Similarly, Kayan Valley has been referred to as the "Second Eagle's Nest" due to its role as a center for Ismaili political and military activities during the 1980s and 1990s.

The valley was known for its functioning schools, universities, cultural centers, factories, and libraries, making it a unique and thriving region in Afghanistan during a period of widespread conflict.

The motive behind the Taliban's move to destroy Kayan's Eagle statue was described to be historically religious issues between the Shia Ismailis and the Hanafi Sunnis.

Following the Taliban's takeover of Kayan Valley in 1998, dozens of Ismaili members were massacred and tens of thousand of them fled for their lives to the neighboring Pakistan and Iran countries.

The majority of the valley's residents belong to the Sadat and Hazara tribes, and the community is notable for its rich cultural heritage within the Ismaili sect of Islam.