Ahmad Shah Durrani

Ahmad Shah Durrani (1722–1772) is considered the founding father of Afghanistan and the founder of the Durrani Empire, one of the largest Muslim empires in history. Born Ahmad Khan Abdali in Herat, he rose to power as a military commander under Nader Shah of Persia. After Nader Shah's death, Ahmad Shah united the Pashtun tribes and conquered vast territories including present-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and parts of India. He was crowned Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1747 and established Kabul as his capital. His empire stretched from eastern Iran to northern India and from the Amu Darya to the Arabian Sea. He is celebrated as a national hero in Afghanistan and is considered the 'Father of the Nation.'