Istalif

Istālif (Persian: استالف) is a historic village in Kabul Province, Afghanistan, located in the Koh Daman area north of Kabul overlooking the Shomali Plain. The settlement is known for its long tradition of pottery production and for its orchards and vineyards.

The name Istalif may derive, through metathesis, from the Greek staphilè (“bunch of grapes”), reflecting possible Hellenistic influence in the region. Another proposed origin is from the Parāčī term estuf (“cow-parsnip”), a plant once typical at lower elevations in the Hindu Kush.