Afghanistan · Safety report last updated
As of September 2026, Kabul scores 18/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: elevated risk — reconsider. No — Kabul remains extremely unsafe for independent travelers due to persistent terrorism, crime, and lack of consular support. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (high risk) and robbery (high risk). The U.S. State Department rates it Level 4 (Do Not Travel).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Afghanistan · Assessed 11 September 2026
18
/ 100
Safer than ~6% of countries
Score capped at 18 — Level 4 advisory — "Do Not Travel". No other indicator can raise the score above this.
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
Do Not Travel
“Do not traveldue to civil unrest, crime, terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping, natural disasters, and limited health facilities. Do not travel to Afghanistan for any reason We urge American citizens in Afghanistan to leave immediately.”
Updated Fri, 20 Feb 2026
Full advisory →Advises against all travel
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). FCDO advises against all travel to Afghanistan You should not travel to Afghanistan.”
Updated 2026-07-30T10:36:13Z
Full advisory →Avoid all travel
“Canada's official risk level for Afghanistan: avoid all travel.”
Updated 2026-09-09T10:13:48.140000-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Mugging & robbery risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
Robbery / mugging
HighArmed robbery and mugging occur, particularly at night and in less-patrolled areas; foreigners are targeted for kidnapping and extortion.
Pickpocketing
HighPickpocketing and bag-snatching are widespread in crowded areas like public buses, bazaars, and narrow alleyways.
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly negative
36/100
Recent traveler reports indicate widespread feelings of insecurity, especially among independent travelers; those on guided tours report better safety but still note significant restrictions and tension.
No — Kabul remains extremely unsafe for independent travelers due to persistent terrorism, crime, and lack of consular support.
Despite some tourism growth under Taliban rule, Kabul faces ongoing ISIS-K attacks, frequent pickpocketing in crowded areas, and arbitrary detentions. Government travel advisories uniformly warn against all travel due to civil unrest, terrorism, kidnapping, and lack of emergency services. Visitors report feeling unsafe, especially after dark, and independent travel is not feasible without professional security support.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
Kabul is not safe for independent travel. The city remains under a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory from the U.S., UK, and Canadian governments due to civil unrest, terrorism, kidnapping, and the absence of consular services. While the Taliban has stabilized control and some tourists are visiting via organized groups, the underlying security environment is volatile. ISIS-K continues to carry out attacks in Kabul, as confirmed by regional monitoring through Q1 2026, and arbitrary detentions — such as the September 2026 arrest of 12 seminary instructors following protests over an evacuation order — demonstrate the risks of sudden enforcement actions. Crime, particularly pickpocketing, is a daily concern in crowded spaces like buses, markets, and narrow alleys, with residents reporting a surge in thefts despite Taliban promises of safety. Armed robbery and kidnapping remain real threats, especially for foreigners perceived as having value or connections.
Traveler sentiment reflects deep unease: those venturing independently describe feeling exposed and unsafe, particularly after dark, while even guided tour participants note the psychological toll of constant vigilance and restrictions. Scams are also prevalent, including online romance schemes where fraudsters build trust before requesting money, and unscrupulous operators who overcharge or abandon clients. To mitigate risk, any travel to Kabul must be conducted exclusively through professional operators with real-time security tracking, local knowledge, and access to vetted zones — independent travel is not viable. Visitors should avoid public transport, keep valuables concealed and minimal, and maintain a low profile at all times. Given the absence of emergency consular support and the potential for rapid deterioration in security, the only responsible advice is: do not travel.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Our field research rated 8 Kabul districts for visitors: 2 safer, 4 needing caution and 2 best avoided. See them plotted on the Kabul safety map.
Deh MazangavoidWestern Kabul; site of recent protests and Taliban detention operations (Sep 2026); elevated risk of civil unrest.
PD 13 (Industrial Area)avoidIndustrial zone; frequent ISIS-K activity and militant targeting; avoid unless essential.
Shar-e-NawcautionCentral business district; moderate crime risk including pickpocketing in crowded areas and markets.
Karte ParwancautionResidential and commercial mix; petty theft reported, especially near transit hubs after dark.
ChindawolcautionHistoric area near Pul-e-Khishti Mosque; pickpocketing common in crowds; exercise caution after dark.
Karte SehcautionSouthern residential district; moderate theft risk in markets; avoid isolated areas at night.
Wazir Akbar KhansaferAffluent residential area with foreign NGOs and embassies; lower street crime but remain alert to surveillance.
Bamyan Road Corridor (PD 5)saferNorthern route toward Bamyan; used by organized tour groups; lower incident rate with professional guides.
07 · After Dark
Armed robbery and mugging occur, particularly at night and in less-patrolled areas; foreigners are targeted for kidnapping and extortion.
After dark, be most careful around Deh Mazang, PD 13 (Industrial Area), Shar-e-Naw, Karte Parwan. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
No — Kabul remains extremely unsafe for independent travelers due to persistent terrorism, crime, and lack of consular support. Despite some tourism growth under Taliban rule, Kabul faces ongoing ISIS-K attacks, frequent pickpocketing in crowded areas, and arbitrary detentions. Government travel advisories uniformly warn against all travel due to civil unrest, terrorism, kidnapping, and lack of emergency services. Visitors report feeling unsafe, especially after dark, and independent travel is not feasible without professional security support. (Assessed 11 September 2026.)
Field research flags Deh Mazang, PD 13 (Industrial Area) as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
Kabul ranks #1 of 4 Afghanistan destinations we've assessed, scoring 18/100. See the Afghanistan safety overview for the full list.
The score blends 13+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry 82% of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries 18%. Full methodology.
Browse the Afghanistan safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: kabul.json (CC BY 4.0).
