Afghanistan

Afghanistan has made significant progress since the Taliban was deposed in 2001, but still faces daunting challenges, including fighting an insurgency, preventing the return of terrorist organizations, recovering from three decades of civil strife, and rebuilding a shattered infrastructure. The U.S. Coalition and the Resolute Support Mission work in partnership with Afghan security forces to combat violent, extremist groups that continue to terrorize civilian populations and challenge all levels of government authority. These groups continue to engage in a fallback strategy of perpetrating violence against civilian targets, including assassinations, suicide bombings, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Internal problems following years of war and an ongoing insurgency continue to compromise efforts by the Afghan government to improve the country’s governance and stability. The government faces challenges in trying to develop a more effective police force, a fairer and more accessible legal system, and provincial and local institutions that work in partnership with traditional leaders to meet the needs of the population. Although Afghan security forces took over responsibility for security nationwide in June 2013, the United States and the international community continue to work closely with the Afghan government to bolster its capacity at all levels. Read the Department of State’s Fact Sheet on Afghanistan for additional information.

Transportation

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: While in Afghanistan, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Afghanistan is provided for general reference only and may not be accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

All drivers face the potential danger of encountering land mines that may have been planted on or near roadways. An estimated five to seven million land mines and large quantities of unexploded ordnance exist throughout the countryside and alongside roads, posing a danger to travelers. Robbery and crime, particularly kidnappings, are also prevalent on highways outside Kabul.

The transportation system in Afghanistan is marginal, though the international community continues to pave or harden existing roads. Many urban streets have large potholes and are not well lit. Rural roads are frequently not paved. There have also been recent reports of the Ring Road, i.e., the Kabul-Kandahar-Herat-Mazar highway, experiencing critical failures due to cave-ins and erosion from inadequate maintenance. Vehicles are often poorly maintained and overloaded, and traffic laws are often not enforced. Roadside assistance is non-existent. Vehicular traffic is chaotic and must contend with numerous pedestrians, bicyclists, and animals.

In 2011, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior convened a committee for the purpose of bringing better security, traffic movements, and functionality to the streets of Kabul. This committee has implemented several restrictions, including outlawing tinted windows of vehicles operating in Kabul. Owners of vehicles with tinted windows can be arrested if they fail to eliminate tinting or replace such windows.

With congested roads, non-standard traffic rules, and abundant pedestrian traffic, vehicle accidents are a serious concern and can escalate into violent confrontations when involving foreigners. All drivers are urged to drive defensively, drive only in the daylight, and pay close attention to their surroundings. Please see the Department of State’s additional information on Road Safety.

Aviation Safety and Oversight: As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Afghanistan, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the government of Afghanistan’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.

Safety and Security

The latest Travel Warning for Afghanistan warns U.S. citizens against travel to Afghanistan and states clearly that the security situation is extremely unstable and the threat to all U.S. citizens remains critical. No province in Afghanistan should be considered immune from violence, and the potential exists throughout the country for hostile acts, either targeted or random, against U.S. and other foreign nationals at any time. Insurgent elements, including the Haqqani Network, Hizb-e Islami, the Taliban, and Daesh, remain violently opposed to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. There is an ongoing risk of kidnapping and hostage taking exists throughout Afghanistan. Information regarding demonstrations in Afghanistan can be found on the U.S. Embassy Kabul website.

Terrorist Attacks: Militant attacks throughout the country continue to occur; insurgents attacked the Afghan Ministry of Justice in May 2015 and the Afghan Parliament in June 2015. Many attacks specifically target U.S. and other foreign citizens and entities.  On May 13, Taliban attackers killed 14 civilians, including one U.S. citizen, at the Park Palace guest house in Kabul,. On May 17, three members of the European Union’s police mission (Eupol) were killed in a suicide attack near Kabul International Airport, and on August 22, three U.S. citizen contractors were killed by a vehicle-borne explosive device in Kabul.  In June 2015, a Dutch aid worker was kidnapped in Kabul by insurgents and held for 81 days, and on August 17 a German citizen working for the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ) was kidnapped for ransom. On October 11, three Afghan civilians were wounded during a vehicle-borne explosive device attack against a Coalition convoy in Kabul. Additionally, on September 28 Taliban forces overran the city of Kunduz. The capture marked the first time since 2001 that the Taliban had taken control of a major city in Afghanistan and demonstrates that the insurgent threat exists beyond the capital. On 8-9 December, the Taliban conducted a prolonged assault on perimeter of the Kandahar airport, killing scores of civilians.  On December 11, Taliban attackers detonated a car bomb near the Spanish Embassy, killing two Spanish security officials and four Afghan police officers.

Demonstrations and Riots: Riots, sometimes violent, have occurred in response to various political and social tensions. As a recent example, on November 11, 2015, guards opened fire on demonstrators who attempted to scale the walls of the Afghan Ministry of Defense while protesting the beheading of seven ethnic Hazaras in Zabul Province. U.S. citizens should avoid rallies and demonstrations; even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence with little warning. Crime, including violent crime, remains a significant problem. U.S. citizens could be targeted or placed at risk by unpredictable events. There is also a real danger from the presence of millions of unexploded land mines and other ordnance. Private U.S. citizens should not travel to Afghanistan unless they have made arrangements in advance to address security concerns, including contracting for medical evacuation, personnel recovery, and insurance services.

Explosives: Kabul remains at high risk for militant attacks, including vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks, direct and indirect fire, and suicide bombings. The same risks also exist in other major cities in Afghanistan, including but not limited to Kandahar, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kunduz, Lashkar Gah, Maimana, Ghazni, and Jalalabad.

Property: The absence of property ownership records and differing laws and competing legal regimes from the numerous political changes that have gripped Afghanistan in the past three decades have left the issue of property rights in disarray. Afghan-Americans returning to Afghanistan to recover property have become involved in complicated real estate disputes and have faced threats of retaliatory action, including kidnapping and assassinations. Similarly, U.S. citizens involved in business disputes -- a common legal problem in Afghanistan -- have reported that adversaries in the disputes have threatened detention, arrest, and imprisonment, and at times have successfully carried out the threats using extralegal means. Property and/or personnel may be seized and used as collateral pending the resolution of such disputes. U.S. citizens who find themselves in such situations should not assume that either local law enforcement or the U.S. Embassy will be able to assist them in resolving such disputes. 

Communications: Large parts of Afghanistan are extremely isolated. The few roads that exist are mostly in poor condition. Land line telephone communications remain extremely limited. Cell phone service, while significantly improved from a decade ago, still suffers from irregular and weak signals, sometimes due to insurgents attacking cell phone towers or coercing operators into turning off the towers, or from intentional jamming by Coalition and Afghan forces. U.S. citizens traveling in or outside of Kabul who find themselves in trouble may be unable to call for assistance and should always carry backup communication, such as satellite phones or handheld radios. In addition, a vehicle/personnel tracking device should be utilized if substantial ground movement to remote areas is planned.

CRIME: Criminal organizations, such as weapons and narcotics traffickers, undermine peace and stability throughout the country. These groups exploit weak laws and law enforcement in Afghanistan and do not hesitate to use violence to achieve their aims. Afghanistan is considered a medium to high threat environment for crime. Common petty or street crime exists in cities, particularly when valuables and cash are left in plain view. Burglaries and home invasions are rare, but violence against expatriates has risen in recent years in large part due to increased insurgent activity, civil unrest, and current economic conditions.

Many Afghans are under or unemployed and have moved to urban areas in search of work. Transient populations and internally displaced peoples throughout Afghanistan may directly contribute to crime and lawlessness. Any U.S. citizen who enters Afghanistan should remain vigilant and take similar precautions to those they use in any urban center in the United States.

Travelers should not rely on significant assistance from local or national authorities in Afghanistan in resolving legal disputes. This is especially true of U.S.-based companies and their employees that are seeking local protection from extralegal efforts to resolve contract disputes. Property and/or personnel may be seized and used as collateral pending the resolution of such disputes.

Do not buy counterfeit or pirated goods, even if they are widely available. The participation of U.S. citizens in the unauthorized reproduction and sale of copyrighted works is still in violation of U.S. law outside of the United States and may also be in violation of local laws.

See the Department of State and the FBI pages for information on scams.

VICTIMS OF CRIME:

The local equivalent to the U.S. “911” emergency line is “119” in Afghanistan. Please note that local operators do not speak English and that emergency services are restricted to the major cities. At times, the number may not be answered and response times may be much longer than in the United States. U.S. citizens who find themselves in a truly exigent emergency in Afghanistan can reach the U.S. Embassy at any time by calling 0700-10-8001.

Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime.

See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas.

• If you are a victim of a crime, we can: 
• help you find appropriate medical care
• assist you in reporting a crime to the police
• contact relatives or friends with your written consent
• explain the local criminal justice process in general terms
• provide a list of local attorneys
• provide our information on victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.
• provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical
• support in cases of destitution
• help you find accommodation and arrange flights home
• replace a stolen or lost passport

Domestic Violence:  U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the Embassy for assistance.

For further information:

• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. 
• Call us in Washington at 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the State Department's travel website for Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts.
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• See traveling safely abroad for useful travel tips.