Passengers and drivers on the Kabul-Ghazni route are expressing their frustration over the slow pace of reconstruction on the Kabul-Kandahar highway. They have encountered numerous challenges while traveling on this road during the past year. According to the locals, the progress made on this highway reconstruction has been minimal. The Taliban had promised to complete the project within 9 months, but only 20% of the work has been finished thus far. The Taliban’s actions have caused significant damage to this highway, including the destruction of approximately 200 bridges and culverts during their conflicts with the previous government, as reported by the former government’s statistics. It is important to note that this highway serves as a crucial link connecting the southern and western provinces with Kabul, as well as the central and southeastern provinces.
The Kabul-Kandahar highway, a vital transportation route in Afghanistan, serves as a crucial link between the southern and western provinces, as well as Kabul and certain central and southeastern provinces. Unfortunately, the deteriorating condition of this major highway has given rise to significant challenges for travelers and merchants who rely on this route for transporting their goods. Despite initial efforts to reconstruct the highway during the previous government, it remained unfinished due to the collapse of the administration. The deterioration of the road has been exacerbated by heavy vehicle traffic, lack of maintenance, and deliberate mine detonations carried out by the Taliban. Around 20 years ago, this highway was initially paved through the collaboration of a Turkish construction company with financial assistance totaling $180 million from Japan, the United States, and Saudi Arabia. Disturbingly, reports from the Ministry of Public Works of the former Afghan government indicate that approximately 200 bridges and culverts along the Kabul-Kandahar highway have been destroyed by the Taliban using mines.
In the previous year, the Ministry of Public Works of the Taliban announced their commitment to completing the reconstruction of the Kabul-Ghazni and Ghazni-Kandahar highways, spanning approximately 450 kilometers, within a 9-month timeframe. They awarded contracts to five domestic companies for the reconstruction of the Kabul-Kandahar highway, with the expectation of close collaboration between these companies and the Ministry of Public Works to meet the deadline. However, one year later, concerns have arisen as some drivers and passengers traveling along the Kabul-Ghazni route expressed dissatisfaction with the sluggish progress. According to reports, the Taliban have only managed to finish the 90-kilometer segment between Arghandi Square in Kabul and Ghazni Gate, with minimal work completed on this route aside from the reconstruction of three culverts.
Complaints from the public have arisen as more than a year has passed since the Ministry of Public Works of the Taliban made promises regarding the reconstruction of this highway. Reliable sources in Maidan Wardak province have informed Hasht-e Subh Daily that the Taliban are attempting to repair certain sections of the highway by depositing soil and clay in relevant areas of the province. One source emphasizes that the Taliban authorities in the Ministry of Public Works had previously announced the initiation of repair and reconstruction work on the 90-kilometer stretch of the road from the Durrani area in Maidan Wardak province to Ghazni Gate in Ghazni province, with an estimated cost of 400 million Afghanis. Sources from the province suggest that the Taliban are overstating their efforts in reconstructing the road and, in reality, lack the willingness and capacity for substantial repairs.
Mohammad Abbas, a daily commuter on the Kabul-Ghazni highway, expresses his frustration with the prolonged road reconstruction. He states, “Initially, we were hopeful that the road would be repaired, solving our problems. However, for the past year, they have only focused on two culverts. In the vicinity of Takht Hills and Maidan Wardak province, they have removed the previous asphalt and blocked the main road. People are forced to walk in muddy areas alongside the road. It’s common for large vehicles to get stuck, rendering the road impassable. The conditions have deteriorated, with dust, dirt, and frequent accidents. Sometimes, I wish they hadn’t started this work at all.”
A driver on the route, who requested anonymity in the report, expressed concerns to the Hasht-e Subh Daily about the prolonged completion time of the road reconstruction project. The driver stated, “At this pace, it will take years to finish. It’s been a year, and they still haven’t reached Maidan-Shahr, the center of Maidan Wardak province. The damage in Sayedabad, Salar, and Haft-Asiab areas makes me believe that we’ll be commuting through these mud pits for several more years.”
The return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan has had a detrimental effect on the private sector due to reduced economic activities and the cessation of foreign aid. As a result, it seems unlikely that the private sector will be able to participate in reconstruction projects as they have done in the past. The progress of repair and reconstruction work on this highway has come to a standstill. The Taliban have notified the contracting companies that funds for their projects will be sourced from future tax and toll collections on the road, which will then be paid to them.
