In the remote districts of Doab, Mandol, and Nurgaram in Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, residents face daily struggles due to the deteriorating road connection to the provincial capital, Parun.
The lack of reliable transportation has made travel to the heart of Nuristan increasingly difficult.
The primary road linking these three western districts of Nuristan to Parun stretches 47 kilometers and, built in the early days of the republic, remains in a rudimentary and unfinished state.
Locals emphasize the urgent need for the road to be widened and paved, as its current condition makes even the simplest trips a major challenge.
Residents say the lack of infrastructure has forced them to endure countless hardships. Ahmad, from the Mandol district, shares the frustration many feel: “We face so many problems. Traveling to the center is very difficult, and we have patients who need urgent care.”
Similarly, Rahmat Shah from Doab district points out the impact on daily life: “We struggle with travel. Our plea is for the authorities to address our concerns.”
For Amir Mohammad of Nurgaram, the road’s poor condition significantly affects his livelihood. “When there is work in the capital, we first go to Laghman, then Nangarhar, and then to Kunar before finally reaching Nuristan. The travel costs us about five thousand afghanis,” he explains.
In response, Ehsanullah Ahmad, the head of Rural Rehabilitation and Development Directorate in Nuristan, has promised to take action. He confirms that discussions with several aid organizations are underway to improve the road connecting Nuristan’s western and central districts.
“We plan to complete the remaining work on the road next year, and efforts to begin paving are currently in progress,” he says.
Nuristan, one of Afghanistan’s most isolated provinces, shares a border with Pakistan. Most of its roads remain underdeveloped, making travel difficult and often dangerous.
