Kheili mamnoun, Thanks EO !
Well, all my paper maps, both Iranian and Western printed, do show a straight road north from Shahdad to Birjand without having to detour to Nehbandan. That is odd. It sort of parallels the main Kerman-Mashhad highway to the east.
I have done my homework and researched the risk assessment in Northern Afghanistan. The situation is fast deteriorating.
The Talibans have strongholds in Faryab Province near the Turkmen border and 6 Red Cross staff were ambushed and killed in Jowzjan Province ( slightly east of Balkh ) last week... Sad.
Badakhshan Province is not doing that well either with the islamist insurgents gaining territories and valleys very close to Ishkashim and the Tajik border ( which was closed for some time last summer ). Even the Wakhan Corridor looks under threat.
Mazar might be the next target.
Cheers,
Levelo.
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