbi Islami had heavy influence in the area. Osama bin Laden also spent time in Asadabad.

On 20 April 1991, the marketplace of Asadabad was hit by two Scud missiles, which killed 300 and wounded 500 inhabitants. Though the exact toll is unknown, these attacks resulted in heavy civilian casualties. The explosions destroyed the headquarters of Jamil al-Rahman and killed a number of his followers. Asadabad was captured by the Taliban on 14 August 2021, as part of the wider 2021 Taliban offensive. On April 28, 2026, Pakistan bombed a university in Asadabad killing 7 civilians and injuring 75 civilians.

Geography

Asadabad is a city in eastern Afghanistan. It is located within a valley at the confluence of the Pech River and Kunar River, between two mountain ridgelines running along both sides of the valley from northeast to southwest. It is in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush mountains about northwest of the Durand Line (Afghanistan-Pakistan border) and northeast of Jalalabad in Nangarhar Province.

Asadabad is administratively divided into 7 city districts (nahias), covering a land area of or ().

Climate

Asadabad has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) under the Köppen climate classification system. The average annual temperature in Asadabad is . About of precipitation falls annually.

Economy

The economy of Asadabad is mainly based on agriculture, trade, and transport. About 10 to 15 percent of the valley surrounding the city is used for agriculture by using an ancient land development technique called terracing. However, flooding and erosion have been an issue in the past. The primary crops are wheat, rice, sugarcane and vegetables. Multiple international agencies have assisted with these issues and other issues throughout the province.

As of January 2009, growth around Asadabad has been substantial. Examples of development are:

  • Kunar province's main marketplace now has more than 600 stores, up from 100 just three years ago.
  • Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) have constructed 16 schools, 20 medical clinics, and 8 district centers.
  • PRTs completed construction on 13 roads and 11 bridges.
  • Agribusiness Developmental Teams (ADTs) have several evolving projects and over 10 demonstration farms.
  • Jalalabad-Asmar and Pech River roads have cut travel times in half and connected Asadabad centers of commerce with Jalalabad.

Sport

Cricket, football, futsal and volleyball are the most popular sports in Afghanistan. The Kunar Cricket Ground opened in 2018 and has played host to first-class cricket matches in the Ahmad Shah Abdali 4-day Tournament and the Mirwais Nika Provincial 3-Day Tournament. The ground is most notable for a match between Kabul Region and Boost Region in the 2018 Ahmad Shah Abdali 4-day Tournament, when Kabul batsman Shafiqullah scored the fastest double century in first-class cricket. He scored 200 not out from 89 balls, and also scored the most sixes in a first-class match, with 24.

Education

There are a number of public and private schools in Asadabad. There are also a number of universities. The Sayed Jamaluddin Afghani University is one of the largest ones.

Notable residents and incidents

  • U.S. Navy Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during Operation Red Wings, which took place in the mountainous terrain near Asadabad from June to July 2005.
  • US Operations: "Big East Wind" and Operation Mountain Lion
  • A man named Abdul Wali was tortured to death by CIA contractor David Passaro at the nearby US military base in 2003. Wali had brought himself in for questioning regarding the rocket attacks on the base, at the suggestion of the provincial governor, who told him he wouldn't be harmed. Passaro was later convicted of assault after 82nd Airborne Division troops testified against him. He received 8+ years in prison.

Sister cities

  • Union City, California, United States

<gallery>

File:Hans Klemm with Fazlullah Wahidi in 2011.jpg|U.S. Ambassador Hans G. Klemm, Coordinating Director of Rule of Law and Law Enforcement, and Kunar Governor Fazlullah Wahidi walking through Asadabad in May 2011

File:The prosecuting attorney making a statement during a public criminal trial at the courthouse in Asadabad.jpg|Inside a courtroom in Asadabad

File:US soldiers patrolling the streets of Asadabad-5.jpg|Members of Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT-Kunar) walk in the streets of Asadabad.

File:Defense.gov News Photo 090819-A-3355S-008.jpg|U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Cruz of Cortland, New York, conducts a patrol with Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) through the streets of Asadabad in August 2009.

</gallery>

Notes

References

  • Asadabad.ru , an entire Russian website devoted to the veterans of the 334th from the Soviet Afghan war
  • Vlasenko Map i-42-12, a highly detailed old Russian map of the area