Aybak (Aibak or Haibak; previously Eukratidia (Ancient Greek: Εὐκρατιδία);[1] historically known as Samangan)[2] is a provincial town, medieval caravan stop, and the headquarters of the Samangan Province in the district of the same name in the northern part of Afghanistan.

[4] Historicity of the town is dated to the Kushan Dynasty reign during the 4th and 5th centuries when it was a famous Buddhist centre.

Witness to this period is seen now in the form of ruins at a place called the Takht-e-Rostam, which is located 3 km from the town on a hilltop.

[3] On October 23, 2003, during the war, rebels fired rockets at a pickup truck ferrying passengers to Haibak, which killed ten people.

[citation needed] In 2021, the Taliban launched a nationwide military offensive coinciding with the withdrawal of United States troops.

Aybak was captured on 9 August 2021, becoming the sixth provincial capital to fall to the Taliban after a weekend offensive.

[6] Samangan has one of the well-known archaeological sites in Afghanistan, in the Takth i Rostam and the adjacent Buddhist caves and stupas on top of a hill, north of Hindu Kush passes.

The monastery of the major Buddhist tradition of Theravada Buddhism, has five chambers, two are sanctuaries and one is a domed ceiling with an intricate lotus leaf beautification.

During this time, his horse was stolen under a plan engineered by the local King, who was impressed by the valour of Rustam.

The local king, however, assuaged Rostam and invited him to his palace as his honoured guest and entertains him lavishly.

With the approval of the king and the people of Samangan, the local ruler's beautiful daughter Tamina married Rustam.

And he shall be strong as Keriman, of stature like unto Sam the son of Neriman, and of grace of speech like unto Zal, my father.

Kaykavous, the king of Iran, delayed giving Rostam the healing potion (Noush Daru) to save Sohrab as he feared losing his power to the alliance of the father and the son.

[11][12][13] The town is located on the banks of the Khulm River valley formed below the junction of Hindu Kush Mountains and the Central Asian Steppe.

The valley has very fertile agricultural land and is characterised by rolling green fields and hills at the sides.

The weekly market, an ancient traditional activity of the town is popular and held every Thursday when craftsmen specializing in musical instruments, such as the dutar (two-stringed lute) and the Zirbhagali (a drum made of pottery), exhibit their products for sale.

The poem is dated 1937, hence Bunting cannot have actually visited the town; although he did later travel in the Middle East, whether he ever went to Afghanistan is unknown but unlikely.