Taliban has introduced the Doshi-Bamiyan and Khawak routes as alternatives to the Salang Pass for freight transport, following the closure of the main thoroughfare to heavy vehicles.
The Taliban’s police command in Baghlan province in the north of the country said that freight trucks can use these alternative routes until the Salang Pass is reopened.
The highway was closed to heavy and large vehicles on August 22, with the Taliban citing repair and reconstruction work as the reason for the closure.
Previously, the Taliban’s Ministry of Public Works had issued a notice stating that a temporary side road had been established along the Salang Pass for light vehicles, allowing drivers and passengers to continue using the route 24 hours a day.
The Salang Pass is a critical link connecting nine northern and northeastern provinces to Kabul and other parts of the country. This marks the second time in two years that the Taliban has closed the highway for repairs, now restricting access to freight vehicles.
