“Afghanistan was once a scientific and cultural capital of the planet. It was Persian territory at the time.”
At times, it was Persian territory. However, the Persian influence came much later - well after Persia and Afghanistan had been converted to Islam. For the vast majority of its ancient history, Afghanistan was Hindu and Buddhist.
In terms of influences, the ancient Hindus, Buddhists, and Greeks (Selucid dynasties) played the major role in shaping Afghan culture and civilization.
Afghanistan, cultural capital? Beats the heck out of me, I wasn’t there.