Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan, situated in the eastern half of the country within the Kabul Province. Located at an altitude of 1,791 meters (5,876 feet) above sea level, it is one of the highest capital cities in the world. The city sits high in a narrow valley within the Hindu Kush mountain range and is bounded by the Kabul River.
As Afghanistan's primate city, Kabul serves as the nation's primary political, cultural, and economic center. It is administratively divided into five zones and 22 municipal districts, with an estimated population of approximately 5,333,284 people. The native population primarily speaks Persian, locally known as Dari, specifically using regional dialects with a distinctive Kabuli accent.
The center of the city contains its oldest neighborhoods, which include the areas of Bala Hisar, Deh Afghanan, and Murad Khani. Rapid urbanization has significantly shaped the modern layout of the city while it maintains its historical status as the country's core hub.