Charles,
I suspect the blade is European and the text(as far as how it is etched into the blade) and the decoration are good indicators. It reminds me some of the quality of work sometimes found on Ethiopian blades and if you sucessfully export to N Africa, why not other parts of the world. Question is, was it made for a European living/working in NW India/Afghanistan or an imported blade mounted up for strictly local use. I believe this might classify as one of those cross cultural pieces you are so fond of.
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