South Asia
Is Afghanistan safe?
L4Do not travel
Is Afghanistan safe?
Islamic State (ISKP) attacks, kidnapping and detention on spying suspicion are real; three tourists were killed in Bamiyan in 2024. Cross-border fighting with Pakistan flared again in September 2026.
Key facts
- US travel advisory: Level 4: Do not travel, updated 2026-02-19.
- Homicide rate: 4.0 per 100,000 people (2021, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths: 15.9 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 119 · Ambulance 102.
- Solo women: Foreign women must cover fully, including the face, and Taliban rules restrict women travelling over 72 km without a male relative.
Risks, scams and laws
Main risks
- Afghanistan–Pakistan fighting along the eastern border
- ISKP bombings and attacks on foreigners
- Arbitrary detention on suspicion of spying
- Kidnapping for ransom in cities
Laws visitors break by accident
- Photographing Taliban checkpoints, government buildings or palaces can mean arrest.
- Alcohol, pork and narcotics are banned.
- Non-Islamic religious activity or proselytising is severely punished.
Safety by place in Afghanistan
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Kabul | 1/5 · Avoid travel |
Quick answers
Is Afghanistan safe for tourists?
Islamic State (ISKP) attacks, kidnapping and detention on spying suspicion are real; three tourists were killed in Bamiyan in 2024. Cross-border fighting with Pakistan flared again in September 2026.
Is Afghanistan safe for solo female travelers?
Foreign women must cover fully, including the face, and Taliban rules restrict women travelling over 72 km without a male relative.
What is the emergency number in Afghanistan?
Police 119 · Ambulance 102.
Safety by place
Sources
- World Bank: intentional homicides
- US State Department travel advisory
- UK FCDO travel advice: Afghanistan
- Speedtest Global Index: Afghanistan
- World Bank open data
Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.