ا.ا.ا bars public from desert recreation areas in five Kandahar districts

The ا.ا.ا administration has barred people from visiting sandy desert recreation areas in the Spin Boldak, Takhta Pul, Dand, Panjwai and Maiwand districts of Kandahar province. The decision was reported on Sunday, 18 October.

Some local residents said forces had been instructed to stop people from going to the sites. According to them, the decision was made as winter approaches, the season when the number of people heading to the dunes for picnics and leisure rises.

Kandahar's Department of Information and Culture, however, said the areas had been closed because of criminal incidents and clashes. The department did not say which incidents led to the decision or how long the ban would remain in place.

The desert areas usually attract thousands of visitors on holidays. Some social media users criticised the move, saying it further limits people's chances to relax and spend their free time outside their homes.

The ban comes amid a range of restrictions on public life and recreation imposed in Afghanistan since 2021; in November 2022, for example, women were barred from visiting parks and amusement areas in Kabul.