The security environment remains volatile and unpredictable.  No part of Afghanistan should be considered immune from violence, and the potential exists throughout the country for hostile acts, either targeted or random, against American and other western nationals at any time.  There is an on-going threat to kidnap and assassinate U.S. citizens and non-governmental organization (NGO) workers throughout the country.  Afghan authorities have a limited ability to maintain order and ensure the security of the citizens and visitors.    

The U.S. Department of State continues to strongly warn U.S. citizens against travel to Afghanistan.  U.S. citizens are encouraged to read the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Warning, which is available at travel.state.gov.  U.S. citizens who choose to visit or remain in Afghanistan despite the travel warning and restrictions are urged to pay close attention to their personal safety, security and health needs and are expected to assume primary responsibility for their own well-being.    

High rates of unemployment, increasing migration to urban areas, and poor capacity of police forces contribute to crime and lawlessness.  Expatriates and international relief workers have reported incidents of robberies and household burglaries.  Car-jackings, robberies, and other violent crime remain a problem throughout the country.  American citizens involved in property disputes (a common legal problem) have reported that their adversaries in disputes often resort to violence.  Americans who find themselves in such situations cannot assume that either local law enforcement or the U.S. Embassy will be able to assist them.    

Large parts of Afghanistan are extremely isolated, with few roads in mostly poor condition.  Vehicular traffic is chaotic and contends with pedestrians, bicyclists, animals and non-motorized carts.  While sections of Afghanistan’s limited road network are under reconstruction the vast majority are characterized by conditions that can challenge the integrity of the hardiest sport utility vehicle.  Highly trafficked roads are also subject to insurgents and criminals actively searching for opportunities to attack convoys, kidnap subjects for ransom and demand tolls for passage.  Incidents against foreigners have frequently occurred along highway 1 and the Kabul-Jalalabad and Kabul-Ghazni routes.  Rural and unpaved roads also present the danger of landmines.  An estimated 5-7 million landmines and larger quantities of unexploded ordinance exist throughout the countryside and alongside roads.  

Political violence in Afghanistan has two dimensions: inter-ethnic rivalries and insurgency.  The four main ethnic groups in Afghanistan are, Pashtun, Tajiks, Hazaras and Uzbeks, who have also fought over land, resources and power.  Pashtun tribes are the largest demographic bloc within Afghanistan and have historically dominated the government.  This dynamic has repeatedly created tensions between them and other ethnic groups.  In 2007 and 2008, confrontations between the Hazaras and Kuchi nomads (Pashtun) have sporadically erupted into violent clashes.  Afghan officials fear that the two groups may resort to more widespread violence.  

Insurgent attacks in 2008 (including missile, rocket, roadside bombs, small arms, and suicide bombings) are now at their highest level since 2001.  From January to March 2008, insurgents launched over 1,000 attacks countrywide.  This is the highest level of insurgent activity for the first three months of a calendar year since systematic tracking of these incidents began in January 2005. Based on past history and public statements by the Taliban indicate that militants aim to reclaim their southern strongholds in Helmand, Kandahar and Zabol provinces.  Other areas that are currently experiencing high levels of violence include Khowst, Paktika, and Tora Bora area of southern Nangarhar Province.  The recent deaths of top Taliban commanders have also encouraged the uptake of Iraq-style asymmetric warfare, namely urban terror campaigns typified by suicide bombers.   

Kabul has always been targeted by militants and has suffered a number of sporadic attacks which have steadily increased since 2005.  While the overall number of attacks in the capital this year is slightly down, the attacks that have occurred appear to be growing in audacity and complexity.  This trend of fewer but bolder attacks suggests militants may be employing their precious resources more judiciously in an effort to carry out high-profile spectacular operations guaranteed to gain media attention and de-legitimatize the Afghan government and coalition presence.  Militants also continue to conduct suicide and car bombings, primarily against targets of opportunity such as military convoys.  They have also attempted to shell targets near the outskirts of the city with rocket attacks.    

Afghanistan is likely to remain one of the most dangerous countries for terrorism in the coming future.  The Taliban, and associated local terrorist organizations, such as the Haqqani Network and Hezb-e-Islami/Gulbuddin among others, continue to actively engage Afghan and coalition forces.  The ability of these groups to sustain operations for the foreseeable future is compounded by the fact that Western Pakistan offers a safe-haven for their training and growth.    

While insurgents continue to engage Afghan and coalition forces with direct-fire, they have also increasingly used asymmetric tactics that have made them adept at victimizing local and foreign civilians.  These asymmetric tactics include suicide attacks, car bombings, stand-off attacks (e.g. mortars), improvised explosive devices, attacks on district centers, attacks on aid and development convoys, attacks on contractors transporting goods for the government and international forces, kidnappings, and intimidation.  Intimidation methods include night-letters, assassinations and illegal checkpoints where persons are often victimized.    

Since 2004, private sector interests in Afghanistan, namely businesses, journalists and NGOs have experienced a significant increase in attacks against their assets and staff.  The United Nations and NGOs have noted that 2007 was the worst year in terms of attacks against aid workers in Afghanistan.  Statistics from the Afghanistan NGO Safety Office for the first quarter in 2008 indicate that although the total number of attacks against NGOs is comparable to 2007, there have been more fatalities, possibly indicating a deliberate increase in the lethality of attacks.    

Afghanistan and Pakistan provide safe-havens for international terrorist organizations such as al-Qa’ida (AQ), the Islamic Jihad Union (IJU), and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.  It is believed that most terrorists operations around the world have some direct or indirect connection to leaders and groups in the region.  AQ and other transnational organizations exporting terrorism to different parts of the world from Pakistan may also use Afghanistan for transit and as proving grounds.   

Incidents of civil disturbances and riots can and do occur, often without warning.  Demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.  For example, on July 22, several thousand Hazaras protested in Kabul calling for President Karzai to resign over killings of their kin by rival Kuchi nomads.  The angry marchers managed to chase police to the edge of the city before they were convinced by one of their leaders to disburse peacefully.  In May, gunfire broke out at a protest in Western Afghanistan against the alleged use of the Koran for target practice by an American soldier in Iraq.  A NATO soldier and two civilians were killed in the ensuing violence.  Finally, with food and energy shortages and prices escalating globally, Afghan civilians may also resort to demonstrations to protest the lack of government assistance.    

Damaging earthquakes occur frequently in the Hindu Kush and its foothills (north and northeast of Kabul).  At least 21 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, particularly those in the northeast and south are considered to vulnerable to seasonal floods, which usually start in March and last until May.  Flooding and landslides usually kill dozens of people and damage thousands of houses.  It also leads to the outbreak of seasonal diseases like diarrhea.   

Industrial accidents, such as accidents in mines and during demining operations occur occasionally.  There is little or no oversight of occupational safety standards.  There is also a high possibility for traffic accidents due to Afghan vehicles being poorly maintained, overloaded, and because traffic laws are not enforced.  The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Afghanistan’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation safety standards.  U.S. government personnel are permitted to travel on international flights operated by airlines from countries whose civil aviation authorities meet international safety standards.    

Afghan government officials reported approximately 100 kidnapping incidents in 2007.  Almost all of them were conducted by criminal gangs who targeted Afghans.  These gangs are viewed as one of the biggest security risks in Afghanistan’s major cities.  These criminals have generally targeted wealthy businessmen, doctors, and other prominent people and demand high ransom. 

In addition, both criminals and militants are also reportedly targeting private sector personnel with increasing regularity since 2004.  Since the beginning of 2007, more than three dozen foreigners have been abducted, and at least six have been killed.  The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs noted that in late 2007 a significant number of incidents occurred in the North and Northeast region of the country.  Past kidnappings secured capitulation by both Afghan and foreign governments to the demands of the Taliban, thus encouraging further abductions.  Indeed, the March 2007 abduction of an Italian journalist in Helmand Province by the Taliban resulted in the Afghan government acquiescing to the groups demands to release eight detained militants.  In July 2007, the Taliban kidnapped 23 Korean missionaries in Ghazni Province, ultimately forcing the Korean government to reportedly pay $20 million to secure the release of its citizens.    

Afghanistan is also likely to remain one of the densest places for organized crème arising from the drug trade.  Much of the opium cultivation and heroin and morphine production is particularly concentrated in the south and northeast.  AN estimated 8,200 tons of opium was reportedly produced in 2007, accounting fro almost 93 percent of the global illicit market.   Opium poppy cultivation is considered to a major lifeline for millions of Afghans and is equivalent to over half the country’s domestic GDP.  The illicit revenues (approximately more than US$4 billion in 2007) fuels organized crime, corruption and the insurgency, there has been a growing link between organized crime and the Taliban over the last few years.  Drug trafficking is also the main threat to security for countries on the northern border of Afghanistan.    

The Afghan National Police (ANP) capability is below the professional standards of most western countries.  A lack of training, resources and low wages contribute to a limited ability to maintain order and ensure the security of citizens and visitors.  While the ANP tend to be more responsive to foreigners than locals, U.S. citizens should assume that local law enforcement will not be able to assist them.  The police have limited resources to handle crimes that require investigations.  In addition, regular reports of corruption further reduce the ability to rely on the police.    

If arrested or detained by the police, individuals are advised to not make any admissions, statements, or to sign documents.  Inform the authorities that you are a U.S. citizen and ask them to contact the U.S. Consular Affairs Section of the Embassy immediately at 93-70-201-908 and after hours at 93-70-201-908.    

In Kabul, the local police operate an emergency hotline reportedly staffed 24-hours at 119.  Police stations are located at the district level and not all districts have reliable mobile capability.  Victims of crime are often required to travel to the district station to file a report.    

Afghanistan has few well-equipped medical facilities.  Public hospitals should be avoided.  Western trained medical personnel are difficult to locate outside of Kabul, although there are some international aid groups who may be able to provide basic medial care in rural areas.  Advance medicines from Europe and the U.S. are available in limited quantities, expensive and difficult to locate.  Basic medicines manufactured in Iran, Pakistan and India are available, but their reliability is uncertain.  Commercial medical evacuations from Afghanistan are limited and can take days to arrange.  Medvac companies that claim to service the world may not agree to come to Afghanistan.  Travelers with Medvac insurance should confirm with the provider that it will be able to provide assistance in Afghanistan.    

Several western-style private clinics in Kabul offer a variety of routine care.  Americans seeking treatment should request western practitioners.  Clinics in Kabul include:  

-          DK-German Medical Diagnostic Center at www.medical-kabul.com

-          Acomet Family Hospital at www.afghancomet.com

-          CURE International Hospital at phone number 079-883-830  

-          Persons should maintain a high-level of situational awareness and             caution at all times.  Limit movements and where you will be.

-          Keep a low profile and do not carry large sums of money or wear                  expensive jewelry

-          If possible, leave wallets or purses secured at home and carry only             necessary amounts of cash and identification in your front pocket.

-          Do not become complacent or predictable

-          Vary routes, times of departure, and arrive by as much as 30-45             minutes early or late for your destination.

-          Know both primary and alternate routes.

-          Know the locations of police stations and hospitals.

-          Avoid political or religiously active areas of the major cities.

-          Avoid the use of public transportation.

-          Always possess a means of communication with others and consider             using a GPS unit and bringing with you survival gear. 

-          Know how local emergency numbers, country and city codes and             dialing procedures. 

-          Leave an itinerary with a colleague or friend. 

-          Avoid high risk areas, crowds, and civil disturbances.   

Current travel warnings and additional information can be found at www.travel.state.gov.

The U.S. Embassy’s ability to provide emergency consular service to citizens in Afghanistan is limited, particularly for persons located outside the capital.  Americans are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy at http://travelregistration.state.gov. Americans without internet access may register directly with the U.S. Embassy.    

The U.S. Embassy is located at Great Masood Road between Radio Afghanistan and the Ministry of Public Health (the road is also known as Bebe Mahro, or airport road), Kabul.  The phone number is 93-70-201-908.  The Embassy website is http://afghanistan.usembassy.gov.  The Marine Post One’s number is 93-70-010-8250.  

Afghanistan initiated its Country Council in 2008.  For information about the Council contact the Regional Security Officer in Kabul at 93-70-010-8361, or OSAC headquarters in Washington, D.C., at 571-345-2223.  OSAC’s website is located at www.osac.gov.