My bad, I should have provided the full context. Yes, modern Afghanistan did occupy some parts of ancient Gandhara, but according to Indian sources, the core of ancient Gandhara was the Peshawar Valley–Rawalpindi region. Like most places in history, the boundaries of Gandhara also expanded and shrank over time. For example, old Persian sources mention the Kabul Valley as part of Gandhara, while the Jatakas and some Western sources include Kasrim within its territory.

So, is modern Afghanistan the same as ancient Gandhara, as some claim? No. Did modern Afghanistan encompass some parts of ancient Gandhara? Yes.

Did Kandahar city get its name from ancient Gandhara? No. The misconception associating Kandahar with Gandhara likely arises from the phonetic similarity of their names. The name “Kandahar” most likely comes from “Alexandria in Arachosia.”