Afghanistan’s Salang Pass, a key mountain route linking northern provinces to the capital and other parts of the country, has been closed to all traffic due to heavy snowfall, poor visibility and strong winds, the Taliban-run public works ministry said on Tuesday.
The ministry said the pass was shut temporarily from 2:30 a.m. local time and urged travellers to avoid the route until further notice.
“The Salang highway has been closed because of snowfall, limited visibility and storms,” the ministry added.
The pass was also closed last week because of similar weather conditions, highlighting the vulnerability of the route during winter.
Salang is one of Afghanistan’s most important transport corridors, connecting nine northern provinces with Kabul and the central, southern, western and eastern regions of the country.
Business groups and residents say repeated closures disrupt trade and travel, causing financial losses for traders and posing serious challenges for passengers, particularly during the winter months.
