NURESTAN

also spelled Nuristan, formerly (until 1895) Kafiristan historic region in eastern Afghanistan, about 5,000 square miles (13,000 square km) in area and comprising the upper valleys of the Alingar, Pich, and Landay Sind rivers and the intervening mountain ranges. Its northern boundary is the main range of the Hindu Kush, its eastern the Pakistani border, its southeastern the Konar (Kunar) Valley, and its western the mountain ranges above the Panjsher and Nejrab valleys. The region is mountainous, rainy, and forested. Nurestan's regional unity and distinction from the rest of Afghanistan spring from its isolation and the common cultural characteristics shared by its people, who strongly cherish independence, have a clan organization with village governments, and are now settled agriculturists (growing cereals and fruits and raising livestock) living in the valleys. They speak various Kafir languages. The region did not become part of Afghanistan until the 1890s, when 'Abd ar-Rahman, the Afghan emir, conquered it and forcibly converted the inhabitants to Islam. He subsequently changed its name from Kafiristan (Land of the Kafirs, i.e., infidels) to Nurestan (Land of the Enlightened). The forests of Nurestan provide most of Afghanistan's timber.