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__NOTOC__{{infobox Infobox Country
== Safety ==Collective taxis with fixed fares travel between cities once they are filled with passengers. Travelling with a backpack there means extra cost, but that's where you can bargain. There are also minibuses, a bit cheaper but much more crowded.
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{{stub}}
|country = Afghanistan
|in = Southern Asia
|map = <map lat='34.05' lng='67.1' zoom='5' view='0' height='300' country='Afghanistan' />
|language = Dari (Persian) and Pashto
|capital = [[Kabul]]
|pop = 3128,889150,923000
|currency = Afghani (AFN)
|hitch = from {{Senseless}} to {{average}}
}}
'''Afghanistan''' is a country in [[Asia]]. The capital is [[Kabul]]. It has borders to [[Iran]], [[Turkmenistan]], [[Uzbekistan]], [[Tajikistan]], [[China]] and [[Pakistan]]. Part of the [[Silk road]] and formerly part of the so-called [[Hippie trail]], it has since been invaded by the Soviets, ruled by the Taliban and attacked by the United States.
Little people speak English or Russian, and there is an anti-Western feeling throughout the country.
== Hitchhiking culture==
According to Lonely Planet, hitchhiking equals taking a taxi in Afghanistan, as people use to flag cars down that go in there direction, and are taken against a fee. Some Afghans might let you hitch a ride out of curiosity, though. In some regions resp. seasons, hitching on trucks is the only way to travel. Most NGOs are banned from picking up hitchhikers, more specifically UN-based of large humanitarian organisations (but still, it's mainly NGOs picking up). If you choose to hitchhike, be prepared to be questioned by the police over and over again. It is unusual for people to understand a "sign", peope hitchhiking with one still get questioned about their destinations.
Afghanistan has the lower rate of cars per inhabitant in the world. Travelling by public transport or staying in hotels is rather expensive compared to Central Asia. Collective taxis with fixed fares travel between cities once they are filled with passengers ===Maps=== * [http://www. Travelling with a bakpack there means extra cost, but that's where you can bargainaims. There are also minibuses, a bit cheaper but much more crowdedorg. af/maps/national/routh_maps/road_network/road_network.pdf A recent road map of Afghanistan (2004)] ==Cities== * [[Kabul]]* Herat* Kandahar* Mazar-e Sharif* Jalalabad* Ghazni* Kunduz ==Public Transport==
==Safety==
It's probably quite an unsafe country to travel to let alone to hitchhike even though Muslim hospitality might make up for that. Be aware that land mines are widespread in the country. Known landfields are marked with cobblestones painted red (towards the field) and white (safer zone). They are identified MF (Mine Field) and LM (Land Mines). Another concern is around the opium traffic route - through the Panj river.
In 2006, a Russian hitchhiker traveling in Afghanistan went missing. For more information, read [http://www.digihitch.com/ftopict-6046.html here].
=== Women ===
It goes without saying that women are advised to cover as much hair and skin as possible when travelling in Afghanistan. It's not only a matter of safety, but it's a matter of respect too. Consider a Salwar Kameez with proper headwear. Afghan women do not chat up men in public, or make eye contact with them, or smile to them. Keep in mind that your behaviour and body language might send strong messages to men. Avoid all bodily contact in public. It is generally advised to travel with a male companion.
While researching on the topic, [[user:Perilisk|perilisk]] couldn't find any woman's account of hitchhiking in Afghanistan.
== Border crossing Crossing==
Hitchhikers have crossed to Afghanistan:
* Some people allegedly tried to cross from [[Uzbekistan]], via Termez on the Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge, but were refused, as only NGOs are allowed to cross there (no tourists).
== Links Eating & Drinking== ==Accomodation & Sleeping== ==Other Useful Info==* [http://www.aims.org.af/maps/national/routh_maps/road_network/road_network.pdf A recent road map of Afghanistan (2004)]
* [http://www.digihitch.com/article987.html Pashtunistan, Moses, and the Lizard... Hitchhiking Pakistan with Juan Villarino] - a travel story about hitchhiking Afghanistan.
* [http://acrobatoftheroad.blogspot.com/search/label/Afghanistan Across Afghanistan by Thumb], by Juan Villarino
* [http://traveloblog.com/trip/ludovic-hubler/asia-afghanistan-kabul-.html Ludovic Hubler's entry on Pakistan/Afghanistan]
* [http://wikitravel.org/en/Afghanistan Afghanistan on Wikitravel]
* [http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http://www.afghanistan.travel.ru/&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&twu=1&usg=ALkJrhhdsnaxXeOsRJbIiRzuK1gj31gOmQ Google translation to English of the AVP Afghanistan page]
===English News Websites===
* [http://www.e-ariana.com/ e-ariana]
* [http://www.myafghan.com/ MyAfghan]
[[de:Afghanistan]]
[[wikipedia:Afghanistan]]
[[wikitravel:Afghanistan]]
[[digi:Afghanistan]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Southern Asia]]
[[Category:Afghanistan]]
