Afghanistan

Central areas see insurgent attacks rather than sustained combat, with ISKP striking soft targets in Kabul. Taliban security operations can themselves trigger armed exchanges in urban settings.

The east is the most kinetic zone, with regular ISKP activity and Pakistani cross-border airstrikes. Movement near the frontier carries a high risk of being caught in armed action.

Northern provinces experience recurrent armed clashes as ISKP cells contest Taliban control. Incidents are frequent but localised.

The south is the most stable militarily, though clashes tied to narcotics networks occur in the west. Sudden flare-ups remain possible anywhere.

Kabul is a focal point for mass-casualty attacks on mosques, ministries and public events. Foreigners are high-value targets, and the scarcity of foreign visitors makes them easy to identify and track.

Nangarhar and Kunar see the highest concentration of ISKP attacks. The threat to any foreign presence here is extreme.

Mazar-e-Sharif and other northern cities have seen a sustained run of ISKP incidents against Taliban and civilian targets in 2026.

The south and west see fewer mass-casualty attacks but remain exposed to bombings and, in the west, violence linked to trafficking networks.

In Kabul, both criminal abduction for ransom and Taliban arbitrary detention are live risks. Detention can be prolonged, conditions are severe, and there is no consular access for many nationalities.

The east carries an extreme risk of militant kidnapping and hostage-taking, with foreigners used as leverage. Independent movement is inadvisable.

Northern provinces present a high risk of both criminal and militant kidnapping, particularly on inter-city routes and at fake checkpoints.

Kidnapping risk persists across the south and west, elevated in the west by narcotics networks. Isolated routes increase exposure to opportunistic abduction.

Urban crime includes theft, robbery and extortion, alongside the risk of detention by security elements. Street crime rises after dark.

Lawlessness is pronounced near the border, with armed groups and criminal actors operating with limited state control.

Highway robbery and fake checkpoints are common on northern inter-city routes, where the Taliban’s traffic police lack the resources to patrol extensively.

The west is dominated by narcotics trafficking and related armed clashes. Criminal networks operate openly, and travellers have little legal recourse.

Movement in and around Kabul is subject to constant checkpoints and surveillance. Kabul International Airport operates but with layered security screening and the risk of sudden closure.

Road travel in the east is exceptionally hazardous due to insurgent activity, cross-border strikes and ambush risk. It should be avoided.

Northern inter-city routes carry a high risk from fake checkpoints, robbery and mines. Journeys require vetted transport and advance route planning.

Southern and western routes are subject to checkpoints, permit requirements and, in the west, trafficking-related violence and frequent border closures with Iran.

Kabul has the best-resourced facilities in the country, but they remain below international standards and are overstretched. English-speaking care is limited.

Medical provision in the east is minimal and further degraded by conflict. Evacuation from this zone is especially difficult.

Northern facilities are basic and periodically disrupted by attacks and shortages.

Care in the south and west is limited, and remote areas may have no functioning services. Earthquakes periodically overwhelm what capacity exists.

Enforcement is highly visible in Kabul through the morality police and surveillance. Strict dress and behaviour codes apply to all, including foreigners.

Conservative norms are strongly enforced in the east. Any perceived transgression carries serious risk.

Northern communities are conservative and closely watched by Taliban authorities. Discretion is essential.

The southern heartland is the most conservative region. Full compliance with local customs and dress is expected at all times.

Urban centres are broadly cleared, but surrounding rural districts and former frontlines retain contamination.

Eastern border districts are heavily contaminated and see continued fighting that adds fresh ordnance.

Northern rural areas and former conflict zones carry significant residual hazards.

Southern and western rural areas, particularly former battlegrounds and agricultural land, remain high-risk red zones. Stay strictly on paved surfaces.

Kabul hosts the Taliban administration and a small number of regional diplomatic missions, but Western consular assistance is absent.

Governance in the east is security-led and shaped by counter-ISKP operations and border tensions.

Northern administration is Taliban-controlled but contested by ISKP activity.

The south is the Taliban’s core administrative base. The west is influenced by cross-border dynamics with Iran.

Surveillance is most intense in Kabul, combining CCTV, human intelligence and device checks.

Connectivity in the east is unstable and monitoring is heavy near the border.

Northern checkpoints frequently involve device scrutiny for prohibited content.

Southern and western checkpoints also inspect devices, and connectivity is intermittent in remote areas.