Afghanistan

Kabul International Airport (IATA: KBL) in Kabul serves as the country’s primary gateway. By the end of 2008, the old, barely functional, repaired terminal was being utilized for domestic flights, while the new terminal was running in Japan and displaying international flights.

Ariana Afghan Airlines, has a modest fleet of 14 airbuses and Boeings (plus Antonovs). They have daily flights from Dubai and frequent flights from Frankfurt, Islamabad, Delhi, Istanbul, Baku, and Tehran. Ariana is especially poor at scheduling; flights may be canceled or postponed at any time.

A better alternative is the independent operator Kam Air, which operates twice daily flights from Dubai, twice weekly flights from Delhi, and weekly flights from Almaty, Istanbul, and Mashad. If you prefer the country, several flights from Dubai to Kabul stop at Herat. Pamir Airways  is a new private airline that operates daily flights between Kabul and Dubai (USD330 admission, USD210 departure), with occasional stops in Herat. Safi Air also operates flights between Dubai and Kabul. You are the only airline in Afghanistan that has been certified for security. Safi is the only Afghan airline that is permitted to travel to Europe and offers direct flights to Frankfurt. The service is excellent, and the aircraft are sturdy. The personnel is kind and courteous.

Air Arabia used to fly four times a week from Sharjah, however they have since ceased operations. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flies to Kabul four times per week from Islamabad and once per week from Peshawar. Another option is to go via Iran, perhaps through Tehran or Mashad. Iran Air travels from Tehran to Kabul on a daily basis. Air India operates six flights each week from Delhi to Kabul. Turkish Airlines began flights between Kabul and Istanbul in 2011.

Flights to other cities, such as Mazar-e Sharif, may be possible if you can connect with the PACTEC charter business. There are just a few seats available.

The well-known Khyber Pass is now restricted to everyone except Afghans and Pakistanis. Some blogs and travel forums say that hiding in a car and bribing border officers works, however this is very dangerous and may result in prison time. The Taliban menace near the pass, on the other hand, is known to murder and abduct Westerners and other foreigners. We highly advise you not to cross the Khyber Pass.

The busiest border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan is located inside the Afghan Customs and Border Control Station in Torkham, Nangarhar Province.

There are many routes to Afghanistan:

As of the middle of 2009, none of these routes could be deemed safe.

Buses operate between Jalalabad and Peshawar, Pakistan, on a regular basis. In addition, between Heart and Mashhad, Iran. Expect delays as the Iranian border police thoroughly inspect the Afghan buses for potential narcotics.

The aircraft travel between Kabul and the capitals on a regular basis (Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-e Sharif). The flights are carried out on a daily basis if the weather permits. The majority of planes depart the city before 11:00 a.m. After sunset, civil aircraft are not permitted to fly.

A developing public transportation network connects the country’s cities. Some routes are served by buses, while Toyota cars have a near-monopoly on transportation in minivans (HiAce) and taxis (Corolla).

Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif are now linked by a new road. The road is in excellent shape and is deemed “relatively” safe. The trip will take at least 5 hours. The route passes through the renowned Salang Mountains as well as the Hindu Kush Mountains. If you hire a reasonably new Toyota Corolla, an address from Mazar Station in Kabul to any place in Mazar-i-Sharif would cost you about $ 100 (if negotiated by a local).

Much of Afghanistan lacks taximeters. The cabs are bright yellow and easily identified. Before you seat down, you must usually reach an arrangement with the driver. In perfect circumstances, you may see 2 to 3 kilometers of road for USD1 (AFN50).

Jeeps and Land Cruisers may be rented, as well as drivers that know a little English (do not keep your high hopes that you might encounter one of them). There are tour operators in Kabul that can offer a vehicle and a guide; these individuals may be hired from Kabul’s international airport. In the field, gas stations are rare, and gasoline is costly.

Paved roads are the rarity rather than the norm, and even these may be in disrepair. Outside, the capitals await the arrival of dirt roads (which turn to mud in the rain or melted snow). Military convoys and jingle trucks dominate the route between Kabul and Bagram.

WARNING: Keep a safe distance from military convoys. They move at a leisurely pace and are highly armed. Overtaking these cars is not permitted. They perceive too near driving or rapid coming from behind as a hostile activity and OPEN FIRE.

DO NOT TRY TO TAKE PHOTOS OF THESE VEHICLES OR USE YOUR PHONE WHEN THEY ARE NEAR. You may imagine you have an explosive detonator, and you will feel frightened, and they will very certainly start fire on you.

• Kabul – Kabul is the capital of Afghanistan in the east.
• Bamiyan – The Buddhas’ Remains Once regarded as one of the world’s marvels, the Taliban demolished these stoneworks in an infamous act of cultural vandalism.
• Ghazni – between Kabul and Kandahar in the southeast
• Herat – located in the west, it is the entrance to Iran and has a significant Persian influence as well as many important historical monuments.
• Jalalabad – Jalalabad is located in eastern Afghanistan, between Kabul and the Khyber Pass.
• Kandahar – Kandahar, a southern city affected by the Taliban, is now unsafe.
• Kunduz – Kunduz is a significant city in the northeast and a border crossing point with Tajikistan.
• Mazar-e Sharif – Mazar-e Sharif Is home to the magnificent Blue Mosque and a popular starting point for journeys to Uzbekistan.

• Balkh: Balkh was formerly one of the region’s biggest cities and the capital of ancient Bactria. Although most of it is in ruins, the surviving architectural and cultural features have remained largely unchanged since the reign of Alexander the Great.
• Band-e Amir National Park: 5 stunning blue lakes in a remote and picturesque location near Bamiyan.
• The Khyber Pass, a historic path of conquest and commerce, serves as the entrance to India.
• The Minaret of Jam is off the main route, but some believe it’s worth the trek – feasible as a roundtrip from Herat or while traveling the Central Route from Herat to Kabul.
• Panjshir Valley is a lovely hiking region that leads to the renowned Anjuman Pass.
• The Salang Pass is a steep mountain pass that also serves as a tunnel linking Kabul to the north.
• Shamali Plain, north of Kabul. Shamali, which meaning “wind” or “north,” is a lush plain that provides a significant quantity of food for central Afghanistan. It runs north from Kabul to Jabal os Saraj, passing via Charikar in the province of Parwan. The Taliban have devastated irrigation systems, which are just now starting to recover.
• Gardez is a lovely city located in a mountain valley southeast of Kabul.

While the ongoing conflict has almost entirely halted tourism in Afghanistan, the lack of tourists has nothing to do with the country’s viewpoint. This is a region of magical attractions that recounts ancient tales and provides magnificent Islamic architecture, medieval neighborhoods, and surprisingly lovely nature.

Several locations are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Of course, the most renowned were the ancient Buddhist Bamiyan statues. In a cultural crime that horrified the whole world, the Taliban destroyed the majority of the 6th century sculptures. What remains now in the Bamiyan valley is the quiet and dignified image of the empty niches. The surviving parts of the world’s once biggest sculptures of their type continue to provide interesting insight into the history of this location. The Band-e Amir National Park, with its six linked lakes, is probably the most stunning natural destination. At an elevation of 2900 meters, the blue water in this protected natural region looks almost surreal on the slopes of the sandhills that surround it.

Excellent mosques may be found across the country, with especially big examples in Mazar-i-Sharif and Herat, which is quickly expanding. The Jam Minaret, north of Herat, is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Afghan bread is classified into three types:

In Afghanistan, pasta is known as “Khameerbob” and is often served in the shape of meatballs. These regional foods are very popular. Because the process of making the dough for meatballs takes a long time, it is seldom offered at big gatherings such as weddings, but it is served on special occasions at home:

Afghanistan’s currency is, of course, the Afghanis (AFN). As of December 2009, one US dollar equaled about AFN48.50, whereas one dollar equaled AFN70.

Haggling is part of the tradition.

Carpets are the most well-known product in Afghanistan. There are “afghan” carpets, but there are also at least two additional carpet weaving traditions. The Baluch tribes in the south and west, as well as the Turkmens in the north, make excellent carpets; both groups are also found in adjacent nations. The three kinds of designs often use geometric patterns, using red as the backdrop color and repeating components known as “guls” to form the design. Generally, they are not as beautifully woven as carpets from nearby towns in Iran. Many of them, however, are quite lovely, and their costs (assuming successful bargaining) are much cheaper than those of the finest Iranian carpets.

Small abnormalities are prevalent in nomadic woven rugs, such as numerous Baluchi carpets and several Turkmen. Because the loom is disassembled for transportation and rebuilt in the new warehouse, the carpet may not be precisely rectangular. Vegetable dyes, which may vary from lot to lot, are often employed, resulting in color variance (Arbrasch) that can be worsened as the carpet degrades. Most of these anomalies come under the category of “this is not a mistake, it is a feature” for collectors; they are anticipated and accepted. In fact, a good blast may substantially enhance a carpet’s worth.

Turkmen patterns are often imitated; it is usual to find “Bokhara” carpets from India or Pakistan, China makes some, and Afghan carpet designs show a significant Turkmen influence. Original Turkoman carpets, on the other hand, are considerably more valuable to collectors. In Western nations, good baluchi carpets are also extremely valued. Afghan carpets and low quality Baluchi and Turkoman carpets are not treasures; most visitors find the greatest shopping here. Experts may pay greater rates for first-rate carpets, but novices who attempt to do so face significant difficulty.

Kilims are hairless, flat textiles. These are not quite as durable as carpets and will not last as long on the floor as a decent carpet. However, some are very lovely and, in general, less expensive than carpets. Handbags constructed of carpets or embroidered with kilim fabric are very popular.

The Afghan lambskin coat is another famous product and memento. Wool is used on the inside for warmth, while leather is used on the exterior to keep wind, rain, and snow out. They often have lovely needlework. However, there are two measures to take. One example is that manufacturers employ embroidery to conceal leather flaws; high-quality jackets have little or no embroidery. The other is that it is well known that Australian customs officials burn these jackets upon arrival in order to protect their huge sheep population from illnesses (particularly anthrax) that might be transmitted by poorly tanned Afghan goods.

There are also various metalworks, such as pots, vases, and highly adorned plates, as well as some really beautiful knives.

Weapons are extremely prevalent in Afghanistan, and some of them are particularly interesting to historians and collectors.

These are a particularly vexing memory. Importing a weapon may be difficult, if not impossible, in certain locations. It’s probably not worth it to go by land and traverse many countries before returning home. There’s a chance that if you fire an Afghan weapon, it’ll explode in your face.

Afghanistan’s official languages are Pashto and Dari, an Afghan variant of Persian; many Afghans speak both. According to the most recent CIA country profile, Dari is spoken by 50% of the population, particularly in Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e Sharif, and Central Afghanistan. Pashto is spoken by 35% of the population, mostly in the south and east, and it is also spoken in neighboring Pakistan. The remainder are Turkic languages, mostly Uzbek and Turkmen, with 30 minor languages like as Balochi. There are some individuals in Kabul who speak a little English, although it is not widely spoken.

In Afghanistan, the English language has reached its pinnacle. The proportion of people who can communicate in English has reached previously unheard-of levels. President Karazai and his cabinet speak English well. Previously, English was taught in the seventh grade, but it is currently taught in the fourth grade. English street signs are becoming more prevalent throughout the nation. English is Afghanistan’s second foreign language.

Fixed line service (digital in Kabul) and cell phones are available in most cities. SIM cards and international calls to Europe / EE. UU. are available. They usually cost less than 0.5 USD each minute. Outside of major cities, your only choice is a satellite phone.

An Afghanistan phone number should be in the format +93 30 539-0605, where “93” is the country code for Afghanistan, the following two digits are the area code, and the last seven numbers are the “local” portion of the nation. Subscriber who can be reached via speed dial from inside this area code. Outside of this area code, you must call “0” before the geographic area code (20, 30, 40, 50, or 60 for landlines) (but still within Afghanistan).

No matter where they originate from, mobile numbers in Afghanistan should always be marked with all digits (10 digits, including a “0” in front of the “70n” in Afghanistan). The 70n is a mobile prefix, not a “prefix” in the traditional sense, and the third number (the n portion) denotes the original allocated mobile network. +93 700-202-496 is an example of a cellphone number.

The Afghan culture dates back more than two millennia, at least to the period of the Achaemenid Empire around 500 BC. It is primarily a nomadic and tribal culture, with various areas of the country having their unique customs that represent the nation’s multicultural and multilingual character. Pashtun culture people live in Pashtunwali, an ancient way of life that has persisted to this day, in the southern and eastern area. The remainder of the nation is Persian and Turkish in culture. Pashtunwali was embraced by certain non-Pashtuns living near Pashtuns in a process known as Pashtunization (or Afghanization), while other Pashtuns were persecuted. Millions of Afghans who have lived in Pakistan and Iran over the last 30 years have been affected by the cultures of their neighbors.

Afghans are proud of their culture, country, origins, religion, and independence. They are regarded with worry and contempt, like other climbers, for their high regard for personal dignity, devotion to their tribe, and readiness to resolve conflicts. Because tribal warfare and civic instability have always been one of their primary professions, their individualism has made it difficult for outsiders to subjugate them. Tony Heathcote thinks that the tribal system is the greatest method to manage huge groups of people in a geographically challenging region and in a culture with a materialistic lifestyle. It is believed that there are 60 tribes, mostly Pashtun, and that there are approximately 2-3 million Afghan nomads.

The country has a complicated past that has been preserved in its current cultures or in the shape of many languages and monuments. Many of the historic sites, however, were destroyed during the previous conflicts. The Taliban, who saw idol worshippers as a threat, demolished the two renowned Bamiyan Buddhas. Nonetheless, archaeologists continue to discover Buddhist relics in different areas of the nation, some of which date back to the second century. This suggests that Buddhism was widely practiced in Afghanistan. Herat, Kandahar, Ghazni, Mazar-i-Sharif, and Zarang are other historical cities. Hari Rivervalley’s Jam Minaret is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Cape Protected Area in Kandahar, a city established by Alexander and the first capital of Afghanistan, has a purported cloak worn by the Prophet Muhammad of Islam. The Citadel of Alexander in the western city of Herat has recently been restored and is a famous tourist destination. The shrine of Hazrat Ali, which many think is where Ali was buried, is located in the country’s north. The Afghan Ministry of Information and Culture is restoring 42 ancient sites in Ghazni until 2013, when the province will be designated as the capital of Islamic civilisation. Kabul is home to the National Museum of Afghanistan.

Despite poor literacy, traditional Persian and Pashtun poetry is significant in Afghan culture. Poetry has traditionally been one of the most significant educational foundations of the area, especially at the cultural level. Rumi, Rabi’a Balkhi, Sanai, Jami, Khushal Khan Khattak, Rahman Baba, Khalilullah Khalili, and Parween Pazhwak are among the notable poets.

No area of Afghanistan can be regarded immune to violence, and there is always the possibility of direct or random hostility anywhere in the nation at any moment. The remnants of the previous Taliban government and the Al Qaeda terrorist network, as well as other organizations hostile to the International Security Assistance Force’s (ISAF) military operations, are still active. The Afghan government can only maintain order and guarantee the safety of Afghan people and international tourists to a limited extent. Military conflict, land mines, robbers, violent rivalries between political and ethnic groups, and the potential of insurgent assaults, particularly attacks on cars or other improvised explosive devices, make travel in Afghanistan in all regions dangerous (IEDs). The security situation in the nation is turbulent and unpredictable, with certain regions seeing high levels of violence, particularly in the southeast.

Afghanistan’s southern and eastern regions are turbulent and plain hazardous. The non-essential trip is highly advised against. Banditry is a long-standing practice in several regions of the nation, including the far north. The Taliban militants have stated that kidnapping foreigners is one of their primary objectives. 23 Koreans were kidnapped from a public bus in Ghazni province, south of Kabul, in July 2007. Two of them were murdered, and the others were freed a few weeks later after contentious talks with the Korean government.

The northern portion of the nation is regarded safer than the south and east; nevertheless, events can occur on occasion, and a seemingly safe area may quickly become dangerous. Several German journalists were murdered in northern Afghanistan, most likely by criminals or anti-Westerners. In August 2010, ten physicians (eight foreigners and two interpreters) were assassinated.

Landmines and other UXOs (failures) are still a concern across the nation, so stick to well-trodden routes, avoid red-and-white stones, and don’t touch or move suspicious-looking items. According to the Afghan Red Crescent, landmine and UXO incidents hurt or kill 600 to 700 people each year. This is a significant decrease from over 1,600 in 2002. While going across Afghanistan, you will most likely come across demining groups at work.

You should also keep an eye out for insects and snakes, since the hilly terrain is home to numerous dangerous animals such as scorpions, spiders, centipedes, wasps, and so on.

Altitude danger is a major concern in certain locations.

Homosexual acts among consenting adults are prohibited under Afghan law by a slew of harsh penalties, including death. LGBT tourists should exercise extreme caution.

If, after considering the dangers, you decide to go to Afghanistan, you may minimize your risk by hiring an armed escort or traveling with an experienced tour guide. You should also call your embassy and understand what you can and cannot do in an emergency.

Afghanistan has a number of health issues, so it’s a good idea to talk to a travel doctor about vaccinations and health hazards before going. In many areas of the nation, respiratory illnesses such as TB and foodborne infections are prevalent, and malaria is a threat.

Afghanistan is one of the world’s most twisted nations, and you should expect to absorb and breathe it throughout the majority of your stay, even in the major cities. Diesel engine dirt may make things difficult as well.

Flies are famously unpleasant, owing to a lack of hygienic services. Winter provides respite, but come April, they are restored to their full capacity.

Food should be scrutinized with a cautious eye since sanitary regulations are often broken. Food that is hot and freshly cooked is generally safer. Unless you have your own cleaning system, bottled water is also suggested.

Bring any prescription medications from home and don’t expect to be able to get them on the spot. Because analgesics and antidiarrheal medicines are difficult to come by outside of major cities, you may want to consider using them.

Squats are the norm, as they are in much of Asia, with toilet paper being optional and occasionally limited. Western bathrooms may be found in new buildings and certain individual residences.