Following the brief and chaotic rule of Habibullah Kalakani, the Musahiban dynasty (beginning with Nadir Shah) restored order.
Kabul’s modern era began when Timur Shah Durrani (son of Ahmad Shah Durrani, the founder of the Durrani Empire) moved the capital from Kandahar to Kabul in 1775.
: While much of the Saduza’i-era architecture has been lost to time and war, the Tomb of Timur Shah remains a prominent landmark in the old city today. Kabul: A History 1773-1948
: The city survived multiple British occupations during the First (1839–1842) and Second (1878–1880) Anglo-Afghan Wars. These conflicts often left the city’s infrastructure in ruins, including the destruction of the Great Bazaar in 1842.
: The first steps toward industrialization began with the establishment of the Mashin Khana (workshop/factory) in Kabul, which produced both armaments and everyday goods. 4. Reform, Reaction, and Independence (1919–1929) Following the brief and chaotic rule of Habibullah
: Amanullah sought to build a "New Kabul" south of the old city, headlined by the Darul Aman Palace , intended as a modern parliament building.
This report outlines the historical evolution of Kabul between 1773 and 1948, a period defined by its transformation from a provincial Mughal resort into the bustling, modern capital of the Afghan state. The information is primarily drawn from May Schinasi’s definitive work, Kabul: A History 1773–1948 , which documents this era through the city’s architecture and urban development. : The city survived multiple British occupations during
: The city's demographic began a slow shift from a predominantly Qizilbash Shia identity toward a Sunni Pashtun-led administration, a transition that defined the power structures of the modern Afghan state. 3. The Iron Amir and Early Modernization (1880–1919)
