Asia and Oceania

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

Travel Summary

• On October 28 2009, suicide bombers attacked a UN guesthouse in Kabul, killing a number of people, including five UN workers.
  
  
• Also on October 28 2009, insurgents fired a number of rockets into Kabul City, with reports of impacts within the Serena Hotel compound and within the grounds of the Presidential Palace. No casualties were reported.
  
  
• There is a heightened threat of roadside bombs and ambush in Kabul City.
  
  
• UK subjects are advised to register with the British Embassy (using LOCATE) on arrival in Afghanistan. They will then benefit from further advice from time to time. For details on how to register see http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/staying-safe/Locate.
  
  
• After a relatively quiet period, Kabul City has seen a spike in vehicle-borne suicide bomb attacks, with seven such attacks occurring since early September 2009. Five of these attacks were directed against ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) including an attack on the main ISAF Headquarters near Shash Darak, and against an Italian ISAF convoy on the Airport Road. There was also an attack against the Indian Embassy on the morning of 08 October 2009. This attack is estimated to have killed 17 people and wounded over 80.
  
  
• More recently there was a complex suicide attack against a guesthouse containing personnel from the UN, which occurred on 28 October 2009.  Four attackers (believed to have been Taliban) gained access to the guesthouse in the Shari Naw district of Kabul City, with the probable intent of taking hostages. The incident resulted in five UN international staff killed and a further nine wounded.
  
  
• It remains likely that AGE (Anti Governmental Elements) commanders will continue to attempt to carry out sporadic attacks inside Kabul City. Complex attacks, similar in nature to the UN incident on 28 October 2009 are considered likely.
  
  
• Additional vigilance and care should be taken, particularly in and around landmark locations and places where large public crowds can gather. Hotels used by the Government of Afghanistan, western nationals, international embassies and Ministries and military establishments have been attacked in the past and there is always the possibility that there may be further such attacks.
  
  
• Afghanistan has a high threat of terrorism and specific methods of attack are evolving and increasing in sophistication.
  
  
• No part of Afghanistan should be considered immune from violence and the potential exists throughout the country for hostile acts. Visitors travelling to Afghanistan do so at their own risk and without protection from HMG.
  
  
• You should maintain a heightened level of vigilance at all time, observing the strictest of security measures and avoid any unnecessary travel. Travellers should also consider making their own security arrangements for the duration of their time in Afghanistan.
  
  
• The kidnap threat throughout the country remains high, particularly against local nationals, but also against the international community.
  
  
• The threat of kidnap against the international community in Kabul City appears to have risen since early October 09.   Visitors to Kabul must avoid setting patterns in terms of their timings, routes and routines and must maintain vigilance and situational awareness at all times.
  
  
• H1N1 virus (Swine Flu). The World Health Organisation (WHO) Pandemic Threat Alert Phase is at Level 6. The WHO website has further details. For more general advice, check our swine flu page for further information.
  
  
• We advise the following travel restrictions according to provincial region:
  
  Kabul:
  
  
• We advise against all travel to the Surobi, Paghman, Musayhi and Chahar Asyab Districts of Kabul province.
  
  
• We advise against all but essential travel to Kabul.
  
  Northern Afghanistan:
  
  
• We advise against all travel to Kunduz and Baghlan-e Jadid District of Baghlan.
  
  
• We advise against all, but essential travel to Badakshan, Balkh, Baghlan, Faryab, Jawzjan, Samangan, Sari Pul and Takhar.
  
  Eastern Afghanistan:
  
  
• We advise against all travel to Ghazni, Kapisa Khost, Kunar, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nuristan, Paktika, Wardak and Paktya.
  
  
• We advise against all but essential travel to Bamiyan, Parwan and Panjshir.
  

Southern Afghanistan:

• We advise against all travel to Helmand, Kandahar, Nimroz, Uruzgan and Zabul.
  

Western Afghanistan:

• We advise against all travel to Badghis, Farah and the Shindand and Gozarah Districts of Herat province.
  
  
• We advise against all, but essential travel to Dai Kundi, Ghor and Herat.
  
  
• The British Embassy in Kabul is able to offer only limited consular assistance and does not issue visas. Information of specific and urgent threats is circulated via the Warden network within Afghanistan. It is therefore important that you register with the British Embassy in Kabul on arrival. See the contact section of this advice page for more details.
  
  
• 19 British nationals required consular assistance in Afghanistan in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident: deaths (10 cases); hospitalisations (1 case); and arrests, for a variety of offences (6 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (17 cases).
  
  
• We recommend that comprehensive travel and medical insurance is obtained before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.  See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and our travel insurance page for more details.