Five centuries ago, Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur, in his memoirs, named 14 important districts around Kabul, including Nangarhar, Alishing, Alingar, Mandraw, Kunar, Norgal, Nijrab, Panjshir, Ghorband, Kohdaman, Logar, Ghazni, Zarmat, Bermal, and Bangash.

Babur gives a detailed account of Kabulistan, describing the way of life, social and economic conditions, nature, architectural traditions, agriculture, livestock, orchards, music, and city planning. Some of Babur’s observations may raise reactions among modern scholars, but if we look past such issues and credit Babur’s memoirs, it is clear that until the writing of Baburnama and even afterward, no writer has spoken as comprehensively about the cities of Kabulistan as he did.

Babur’s beautiful description of the Drah-e-Staf (the valley of Stalf), calling it the “paradise on earth,” and other areas such as the Sanjid valley in Qarabagh, Laghman, and Nijrab, is so captivating and close to reality that it inspires one to imagine life in Kabulistan 500 years ago. While several poets have praised the beauty of Kabul, it can be confidently said that no one before or after Babur has provided such a comprehensive account of the beautiful locations of Kabulistan. He writes: “The areas close to Kabul have both warm and cold climates. In just one day, you can ride on a horse and reach a place that has never seen snow, and in just one more hour, you can reach another area where the mountains are always covered with snow.” Babur’s references here are to Paghman and Nangarhar. At that time, fruit was abundant in Kabul and its surrounding areas, such as grapes, mulberries, figs, dates, apricots, almonds, pistachios, four nuts, pomegranates, apples, peaches, melons, nectarines, plums, and Senjed. However, the fruit that particularly fascinated Babur was the “Jalghoza” (pine nut) from Nijrab, which, at that time, could only be found in that region.

It is worth quoting what Babur himself wrote about Nijrab. He states: “One other town is Nijrab, located to the northeast of Kabul in the mountains. Behind it, there are the lands of the Kafirs, and Kafiristan is like a corner. It is a place abundant with grapes and fruit. In the winter, many birds fly there. In the mountains, there is much pine nut (Jalghoza), oak, and juniper. The pine tree, oak, and Jalghoza trees do not grow beyond that point, and these trees are from India. The people of the mountains use Jalghoza wood to light their lamps, which burn like candles and have a very pleasant fragrance.”

No one can ignore the natural beauty of Nijrab. If we think of nature as a hand, the five valleys of Nijrab could be the five fingers of this beautiful hand. Babur frequently praised the natural beauty of Nijrab in his book, admiring its valleys, mountains, streams, and sea. He was always attentive to ensuring that whatever beauty was worthy of praise, it was noted in his writing. Babur not only spoke of the botanical world in Nijrab but also of its fascinating animal life. He mentioned an animal called the “flying fox” that could jump from branch to branch. After hearing about it from his soldiers, Babur was determined to see this creature for himself. He writes: “In the mountains of Nijrab, there is a creature known as the flying fox. It is an animal similar to the larger flying squirrels. Between its hands and legs, there is a membrane like that of a moth’s wings. It can jump from one tree to another, and I have seen it leap from one tree to another, spreading its wings like a bird. It lands gently, and it is harmless.”

From Babur’s memoirs, it is clear that the mountains of Nijrab were full of remarkable animals and birds. The presence of these creatures was one of the reasons powerful figures like Babur and other kings, including Amir Habibullah Khan, were drawn to Nijrab for hunting. Unfortunately, due to the negligence of the authorities, many of these remarkable animals and birds have disappeared. Even the famous leopard of Nijrab, which used to descend from the mountains to the villages during the winters and cause fear among the villagers, has either migrated from the mountains or been destroyed by those who fail to understand the importance of such animals in maintaining the natural beauty of the region.

In other images, Babur depicts the people of Nijrab, Drah-e-Noor, and Kafiristan as warriors and brave men who fought fiercely against foreign forces until their last breath. He sent one of his experienced generals to subdue the people of the “Ghin village” in Nijrab, but the general could not achieve a decisive victory. Babur speaks of the bravery of the people of “Ghin village” and their leader, “Hussain Khan Ghini,” who fought with the strength of a lion, not allowing his land to fall into the hands of Babur’s forces.

However, bravery and valor alone do not encompass all the virtues of a person. To be a good human, one must also display other qualities such as generosity, kindness, and coexistence. The people of Nijrab are known for their generosity, kindness, and humanity, and it is rare to find a foreigner who does not mention these admirable qualities of the people of Nijrab. This generosity and bravery were particularly evident in the history during the first and third Anglo-Afghan wars, as well as during the time when Amir Habibullah Khan Kalakani sought refuge in Nijrab after his conflict with Nader Shah.