Kabul (The Eagle Looks to the Right)

Kabul is the ancient capital of Afghanistan, belonging to various empires throughout human history. It served as the capital of the Kingdom of Afghanistan, the Republic of Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, the Islamic State of Afghanistan, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the Afghan Interim Administration, and finally the current Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

The city was the site of various attacks during the Soviet Invasion and the following Civil War. On September 27, 1996, the Taliban led by Mohammed Omar captured the city while Massoud's forces retreated to the northern provinces. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was established while Massoud and various ethnicities in the north formed the Northern Alliance.

Between the years 1996 to 2001, the Northern Alliance would wage a defensive war against the Taliban. The Taliban on the other hand gained 90% of Afghan territory while the Northern Alliance was pushed back to the northeast alongside the Vaksan corridor.

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, the U.S. and its allies invaded Afghanistan on September 29. Northern Alliance fighters with American support overran the Taliban in Kabul, reclaiming the capital on October 7, 2001. From then on, the Taliban continued to operate in the city of Kandahar, serving as the Islamic Emirate's de facto capital up until its capture by American forces.