The national airline is Ariana Afghan Airlines (FG) (website: www.flyariana.com). At the time of writing, there are regular flights from Kabul to Ankara and Istanbul (Turkey), Delhi (India), Dubai (UAE), Amristar (India), Tehran (Iran), Frankfurt and Munich (Germany), Moscow (Russian Federation), Urumqi (China), Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Kuwait City (Kuwait), Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Baku (Azerbaijan) and Sharjah (UAE). Pakistan International Airlines (PK) (website: www.piac.com.pk) also flies three times a week from Islamabad to Kabul. There is a United Nations presence in the country, with aid mission flights in operation. For further information, consult a local Embassy or the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (website: www.fco.gov.uk). Currently, the FCO advises against its employees (and therefore all travellers should take note) travelling to Afghanistan on Ariana Airlines or Kam Air due to suspected safety concerns that have not yet been fully addressed and assessed.

Kabul Airport (KBL) is 16km (10 miles) from the city. The airport was largely destroyed during the conflict at the end of 2001 but has now re-opened for limited international commercial flights as well as military and aid flights. To/from the airport: Taxis are available to the city centre (travel time - 30 minutes). Facilities: Bank, bar and restaurant.

AFA200. Children under two years of age are exempt.

Overland travel is currently very dangerous in some parts of the country, with rural roads often unpaved, and the official advice is that it should be avoided. Prior to US bombing, buses used to operate along the Asia Highway, which links Afghanistan to Iran and Pakistan. There were also good road links from Mazar-i-Sharif and Herat to the countries in the north. It is, however, now known that 80 per cent of all roads and bridges have been destroyed. It will be a slow process to repair the damage.

There are limited internal flights; Kam Air operates twice-daily flights between Kabul and Herat. Main airports: Kabul Airport (KBL) is 16km (10 miles) from the city.

Prior to the 2001 conflict, there were over 22,000km (13,000 miles) of roads, some of which were paved. This network has largely been destroyed. Traffic drives on the right. Documentation: International Driving Permit required.

Buses, trolleybuses and taxis used to operate in Kabul but often proved unreliable. Since the conflict, some services have resumed, but are less reliable than ever due to the extensive infrastructure and vehicle destruction incurred.