Description & Facts: Kabul has been the capital of Afghanistan since about 1776. The city has been badly damaged during the various 1979???2001 wars, particularly its western parts. Kabul is currently going through a period of renovation and development, with some modern style tower blocks and a handful of glitzy shopping malls appearing over the last few years. However, roads and other infrastructure remain in poor condition, and electricity is spotty even in the downtown areas.