The Taliban-run Ministry of Public Works announced Saturday that the main route through the Salang Pass, a vital highway connecting northern and southern Afghanistan, has been temporarily closed to allow for reconstruction work.
The ministry advised travelers to use an alternate route while the main road is under repair.
The ministry said that freight trucks will be allowed to pass through the Salang tunnel on a rotating schedule — northbound traffic on one night, southbound the next.
While Taliban describe the closure as a necessary step in repairing remaining sections of the strategic corridor, the decision has triggered skepticism among Afghan citizens. Many say that, despite repeated closures of the pass over the past two years, little visible progress has been made on repairs.
“They claimed to be rebuilding the pass, but instead, it has deteriorated further,” said one Herat resident. “Traveling through the Salang route is now more difficult than ever.”
Residents also report that Taliban have established checkpoints on both ends of the pass, allegedly collecting unofficial fees from drivers. According to local accounts, small passenger vehicles are being charged 80 Afghanis (about $1), while larger vehicles are required to pay significantly more — a practice some describe as extortion.
Taliban have not publicly commented on the tolls or clarified whether the funds are part of an official fee structure. Critics say the charges are burdensome, particularly amid widespread poverty and rising transportation costs.
The Salang Pass, built in the 1960s, is one of the country’s most vital arteries for trade and transit. Its closure — even temporarily — disrupts the movement of goods and people between major cities, including Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif.
