Amid fighting around the country, passengers in northern and southern provinces are worried about the growing security threats on most of the major highways.
A number of travelers in the north of the country said that the Taliban has set up checkpoints in several areas along the Baghlan-Kunduz Highway.
“The state opponents have captured all highways; now, they have reached up to Dushi in Baghlan province, therefore most of the drivers are faced with problems,” said Wahidullah, a driver on Baghlan-Kundoz Highway.
Zabihullah, a passenger in the north, said: “There are four Taliban checkpoints, from Panjshanba Bazaar to Khenjan, they have parked big trucks in the street and they stop every car that comes.”
The four major highways of the country, including Kabul-Kandahar, Kabul-North, Kabul-Gardiz, and Kabul-Jalalabad are insecure these days, as the Taliban has escalated their attacks on districts and cities across the country.
Among the four major highways in the country, Kabul-Jalalabad Highway is still partly safe in comparison to others, say drivers.
Najibullah, who drives on the Kabul-Kandahar Highway, said: “Passing from Arghandeh, there are Taliban up to Kandahar, they stop everyone and do a body search.”
Samiullah, a traveler on the Kabul-Kandahar Highway, said: “None of the roads are safe and in a good condition, all bridges are destroyed, the Taliban stop people everywhere they find them and do a body search of them.”
Passengers and drivers say that sometimes government vehicles are being targeted and attacked by the Taliban fighters while they are traveling on these highways.
“We were stranded in the highway up to 10 PM, then the Taliban released us,” said Nazir, a driver on the Kabul-North Highway.
“The situation is not good, the Taliban harass passengers,” said Mansour, a passenger on the Kabul-North Highway.
Meanwhile, several passengers on the Kabul-Kandahar Highway said that sometimes clashes between the Taliban and security forces leave people and drivers stranded for hours.
In addition to the presence of the Taliban, the extortion by government forces is another problem that highway drivers complain about.