Taliban Begin Construction on Kabul–Bamyan Highway Segment in Maidan Wardak

The Taliban’s Ministry of Public Works has launched construction on a key 25-kilometer section of the Kabul–Bamyan highway in Afghanistan’s Maidan Wardak province. The project, which stretches from the provincial capital Maidan Shahr to Jalrez district, is expected to cost more than 570 million Afghanis.

Taliban officials in Maidan Wardak, including the deputy technical minister of public works and the provincial governor, attended a ceremony to inaugurate the project. According to them, the road is being reconstructed as part of a major transit corridor connecting Kabul to western provinces such as Herat and will be implemented by the private sector.

At the inauguration, the deputy technical minister stated that the project would be carried out under the directive of Taliban leadership and in line with established technical standards. The provincial governor also welcomed the initiative and stressed that the project would be executed according to its contractual terms.

While the road rehabilitation is expected to improve local mobility and facilitate the transport of agricultural and commercial goods, some experts have raised concerns about the lack of transparency in infrastructure projects under Taliban rule. Public oversight and media access to contract details remain limited.

The Taliban have claimed that they will provide employment opportunities for local residents through such projects. However, the absence of an accountable governance system has often led to unfulfilled promises and projects conducted without proper evaluation.