I
first encountered the Jalahbad Road in 2009 on
my first CP roll in Afghanistan and although I had
seen it on some documentaries, I had never seen in
the flesh before. If it was like the roads in Iraq and
from the stories I had heard, I was in for a treat!
Some say it’s the most dangerous road in
the world and I was about to travel down it from
the airport to the camp I would be staying on. At
first it looked like any other road in every other
hostile country I had travelled in. There were cars
travelling close to us (which I had not been used
to before) and the driving skills are some of the
worst I have ever come across. Thankfully it was
only about 2 km until we were safe within the
compound.
The Jalahbad Road, as it is known, extends
from Jalahbad in the East, through to Kabul. This
is the main supply route into the capital from
Pakistan, so there are hundreds of trucks using this
route to bring food and supplies in to the country.
In fact just about everything that is used comes this
way, with it being a landlocked country.
The part of the road that’s used
within the city starts not too far away
from Polosarki Prison, one of the
most dangerous prisons in the world
and one that has been attacked by
the Taliban to get people out - but
not anymore, not with 50 cals in the
towers.
The road travels into the city before forking
off at a roundabout; you have to circumnavigate a
few check points along the way but for the city part
its mostly tarmac. With it being the main supply
route it’s also the main entry point for the Taliban,
with layup points just outside the city were they
have their last night before travelling in the next
morning and creating havoc.
The Jalahbad Road is getting better and the police
are getting better out at the check points; but they
cannot check every car so it’s only a matter of time
before something gets through. I have travelled down
this road for years now and only see the devastation
of what’s been left behind after an attack - things get
back to normal straight away out here.
This road will continue to be the main route in
to Karbul City for insurgents and no matter what
happens in the near future regarding the security of
the country the Jabad road will always be a source
for trouble.