A co-driver runs to reach his truck that has just entered the Northern side of the Salang tunnel which has been painted with Taliban's slogan "Either Sharia or Martyrdom".
A co-driver runs to reach his truck that has just entered the Northern side of the Salang tunnel which has been painted with Taliban's slogan "Either Sharia or Martyrdom".
4000er peaks of the Hindu Kush build a panorama to the southern side of the Salang pass.
4000er peaks of the Hindu Kush build a panorama to the southern side of the Salang pass.
Gol Agha stands guard during his shift at the tunnel as a "chain boy" warms himself up in the hut.
Gol Agha stands guard during his shift at the tunnel as a "chain boy" warms himself up in the hut.
Lorry drivers put on tyre chains during a light snow storm before they drive into the Salang tunnel.
Lorry drivers put on tyre chains during a light snow storm before they drive into the Salang tunnel.
Workers of the Salang tunnel directorate sprinkle sand on the iced surface of the road.
Workers of the Salang tunnel directorate sprinkle sand on the iced surface of the road.
Agha Mohammad (r.) a shop owner at the northern side of the Salang tunnel, rests as two workers, Gol Agha (c.) and Abdullah Khan warm themselves in his tiny hut. Due to the economic crisis very few customers show up at the shop.
Agha Mohammad (r.) a shop owner at the northern side of the Salang tunnel, rests as two workers, Gol Agha (c.) and Abdullah Khan warm themselves in his tiny hut. Due to the economic crisis very few customers show up at the shop.
Workers at the maintenance village in Northern Salang, pass through the iced former Soviet base on 3600m altitude as they pick up their room's daily ration for breakfast. The village's stray dog called Max watches them passing by.
Workers at the maintenance village in Northern Salang, pass through the iced former Soviet base on 3600m altitude as they pick up their room's daily ration for breakfast. The village's stray dog called Max watches them passing by.
Right after waking up, Shakeeb Ataee, technical director of the Northern side of Salang tunnel inquires about and supervises maintenance operations from his personal room that faces the tunnel's entrance.
Right after waking up, Shakeeb Ataee, technical director of the Northern side of Salang tunnel inquires about and
supervises maintenance operations from his personal room that faces the tunnel's entrance.
Workers at a sub station in Northern Salang gather for lunch distribution in the kitchen. The meal is portioned per capita by the directorate and repeats every day. Two eggs for breakfast, meat and potato stew for lunch and rice and beans for dinner. Sometimes the lunch and dinner are swapped.
Workers at a sub station in Northern Salang gather for lunch distribution in the kitchen. The meal is portioned per
capita by the directorate and repeats every day. Two eggs for breakfast, meat and potato stew for lunch and rice and beans for dinner. Sometimes the lunch and dinner are swapped.
Morid, a specialised service worker of the Salang tunnel directorate prepares his the water sprinkling truck. The old soviet built septic tank truck has been converted into a water sprinkler in order to daily wet the unpaved surface of the tunnel avoiding sand raising in the air and polluting the sight.
Morid, a specialised service worker of the Salang tunnel directorate prepares his the water sprinkling truck. The
old soviet built septic tank truck has been converted into a water sprinkler in order to daily wet the unpaved surface of the tunnel avoiding sand raising in the air and polluting the sight.
A service worker of the Salang tunnel shows his worn out working gloves prior to start sprinkling sand on the iced surface of the road.
A service worker of the Salang tunnel shows his worn out working gloves prior to start sprinkling sand on the iced surface of the road.
The Taliban police director of Salang tunnel, "Doctor Ansarii" (wearing Turban) stops for a chat with the technical director of the Northern Salang, Shakeeb Ataee (2.f.r.) during his daily patrol.
The Taliban police director of Salang tunnel, "Doctor Ansarii" (wearing Turban) stops for a chat with the technical director of the Northern Salang, Shakeeb Ataee (2.f.r.) during his daily patrol.
Workers watch TV during their lunch break in their barrack at the Northern Salang maintenance village.
Workers watch TV during their lunch break in their barrack at the Northern Salang maintenance village.
A worker washes clothes in a derelict hall at the Northern Salang maintenance village that was planned as a dining hall during Soviet times.
A worker washes clothes in a derelict hall at the Northern Salang maintenance village that was planned as a dining hall during Soviet times.
Good journey - Away with evil's eye - safe journey reads the decorated back of a truck as the dirver adjusts its load before entering the tunnel.
Good journey - Away with evil's eye - safe journey reads the decorated back of a truck as the dirver adjusts its load before entering the tunnel.
Shop keepers at the northern end of the Salang tunnel clean their shop fronts and roofs from the fresh snow fallen over night.
Shop keepers at the northern end of the Salang tunnel clean their shop fronts and roofs from the fresh snow fallen over night.
Abdul Agha, a specialised worker at the Northern Salang maintenance village gestures as he discusses with his colleagues in their barrack before dinner.
Abdul Agha, a specialised worker at the Northern Salang maintenance village gestures as he discusses with his
colleagues in their barrack before dinner.
Bad sight in the tunnel is quite a common phenomenon due to dust rising from the unpaved flooring and at times not functioning ventilators.
Bad sight in the tunnel is quite a common phenomenon due to dust rising from the unpaved flooring and at times not functioning ventilators.
Anwar, a simple worker at the Northern Salang maintenance village leaves with his personal belongings after he was discharged due to restructuring by Taliban administration a day earlier.
Anwar, a simple worker at the Northern Salang maintenance village leaves with his personal belongings after he was discharged due to restructuring by Taliban administration a day earlier.
Trucks leave the Northern end of the Salang Tunnel passing the servicing village at 3600m altitude as the dusk sets in.
Trucks leave the Northern end of the Salang Tunnel passing the servicing village at 3600m altitude as the dusk sets in.
Ali Ahmad pulls a tyre chain tight on a truck. He earns a few cents per day by installing tyre chains - that are obligatory to pass the tunnel - on vehicles.
Ali Ahmad pulls a tyre chain tight on a truck. He earns a few cents per day by installing tyre chains - that are obligatory to pass the tunnel - on vehicles.
A canted over truck lies on the road of the Northern side of the Salang pass. It needs to be offloaded thus it can be lifted by a crane later.
A canted over truck lies on the road of the Northern side of the Salang pass. It needs to be offloaded thus it can be lifted by a crane later.

The Vein

High up in the Hindu Kush, at 3600m above sea level lies Afghanistan‘s highest and most important tunnel. The logistical vein has been constructed in 1964 by the Soviet Union and has later been logistically crucial to the Soviet occupation by easing the connection from the North of the country to Kabul.

Ever since its construction, due to its strategic location the tunnel has born witness to a shattered history – numerous armed conflicts and various regime changes. With the fall of the NATO supported government in Afghanistan and the comeback of the Taliban, the group has also set up a new cadre for the administration and maintenance of the country‘s major North-South connection. However experts raise serious doubts about the capabilities of the new administration despite them having done some long neglected basic ground work.

Fierce atmospheric conditions in the winter season combined with poor maintenance mostly due to corruption during the past two decades, make the journey through the tunnel an adventure. Reports of people freezing to death because of cars stuck due to avalanches, smoke poisoning due to bad ventilation or road accidents are nothing uncommon.

Workers based at maintenance hubs at both ends of the tunnel work under high risk and harsh conditions to keep the vein pulsating. Cleaning snow off the road, pouring sand on iced surfaces, dispersing water on the unasphalted floor to lower the dust and guiding vehicles count to their daily tasks. An archaic men-only cosmos.