Afghanistan's beauties have been swamped by tyranny and war.
Friendly, beautiful Afghanistan was once well known on the backpacking circuit as the place to stop for unparalleled hospitality, fantastic food, great hiking and...um...OK, we'll say it, that legendary hashish. Things, sadly, have changed a lot.
Large areas of Afghanistan remain highly insecure. NATO-led military operations are ongoing against the remnants of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Acts of violence, often targeting foreigners, continue to occur in Kabul.
Visitors should maintain a very high level of security awareness, avoid demonstrations and political gatherings, avoid travelling alone and in the dark, and contact their consular representative for the latest information.
Afghanistan is among the most heavily mined countries on earth. Extreme caution should be taken when venturing into areas that may be mined.
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