October/2025

Afghanistan’s Deteriorating Road Infrastructure: Obstacles to National Development and Cohesion.

Afghanistan’s geography—steep mountains, wide deserts, and scattered settlements—has always made roads a matter of survival rather than convenience. Every stretch of highway or dirt path serves as a lifeline linking people to markets, schools, and hospitals. Yet today, those lifelines are crumbling.

In the past two decades, billions of dollars were invested in Afghanistan’s road network, but the progress has eroded due to war, corruption, poor maintenance, and economic collapse. What was once a hopeful symbol of national connection has turned into a serious obstacle to development and unity.

The crisis is more than physical. When roads fail, trade slows, healthcare becomes unreachable, and provinces grow isolated from one another. The disintegration of Afghanistan’s road system thus deepens poverty and weakens social cohesion, leaving millions trapped in cycles of hardship and isolation.

1. Historical Overview: From Hope to Decay

Afghanistan’s road-building history reflects the country’s turbulent political past. In the 1960s and 1970s, with support from the United States and the Soviet Union, Afghanistan began constructing the Ring Road—a 2,200 km route connecting Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, and Mazar-e-Sharif. This highway was meant to unite the nation economically and politically. However, decades of war destroyed much of that progress. The Soviet invasion (1979–1989) and the civil wars of the 1990s turned highways into battlegrounds. Bridges were bombed, roads mined, and provinces cut off from one another.

After the fall of the Taliban in 2001, rebuilding roads became a key part of the international reconstruction agenda. Projects funded by USAID, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank repaired thousands of kilometers of highways. For a while, Afghanistan seemed to be reconnecting.

Yet the momentum faded. Maintenance budgets were neglected, corruption spread, and the security situation worsened. As international support declined, the infrastructure began to fall apart once again.

2. The Current Condition of Roads

Today, Afghanistan’s roads are deteriorating at an alarming pace. Reports by the Asian Development Bank and the Ministry of Public Works (before 2021) reveal that nearly 70% of paved roads are now classified as poor or very poor. Even major highways like the Kabul–Kandahar and Herat–Kandahar roads—once crucial for trade—have cracked surfaces, missing pavement, and collapsed shoulders. Drivers often travel at dangerously slow speeds to avoid damage or accidents.

In rural regions, the problem is far worse. Dirt and gravel roads are washed away each rainy season, leaving villages completely isolated for months. With fewer maintenance crews and reduced funding since 2021, thousands of kilometers of roads have become impassable. As Afghanistan’s economic and political instability continues, its road network—once a symbol of hope—has turned into a reflection of decline and neglect.

3. Why the Roads Are Falling Apart

The decay of Afghanistan’s road infrastructure comes from multiple causes that reinforce one another.

a. Poor Maintenance and Lack of Funding

After the withdrawal of most international forces and donors, maintenance budgets nearly disappeared. The government lacked sustainable funding models, and no system for tolls or taxes was established to cover repair costs.

b. Corruption and Mismanagement

Widespread corruption in construction contracts severely undermined quality. Contractors used substandard materials or inflated costs, while oversight agencies failed to inspect properly. Many projects were paid for but never completed.

c. Security Challenges

Ongoing conflict has made repair work dangerous. Armed groups frequently target engineers or supply convoys. Roadside bombs not only threaten lives but also destroy infrastructure.

d. Harsh Climate and Terrain

Afghanistan’s geography—mountainous passes, harsh winters, and flash floods—naturally wears down roads. Without drainage systems or seasonal maintenance, small cracks quickly become structural failures.

e. Economic Collapse

Since 2021, economic contraction and sanctions have reduced imports of asphalt, cement, and fuel. Construction projects have halted, and local industries lack the capacity to produce materials domestically.

4. Consequences for Economic Development

The breakdown of road infrastructure has deeply damaged Afghanistan’s fragile economy.

a. Trade Disruption

Poor roads make transportation slow and expensive, discouraging investment and cutting farmers off from markets. Trucks carrying goods between provinces face delays that spoil perishable products.

b. Rising Prices

Transport costs rise when roads deteriorate. Vehicles burn more fuel, repairs are frequent, and travel takes longer. The added cost is passed on to consumers, raising the price of food and essentials.

c. Agricultural Losses

Agriculture remains Afghanistan’s main livelihood, but bad roads prevent farmers from delivering crops. In some cases, entire harvests rot before reaching the nearest market.

d. Missed Regional Opportunities

Afghanistan’s geographic position gives it immense potential as a trade bridge between Central and South Asia. However, poor roads prevent the country from joining regional projects like the Belt and Road Initiative or CASA-1000.

5. Social Impacts: When Roads Disappear, People Suffer

The deterioration of infrastructure affects not only commerce but also everyday life.

a. Isolation

Many villages remain cut off for months during snow or rain. Without reliable transport, people cannot reach hospitals or schools. This isolation deepens poverty and hopelessness.

b. Health and Education

Ambulances cannot reach remote patients, and teachers often refuse to work in villages that are difficult to access. As a result, basic health and education services collapse in rural districts.

c. Gender Inequality

Women, already restricted by cultural barriers, suffer the most. Poor roads make it unsafe or impossible for women to travel to health clinics or educational institutions.

d. Migration and Displacement

As communities lose access to markets and services, many families move to cities, increasing urban poverty and overcrowding. Infrastructure collapse thus contributes to internal displacement and instability.

Conflict, Corruption, and Climate – The Forces Behind Afghanistan’s Road Collapse

6. Corruption and Mismanagement: The Silent Destroyers

Afghanistan’s roads did not simply fall apart because of war or weather—they crumbled under the weight of corruption and neglect. During the reconstruction years (2002–2020), the country received billions of dollars in foreign aid for infrastructure projects. Yet much of that funding never translated into durable roads.

a. Weak Oversight and Poor Quality

Many contracts were awarded to private firms based on personal connections or political influence rather than merit.

Contractors frequently used low-quality asphalt, skipped essential structural layers, or ignored drainage systems. Because oversight was weak and inspectors were often bribed, such poor construction went unchecked. As a result, roads that should have lasted 15 years began deteriorating within three.

b. Budget Mismanagement

Funds meant for maintenance were often redirected to other government expenses or simply vanished. The Ministry of Public Works faced repeated allegations of embezzlement and favoritism.

International donors, frustrated by lack of accountability, gradually reduced support—further worsening the funding gap.

c. Short-Term Thinking

Afghanistan’s infrastructure planning was heavily influenced by short-term political goals. Governments and donors alike focused on building new roads for visibility rather than maintaining existing ones.

Without a long-term maintenance culture, even newly paved highways soon fell into disrepair.

7. Security and Instability: Roads Under Threat

The relationship between security and infrastructure in Afghanistan is deeply intertwined. Roads are both targets and victims of conflict.

a. Roads as Battlefields

During years of conflict, major highways became strategic assets. Insurgent groups frequently planted improvised explosive devices (IEDs) along routes used by military convoys.

These explosions not only killed civilians and soldiers but also destroyed roadbeds and bridges. In many provinces, entire stretches of road became permanently unsafe.

b. Attacks on Engineers and Workers

Maintenance and construction crews were often attacked or kidnapped. Foreign and Afghan engineers abandoned projects out of fear, leaving half-completed roads exposed to erosion and decay.

c. Checkpoints and Informal Tolls

In some regions, armed groups and local militias established illegal checkpoints, extorting money from drivers and transporters.

This not only increases the cost of travel but also discourages trade and weakens the sense of national control over public infrastructure.

d. Isolation Due to Fear

Even when roads are open, insecurity discourages people from traveling. Farmers cannot transport goods, students avoid long journeys to school, and aid workers struggle to reach communities in need. Insecurity thus compounds physical deterioration with psychological isolation.

8. Climate Change and Environmental Degradation

Afghanistan is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, and the effects on infrastructure are devastating.

a. Floods and Landslides

Heavy rainfall and flash floods routinely wash away rural roads, particularly in provinces like Badakhshan, Kunar, Nuristan, and Baghlan.

Poor engineering and lack of proper drainage mean that even light rainfall can erode road surfaces and foundations.

b. Temperature Extremes

Extreme temperature shifts—from freezing winters to scorching summers—cause asphalt to crack and crumble. Without timely maintenance, small fissures expand into dangerous potholes and sinkholes.

c. Environmental Mismanagement

The unchecked extraction of gravel, sand, and stones from riverbeds for road construction damages natural barriers and increases flooding risks.

Additionally, deforestation around mountain roads leads to soil erosion, which accelerates road collapse.

d. Lack of Climate-Resilient Design

Many roads were built using outdated techniques unsuitable for Afghanistan’s harsh geography. Few were designed to withstand flash floods or landslides, and almost none included climate-resilient materials.

As global temperatures rise, the lack of adaptation worsens the rate of destruction.

9. The Collapse of Governance and Maintenance Systems

Since 2021, Afghanistan’s political transition has paralyzed most national institutions responsible for infrastructure.

The Ministry of Public Works and regional road departments have lost funding, technical staff, and access to international support.

a. Decline of Skilled Workforce

Many Afghan engineers, planners, and contractors fled the country or lost their jobs. The remaining staff struggle without salaries, training, or equipment.

b. Absence of Transparent Systems

The lack of public accountability allows mismanagement to continue unchecked. Without independent audits or donor monitoring, road budgets often disappear without results.

c. Reduced Private Sector Participation

Private construction firms that once played an active role in building and maintaining highways have shut down or shifted to other sectors due to insecurity and lack of payment. This vacuum leaves most of Afghanistan’s roads abandoned.

10. National Cohesion Under Threat

The deterioration of roads does not only harm the economy—it threatens the very unity of the Afghan nation.

a. Roads as Lifelines of Unity

In a country divided by ethnicity, language, and geography, roads are vital connectors. They bring provinces closer, enable trade between different ethnic groups, and foster a shared national identity.

When roads collapse, provinces drift apart—economically and socially.

b. Fragmentation and Localism

As some areas become inaccessible, local power centers emerge.

In remote districts, tribal leaders or militant groups replace the role of the central government. This process of fragmentation erodes national cohesion and undermines state authority.

c. Inequality Between Regions

Regions closer to Kabul or major cities may still have partially functioning roads, while mountainous or rural provinces remain cut off.

This uneven development fuels resentment, widening the gap between urban and rural populations.

d. The Psychological Divide

When people cannot travel or communicate easily, mistrust grows. Roads that once carried trade and friendship now symbolize separation. The loss of connectivity reinforces stereotypes, weakens inter-ethnic relations, and isolates communities from national discourse.

11. Women and Mobility: A Hidden Crisis

The collapse of infrastructure has also created a mobility crisis for Afghan women, whose freedom of movement is already restricted by social norms. In areas with poor roads, traveling to hospitals, schools, or workplaces becomes almost impossible.

Women in childbirth often die because ambulances cannot reach them in time. Female students, unable to walk long distances safely, are forced to abandon education. Poor roads deepen gender inequality by physically confining women within villages. Without reliable transport, female-led businesses—such as tailoring, handicrafts, or small-scale trade—cannot thrive.

Rehabilitating roads, therefore, is not just an economic or engineering issue—it’s a human rights and gender equality issue. Women’s empowerment in Afghanistan depends partly on safe, accessible transportation.

Economic Collapse, Environmental Damage, and the Struggle for Rebuilding

12. Economic Collapse and the Domino Effect

A nation’s economy is only as strong as its ability to move people and goods. In Afghanistan, the collapse of the road system has created a chain reaction that extends through every sector of society.

a. Decline in Trade and Investment

Trade in Afghanistan depends heavily on overland routes. With roads broken or unsafe, trucks face long detours, higher fuel consumption, and frequent breakdowns. Transporters report that journeys which once took 8 hours now take more than 18, increasing costs by over 50%.

Domestic and foreign investors, seeing these logistical challenges, avoid setting up factories or markets in remote provinces. The result is economic paralysis in areas that once thrived on agriculture and small industries.

b. The Rising Cost of Goods

When roads fail, everything becomes more expensive. Fuel, food, and building materials cost double or triple in isolated provinces compared to Kabul. A simple road repair could reduce transport costs and stabilize local markets, but the lack of maintenance traps communities in inflation and scarcity.

c. Damage to Agriculture

More than 70% of Afghans depend on agriculture. But damaged rural roads block access to markets, fertilizers, and irrigation supplies.

Farmers in provinces like Helmand and Nangarhar lose crops every season because they cannot deliver them to buyers in time.

The deterioration of farm-to-market roads means Afghanistan’s agricultural economy—once a potential source of exports—remains stunted and local.

d. Unemployment and Poverty

The construction sector, one of Afghanistan’s largest employers after 2001, has collapsed. Thousands of engineers, drivers, and laborers have lost their jobs.

This unemployment deepens poverty and fuels migration to cities or other countries. When people lose their livelihoods, they become more vulnerable to recruitment by extremist groups, perpetuating the cycle of instability.

13. Environmental Impact: Nature Strikes Back

While human neglect is central to the crisis, Afghanistan’s environment is also turning against its fragile infrastructure.

a. Flooding and Soil Erosion

Decades of deforestation and unregulated construction have increased soil erosion. Without vegetation to hold soil in place, rainwater flows violently, washing away roads and bridges. Flash floods in 2023 destroyed hundreds of kilometers of roads in northern Afghanistan, leaving entire districts stranded.

b. Mining and Material Extraction

The uncontrolled extraction of sand and gravel for construction has deepened riverbeds and weakened embankments.

This short-term gain in building material creates long-term environmental disasters, as rivers overflow and wash away nearby roads.

c. Deforestation Along Road Corridors

Trees were once planted alongside highways to protect surfaces from wind and rain erosion. In recent years, poverty has led villagers to cut these trees for firewood. The absence of this natural protection accelerates road deterioration.

d. Climate Change Intensifies Damage

Rising temperatures cause asphalt to expand and crack, while irregular rainfall patterns increase flooding.

Few roads are designed with climate resilience in mind, leaving Afghanistan particularly vulnerable to environmental shocks.

14. The Social and Political Costs of Inaction

The collapse of road infrastructure is not only an economic issue—it’s a political and social crisis.

a. Weakening of Government Authority

When roads are impassable, the state cannot reach its citizens.

Officials struggle to deliver public services, collect taxes, or maintain law enforcement. This loss of presence allows local militias and extremist groups to fill the vacuum, eroding trust in national institutions.

b. Isolation and Inequality

Regions cut off from Kabul feel abandoned. This perception fuels resentment and regionalism, weakening the fragile sense of unity among Afghanistan’s ethnic groups.

c. Urban Overcrowding

As rural residents flee roadless districts, cities like Kabul and Herat face population pressure. Informal settlements expand, sanitation deteriorates, and unemployment rises—creating new social and health challenges.

d. Psychological Effects

Isolation also carries emotional consequences. When travel becomes impossible, people lose contact with relatives, markets, and opportunities.

The sense of being “cut off” from the nation reinforces hopelessness and despair, especially among youth in remote areas.

15. Toward Sustainable Solutions

Rebuilding Afghanistan’s road system is a colossal task, but progress is possible with realistic, transparent, and inclusive strategies.

a. A National Road Maintenance Fund

Afghanistan needs a dedicated, transparent road maintenance fund supported by domestic resources.

Small taxes on fuel, vehicle registration, or trade routes could generate steady income for repairs.

Crucially, these funds must be shielded from corruption through independent audits and public reporting.

b. Community-Based Road Programs

Local communities are best positioned to maintain rural roads. Through cash-for-work or community maintenance groups, villagers could repair damaged sections using low-cost materials.

Such initiatives not only improve roads but also provide income for rural families.

c. Use of Climate-Resilient Materials

Future construction must adapt to Afghanistan’s climate.

Engineers should use water-resistant asphalt, stabilized soil layers, and proper drainage systems.

New technologies—like geotextiles and recycled concrete—can extend the lifespan of roads at lower costs.

d. Regional and International Cooperation

Afghanistan’s geography makes it a potential transport hub between Central and South Asia. Reconnecting with regional projects such as CAREC (Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation) could attract investment and promote peace through shared infrastructure goals.

e. Involvement of the Private Sector

Encouraging Afghan and regional construction companies to participate through public-private partnerships (PPPs) can improve efficiency and reduce government burden. Private firms can handle toll collection or maintenance under strict regulations.

16. Building Human Capacity

Infrastructure is more than concrete and asphalt—it’s also about people who plan, build, and maintain it.

a. Training Afghan Engineers and Technicians

Afghanistan’s universities and vocational schools must prioritize civil engineering, road design, and maintenance training.

Donor support should focus on building technical expertise rather than just funding projects.

b. Digital Monitoring and Transparency

Modern technologies like satellite mapping, drone surveys, and mobile reporting apps can help track road damage and prevent misuse of funds.

Citizens could report potholes or damaged bridges directly to local councils, improving accountability.

c. Gender Inclusion in Infrastructure Planning

Women should have a voice in planning and prioritizing road projects. Their needs—such as safe transport to schools, markets, and clinics—must be integrated into infrastructure design and community consultations.

17. Roads as a Path to Peace

Roads are not just tools of development—they can also become bridges for peace. Shared infrastructure projects between communities can foster cooperation and mutual trust. When people from different ethnic or regional backgrounds travel and trade freely, their interests align toward stability.

Each kilometer of rebuilt road thus carries symbolic power: it connects not only places but also people and possibilities.

Reconstruction must therefore be viewed not just as economic development but as nation-building itself.

Rebuilding the Future — Roads, Unity, and National Recovery

18. Lessons from Past International Efforts

Over the last two decades, Afghanistan has witnessed multiple waves of infrastructure investment, largely driven by international donors. However, despite billions of dollars in aid, the country’s road network remains fragile. Understanding what went wrong is essential for planning a sustainable future.

a. Short-Term Focus

Many international projects focused on rapid construction to achieve political visibility rather than long-term durability. Roads were built quickly without proper drainage systems, quality materials, or environmental studies. As a result, many deteriorated within a few years.

b. Lack of Local Ownership

Foreign contractors and imported labor often handled major road projects. Once they left, no local capacity remained to maintain or repair the infrastructure.

This dependency left Afghanistan unable to manage its own roads after international forces withdrew.

c. Weak Monitoring and Corruption

Corruption eroded trust and diverted funds.

In some cases, entire sections of road were left unfinished or poorly constructed while still being reported as “completed.”

Future projects must prioritize transparency and community oversight to prevent a repeat of these failures.

d. Lessons from Regional Successes

Neighboring countries such as Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have developed sustainable road systems by combining donor support with local responsibility.

Their experiences prove that with the right planning, Afghanistan too can build a resilient network that endures beyond external aid.

19. The Case for a National Transportation Strategy

Afghanistan urgently needs a comprehensive national transportation policy that aligns with its geography, economy, and security realities.

a. Integrated Road Planning

Rather than constructing isolated highways, Afghanistan should develop an interconnected network linking major economic zones, border crossings, and rural markets.

Each road should serve a clear purpose—whether agricultural, trade, or social connectivity.

b. Prioritizing Maintenance Over Expansion

Building new roads while existing ones crumble is unsustainable. A policy shift toward maintenance-first ensures that current investments deliver long-term value.

Routine inspections, timely repairs, and community maintenance units can extend road lifespan by decades.

c. Balancing Urban and Rural Needs

Urban roads, especially in Kabul, Herat, and Mazar-e-Sharif, are overburdened. Meanwhile, rural areas remain disconnected.

A balanced approach that supports both urban expansion and rural accessibility is vital for national cohesion.

d. Linking Roads with Other Infrastructure

Roads should be planned alongside energy, water, and digital networks. For example, installing fiber-optic cables during road construction can provide both internet access and surveillance for maintenance and security.

20. Strengthening Regional Connectivity

Afghanistan’s geography—landlocked but strategically positioned—gives it immense potential to become a transit hub between Central and South Asia.

a. The CAREC Corridor Potential

The Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program aims to link Afghanistan to China, Iran, and Central Asia through modern trade corridors. Rehabilitating highways like CAREC Corridor 5 and 6 could open up vast markets and generate toll revenues for the Afghan government.

b. Access to Seaports

Better road connectivity with Pakistan’s Gwadar and Karachi ports, as well as Iran’s Chabahar, could transform Afghanistan’s trade landscape.

It would reduce transport time and costs for exports such as minerals, fruits, and carpets.

c. Cross-Border Economic Zones

Establishing shared industrial zones along borders—supported by reliable roads—could promote cooperation and reduce smuggling.

Improved infrastructure encourages peaceful commerce instead of illicit trade.

21. The Role of Technology and Innovation

Modern infrastructure management depends on data and innovation, both of which Afghanistan can leverage.

a. Digital Mapping and GIS

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can create real-time maps showing road conditions, traffic density, and damage reports.

This information helps allocate resources efficiently and detect corruption or negligence.

b. Smart Maintenance Systems

Drones and sensors can monitor erosion, flooding, and surface cracks—allowing preventive maintenance instead of costly emergency repairs.

Even in low-resource environments, mobile apps can crowdsource damage reports from drivers and communities.

. Local Innovation

Afghan universities and technical institutes can develop low-cost, locally sourced construction materials, such as using recycled plastic or compressed earth blocks. Investing in innovation reduces dependency on imported materials and foreign expertise.

22. Social Benefits of Road Rehabilitation

Rebuilding roads has a multiplier effect that extends beyond economics.

a. Improved Access to Education and Health

Smooth roads mean students can reach schools and teachers can serve remote communities. Ambulances and medical supplies can reach rural clinics in time to save lives.

b. Empowering Women

Women in rural areas are among the greatest victims of poor road conditions. When transportation improves, women can safely access education, employment, and healthcare, leading to social progress and gender equality.

c. Strengthening National Identity

Every road connecting one province to another represents a bridge of unity. When Afghans can travel safely and trade across ethnic and regional lines, mutual trust grows—building the foundation for long-term peace.

23. International Cooperation and Diplomacy

Afghanistan’s infrastructure recovery cannot occur in isolation. It requires diplomatic engagement and multilateral support.

a. Engaging Regional Partners

Countries such as China, Iran, Pakistan, India, and the Central Asian republics have vested interests in Afghanistan’s stability.

Joint infrastructure projects under initiatives like the Belt and Road or CAREC can bring not only roads but also energy and digital connectivity.

b. Donor Coordination

Future donor programs must coordinate under a single national framework to prevent duplication and ensure accountability.

Funds should target technical training, materials, and sustainable maintenance rather than symbolic projects.

c. Security as a Precondition for Development

Safe transport routes encourage trade and tourism, while improved roads help the government maintain presence in remote areas.

Thus, infrastructure and security reinforce each other in a positive cycle.

24. A Vision for the Future: Roads as Foundations of Peace

A functional road system is more than an engineering achievement—it is a symbol of stability and hope. Imagine an Afghanistan where:

● Farmers in Helmand can transport crops to Kabul without fear.
● Students in Badakhshan travel safely to universities.
● Traders in Kandahar connect their goods to Central Asia through modern highways.
● Women in rural villages can reach hospitals and markets freely.

Such a vision is not impossible. It begins with national commitment, community participation, and global cooperation.

Every meter of asphalt laid is a step toward unity, every bridge rebuilt a gesture of peace, and every repaired road a promise of progress.

25. Reconnecting a Nation, Rebuilding Hope

Afghanistan’s deteriorating road infrastructure stands as both a symptom and a cause of its broader challenges—poverty, isolation, and fragmentation.

Yet within this crisis lies an opportunity for renewal.
By prioritizing sustainable construction, transparent governance, and regional cooperation, Afghanistan can transform its roads from symbols of decay into pathways of development.

The rebuilding of roads is not just a technical task—it is the rebuilding of national identity and trust.

Roads unite families, markets, and provinces. They carry food, knowledge, and dreams. When Afghanistan’s roads are restored, so too will be the country’s social cohesion, economic vitality, and hope for peace.

The journey ahead is long and difficult, but the destination—a connected, prosperous, and united Afghanistan—is worth every step.