KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Australia has renewed its warning against travel to Afghanistan, citing the ongoing risks of terrorism, kidnapping, and arbitrary detention under Taliban rule, and saying no part of the country can be considered safe.
In an updated travel advisory published on Monday, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade urged Australians, including dual Australian-Afghan nationals, not to travel to Afghanistan for any reason, describing the security environment as “extremely dangerous.”
“Nowhere in Afghanistan is safe, even the capital,” the department said, warning that Australians have previously been kidnapped, arbitrarily detained, and targeted in militant attacks.
The department also pointed to ongoing military clashes between the Taliban and Pakistan, saying the conflict has led to intense fighting in border areas and bombings in urban centers, including Kabul, Kandahar, and other cities.
It warned the conflict could escalate further or spread without warning, while airports and border crossings could close suddenly.
Australia advised against all travel to Afghanistan, including for tourism, cultural visits, or family reasons, and cautioned against booking tours to the country. “Do not book a tourist trip to Afghanistan, even if offered by reputable operators,” the department said. “Westerners, including Australians, have been shot, injured, or killed while on a guided tour.”
The government said Australians who travel to Afghanistan despite the warning would be responsible for their own safety, noting that Australia has no embassy in Kabul and only a limited capacity to provide consular or passport assistance from outside the country.
Australia closed its embassy in Kabul in 2021 following the Taliban’s return to power, joining other Western countries that withdrew diplomatic staff amid the collapse of the former government.
The warning comes as several Western governments continue to maintain their highest-level travel advisories for Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power after the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces in August 2021. The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Germany have all issued similar warnings, highlighting security threats, arbitrary detentions, and the lack of regular diplomatic support.
The Taliban authorities have not commented on Australia’s latest advisory. However, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has previously rejected similar warnings from Western governments, saying Afghanistan is secure for foreign visitors and investors.
