Why was Kabul’s location important to ancient trade routes?

Kabul’s strategic location was vital to ancient trade routes because it served as a crucial entrepôt that enabled control over key passages connecting diverse regions.12

The city functioned as a central hub for several major routes:
* North: Access through the Hindu Kush mountains.
* South: Connections through the towns of Ghaznī and Gardēz.
* East: Routes leading through the Khyber Pass toward Pakistan and India.1

Additionally, the Kabul River valley provided a natural corridor for travel between Afghanistan and Pakistan, a path famously utilized by Alexander the Great during his invasion of India in the 4th century BCE. By anchoring these intersecting paths, Kabul became a significant point of commercial and strategic influence for centuries.312