36°44′N 68°52′E / 36.733°N 68.867°E / 36.733; 68.867

Kunduz (قندوز) is the capital of the Kunduz Province of northern Afghanistan; the name has also sometimes been rendered as Kundûz, Qonduz, Qondûz, Konduz, Kondûz, Kondoz, or Qhunduz.

The city was anciently known as Drapsaka, and was a place of importance visited by Alexander the Great. Under the governance of Sher Khan Nasher, Kunduz became one of the wealthiest Afghan provinces in the early 20th century. This was mainly due to Nasher's founding of the Spinzar Cotton Company which continues to exist in post-war Afghanistan. Kunduz is located at 36.73°N, 68.86°E, at an elevation of 397 meters above sea level. In the 1979 census (most recent) Kunduz had a population of 53,251 people. It is now estimated to have risen to 95,000 (2002 official estimate).

Kunduz was the last major city held by the Taliban before its fall to US-backed Northern Alliance forces on the 25/26 November 2001. Before its fall, witnesses report seeing Pakistani aircraft airlift up to five thousand Taliban and Al-Qaeda troops from the city.[1][2][3]

• Welcome to Kunduz, Allauddin