FEYZABAD

also spelled Faizabad town, northeastern Afghanistan. It lies along the Kowkcheh River, at 4,000 feet (1,200 m) above sea level. Feyzabad was destroyed by Morad Beg of Qonduz in 1821 and its inhabitants removed to Qonduz, but, after Badakhshan was annexed by 'Abd ar-Rahman, ruler of Afghanistan (18801901), the town recovered some of its former importance. In 1955 it was leveled by an earthquake. After the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, Afghan guerrillas seized the town. After intermittent fighting, a Soviet military command was based in Feyzabad until the late 1980s. The town has rice and flour mills. Pop. (1988 est.) 10,700.