{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/afghanistan/kandahar","updatedAt":"2026-09-30T14:10:36.874Z","place":{"city":"Kandahar","country":"Afghanistan","countryCode":"AF","lat":31.61332,"lon":65.71013},"safety":{"score":18,"level":"HIGH_RISK","answer":"Elevated risk — reconsider","saferThanPctOfCountries":6,"confidence":0.66,"caps":[{"max":18,"reason":"Level 4 advisory — \"Do Not Travel\""},{"max":32,"reason":"Terrorism deaths 99/million"}],"databaseScore":16,"travellerSentiment":{"score":36,"label":"Mostly negative","summary":"Recent traveler reports indicate widespread fear and distrust, with foreigners describing intense suspicion, surveillance, and arbitrary treatment by authorities; those who visit report feeling unsafe even in escorted movements due to sudden rule changes and detention risks.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":15,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":34,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":42,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":36,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":0,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":20,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":61,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":4,"label":"Do Not Travel","updated":"Fri, 20 Feb 2026","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/afghanistan-advisory.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":4,"label":"Advises against all travel","updated":"2026-07-30T10:36:13Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/afghanistan"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":4,"label":"Avoid all travel","updated":"2026-09-24T08:53:35.8663187-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/afghanistan"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":4.0324584656778,"display":"4.0 / 100k","year":"2021","score":72,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":6,"display":"6.0%","year":"2014","score":83,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":98.91864382881433,"display":"98.9 / million","year":"2021","score":7,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":24.1,"display":"24.1 / 100k","year":"2021","score":34,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":28.2258568,"display":"28/100","year":"2024","score":28,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":23.6535886,"display":"24/100","year":"2024","score":24,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":21.3643608,"display":"21/100","year":"2024","score":21,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":13.7358099,"display":"14/100","year":"2024","score":14,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":30.5994864,"display":"31/100","year":"2024","score":31,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":19.2473331,"display":"19/100","year":"2024","score":19,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":523300,"display":"523k residents","year":null,"score":75,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"numbeo_crime_index","label":"Crime index (crowdsourced)","value":74.7,"display":"74.7 / 100","year":null,"score":21,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0,"display":"0.00 / 100k","year":"2022","score":92,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":50.1,"display":"50.1%","year":"2012","score":15,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":47,"display":"US AQI 47 · Good","year":null,"score":90,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":3.525529744,"display":"4 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2023","score":15,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":38,"display":"September: highs ~38°C · high heat","year":null,"score":80,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · 1 quake ≥M4.5 past yr","year":null,"score":94,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":4,"display":"Level 4 — Do Not Travel · 2 govts","year":null,"score":0,"source":"CA / US"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"No — Kandahar is not safe for travelers due to extreme risks of terrorism, armed violence, kidnapping, and arbitrary detention, with all major governments advising against all travel.","summary":"Kandahar remains under Taliban control with persistent security threats including targeted killings, robbery, and kidnapping risks for foreigners. While violent crime against civilians has decreased since the Taliban takeover, arbitrary detention and mistreatment by authorities pose significant dangers, particularly for those perceived as violating strict social rules. Medical infrastructure is extremely limited, and emergency response is unreliable.","robberyRisk":{"level":"High","note":"Armed robbery and mugging pose significant risk to visitors, particularly near checkpoints and in less secure areas; sporadic violence reported in bazaars and residential zones."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are potential risks in crowded areas such as bazaars and transport hubs, though not the primary threat compared to violent crime."},"safeAreas":[],"avoidAreas":["Shah Wali Kot – active combat zone with frequent clashes (Jul-Aug 2026)","City Centre (Old Kandahar) – high risk of IEDs, kidnappings, and targeted killings","Arghandab River Valley outskirts – insurgent activity and ambushes reported","Maiwand District – Taliban stronghold with roadside attacks on civilians"],"scams":["Fake visa or travel assistance offers requiring money transfers to third countries","Impersonation of officials demanding bribes for documents or clearance"],"zones":[{"name":"Aino Mina","level":"caution","note":"Relatively safer eastern district with newer infrastructure and main hospital, but still subject to checkpoints and sporadic violence."},{"name":"Shah Wali Kot","level":"avoid","note":"Western district near frontlines; frequent Taliban operations and armed clashes reported in mid-2026."},{"name":"City Centre (Old Kandahar)","level":"avoid","note":"High-risk zone for IEDs, assassinations, and kidnappings; avoid all non-essential movement."},{"name":"Arghandab River Valley outskirts","level":"avoid","note":"Rural-urban fringe used for insurgent activity; ambushes and roadside bombs reported Aug 2026."},{"name":"Kandahar International Airport vicinity","level":"caution","note":"Heavily militarized; access restricted and subject to sudden closures or detentions despite relative security."},{"name":"Maiwand District","level":"avoid","note":"Southern rural district with active Taliban presence; frequent roadside attacks on vehicles reported Jun-Aug 2026."},{"name":"Dand District","level":"caution","note":"Eastern agricultural area; lower population density reduces risk but IEDs and night patrols remain concerns."},{"name":"Takhta Pul","level":"caution","note":"Central commercial zone near markets; pickpocketing and robbery reported in crowded bazaars Jul-Sep 2026."}]}}