AGP Executive Report

Air Links: Kabul-Islamabad flights are set to run daily from November 1, while Iran Air is due to resume Tehran-Kabul service on Friday, adding options for regional travellers. Border Crossing: Pul-e-Abrisham, linking Nimroz with Iran, has begun round-the-clock transit operations; officials say daily vehicle numbers have risen from about 400 to 800 and queues have eased. Road Access: Reconstruction of the Northern Salang road is expected to finish before winter, a key milestone for travel between Kabul and the north.

Iran Border Crossing: The Pul-e-Abrisham–Milak crossing between Nimroz and Iran has started round-the-clock transit operations. Officials say daily vehicle numbers have risen from about 400 to 800, easing waits for drivers and traders. Air Links: Daily Kabul–Islamabad flights are set to begin November 1, while Iran Air is due to resume Tehran–Kabul flights this week. Road Access: Work on the Northern Salang route is advancing, with contractors expecting their section to be finished within a month as authorities push to complete repairs before winter.

Air Links: Kabul–Islamabad flights are set to run daily from November 1, while Iran Air is due to resume Tehran–Kabul service on Friday, adding options for regional travel. Road Travel: Reconstruction on the Northern Salang route is expected to finish within a month, with officials aiming to complete wider highway work before winter; drivers say better roads are needed for safer journeys. Iran Transit: The Milak crossing in Nimroz is now operating around the clock. Officials say daily vehicle crossings have doubled to about 800, easing movement on a key route between Afghanistan and Iran. Rail Freight: A dedicated train has departed China’s Shandong province for Hairatan, with the trip expected to take about 20 days via Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. A viral video shared as footage of the new service is actually from 2024.

Road Access: Reconstruction on the Northern Salang route is advancing, with officials aiming to finish remaining work before winter. Drivers say faster progress would make journeys safer and easier. Road Safety: A vehicle overturned in Badakhshan, killing four people and injuring eight, underscoring the risks of travel on the country’s mountainous roads. Air Connections: Kam Air plans daily Kabul–Islamabad flights from November 1, up from four a week. Iran Air has also announced the resumption of Tehran–Kabul flights, adding another link for regional travelers.

Air Links: Kam Air plans to increase Kabul–Islamabad service to daily flights from November 1. Iran Air has also resumed Tehran–Kabul flights, adding options for regional travellers. Road Safety: A vehicle crash in Badakhshan killed four people and injured eight; a separate minibus crash in Faryab injured 24 passengers travelling to a wedding. Both incidents highlight the risks of road travel, especially on mountainous routes. Visitor Perspective: Indian traveller Vishal Chavan spent 22 days in Afghanistan and says the experience challenged his preconceptions, offering a personal glimpse of the country beyond its usual headlines.

Air Links: Kam Air plans to increase Kabul–Islamabad service to daily flights from November 1. Iran Air is also set to resume Tehran–Kabul flights, restoring another regional connection. On the Ground: Indian traveller Vishal Chavan’s account of a 22-day visit to Afghanistan offers a visitor’s perspective that challenges familiar assumptions about the country. Road Safety: A minibus crash in Faryab injured 24 people, including women and children; officials cited overloading, reckless driving and a congested road.

Air Links: Kam Air plans daily Kabul–Islamabad flights from November 1, up from four weekly, adding flexibility for travellers between the two capitals. Iran Air has also resumed Tehran–Kabul service, restoring another international connection. Travel Safety: A minibus crash in Faryab injured 24 passengers, including women and children; officials blamed overloading and reckless driving. Access and Borders: Authorities have barred public access to five recreational areas in Kandahar. Pakistan–Afghanistan border closures are also pushing some travellers onto informal routes; local sources reported two Afghan drivers killed on the Chaman–Spin Boldak route. Remain alert to changing access and crossing conditions.

Road Safety: A minibus carrying wedding guests veered off the road in Faryab, injuring 24 people, including women and children; some were critically hurt. Police cited overloading and reckless driving. Air Links: Iran Air is set to resume Tehran–Kabul flights, restoring a direct connection between the two cities. Access & Routes: Public access to five recreational areas in Kandahar has been banned. In the remote Wakhan Corridor, a new road reaches Afghanistan’s Chinese border, but China has kept the crossing closed.

Border Access: A 121-kilometre road through Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor has opened, but China’s border remains closed, limiting hopes for a new route for visitors and trade. Air Travel: Iran Air is set to resume Tehran–Kabul flights on Friday, restoring a direct link between the capitals. Local Access: Authorities have barred the public from five recreational areas in Kandahar, while residents in Panjshir report checkpoints and night-time travel restrictions.

Travel Access: Afghan nationals seeking to visit Sri Lanka must now apply for an ETA through a Sri Lankan sponsor, with documents submitted in person to the immigration head office rather than through the standard online portal. Air Links: Iran Air is set to resume Tehran–Kabul flights on Friday, restoring a direct connection between the two capitals. Kandahar Recreation: Authorities have barred public access to five recreational areas, restricting local outings and visitor options. Cultural Attractions: Photographer Daniel Malikyar’s new book showcases Kabul’s bird market and the people keeping Afghan traditions alive, offering travelers a portrait beyond the country’s famous landmarks.

Entry Rules: Afghan nationals seeking to visit Sri Lanka must now apply for an ETA through a Sri Lankan sponsor, with documents submitted in person to the immigration head office; they can no longer use the standard online portal. Air Links: Iran Air is set to resume Tehran–Kabul flights on Friday, restoring a direct connection between the capitals. Local Access: Authorities have barred public access to five recreational areas in Kandahar, limiting access to local leisure spots and potential visitor destinations. Cultural Heritage: Afghan-American photographer Daniel Malikyar’s new book turns its lens on Kabul’s people and traditions, including the historic bird market, presenting a view of the country beyond its monuments.

Culture and Discovery: Photographer Daniel Malikyar’s debut book offers an intimate look at Afghanistan, from Kabul’s historic bird market to the people keeping local traditions alive. Access to Attractions: Authorities in Kandahar have barred public access to five recreational areas, limiting visitors’ options for outings in the province. Road Safety: A road accident in Afghanistan killed four people, a reminder of the risks of overland travel. Travel Access: Afghanistan ranked last in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, with its citizens able to travel to 22 destinations without a visa.

Kandahar Access: Authorities have closed five recreational areas to the public, limiting local outings and potential visitor access. Bamiyan: Afghanistan’s disaster management agency says the province has been cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance, a step toward safer access but not a general travel guarantee. Regional Security: Russia has renewed warnings about militant activity near Afghanistan’s northern borders, keeping cross-border security a concern for travelers.

Regional Travel: Uzbekistan welcomed more than 10.3 million foreign visitors in the first nine months of 2026, up 20.4% year on year; Afghanistan was among its leading visitor markets. Kandahar Access: Authorities have barred public access to five recreational areas, restricting local leisure options; the report gives no reason or timeline for the ban. Heritage Travel: UNESCO is expanding efforts to protect Afghanistan’s 12th-century Minaret of Jam, an important historic site. Bamiyan Safety: Authorities say the province has been cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance, a step that may make travel safer.

Regional Tourism: Uzbekistan welcomed more than 10.3 million foreign visitors from January to September, up 20.4% year on year; Afghanistan was among its leading source markets. Access and Safety: Authorities barred public access to five recreational areas in Kandahar, while a separate road crash in the province killed five and injured 15. Heritage: Afghanistan’s disaster agency declared Bamiyan cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance, and UNESCO expanded efforts to protect the 12th-century Minaret of Jam — developments relevant to the safety and preservation of sites that could draw visitors.

Regional Flights: Riyadh-bound flights from Karachi and Peshawar are being rerouted through Jeddah after a 10-day closure at King Khalid International Airport, with delays also affecting other routes. Business Travel: Afghanistan and Indonesia discussed easier visa processing for business visitors, trade delegations and joint investment programs. Local Access: Authorities have barred the public from five recreational areas in Kandahar, limiting access to local leisure destinations. Pilgrimages: Saudi Arabia’s new multiple-entry Umrah visa is helping fuel a rise in Afghan pilgrimages.