A city of northwest afghanistan on the hari rud east of kabul . Located at a strategic position on an ancient trade route , it was ruled by numerous conquerors , primarily the persians . Herat became part of afghanistan in 1881 . Population , 140323 .
The likes of koenig & bauer ( which makes printing presses ) , leitz ( wood-processing machines ) and rud ( industrial chains ) may not be household names , but they are world-beaters .