The high valleys of the Hindu Kush north and east of Kabul and Lamghan, later called Kafiristan (now Nuristan), with Chitral and the Dard valleys of Gilgit and Chilas towards Kashmir, are held by non-Muslim mountain peoples who govern themselves valley by valley, keep their own gods and raid their Muslim neighbours.
Muslim writers of the period know them only as infidels of the mountains. The realm tag 'outside' marks them as beyond any state's rule; the evidence is thin.
Who holds it
- Title
- Valley communities and their chiefs
- Since
- not pinned
- Confidence
- low
Overlord
None. The Ghurids of Kabul and Bamiyan and the kings of Kashmir have no hold here.
What it holds
- Kafiristan (Nuristan)
- Chitral
- Gilgit, Chilas and the Dard valleys (low confidence)
How things stand that morning
Self-governing; no event recorded.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: No source of 1200 describes them; the outline follows the later extent of the non-Muslim valleys.
On the map: Approximate.
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.