Nuristan and Panjshir Linked by Road for the First Time

For the first time, the provinces of Nuristan and Panjshir have been connected via a road.

Local officials in Nuristan say a 30-kilometer road in the “Chapa” valley of Mandol district was built with the support of a humanitarian organization.

The construction cost of the road was approximately 14 million Afghanis, and the work was completed within five months.

Zainulabideen Abid, Governor of Nuristan, said: “We inaugurated this road four months ago, and it is now nearly complete. This road connects Mandol district in Nuristan to Panjshir province.”

Mohammad Zahir Zarkamar, Head of Public Works in Nuristan, said: “This road was approved by the World Bank as part of rural development efforts, and they implemented the project.”

Local residents say that due to the lack of a road, they had faced serious challenges, but the construction of this road has resolved part of their problems.

Sultan Mohammad, a resident of Nuristan, said: “Many of our problems, especially in transporting patients and traveling to Panjshir have been eased, and we can now travel to the northern provinces as well.”

At the same time, construction work is underway on a 120-kilometer road connecting Nuristan to Kunar province.

According to officials, approximately 70 percent of the construction work on that road has been completed so far.