Date: [23-24 January]
Location: Multiple provinces of Afghanistan
Severe weather conditions, including heavy snowfall and rainfall, caused widespread road closures and left numerous civilians stranded across several provinces, including Kabul, Parwan, Kapisa, Maidan Wardak, Ghazni, Paktia, Samangan, and others. Units of the National Islamic Army, supported by engineering and air force elements, conducted coordinated emergency rescue and road-clearing operations to protect civilians, restore transportation routes, and provide humanitarian assistance.
Civilian Rescue Operations
Civilians stranded in snow-affected areas of Salang, Mahipar, Arghandi, and other regions were transferred from hazardous locations to safe areas.
Forces of the 3rd Infantry Brigade in Surobi (313 Central Corps) rescued a large number of citizens trapped in snow and also provided assistance along the Kabul–Jalalabad highway to prevent traffic accidents and vehicle skidding.
In Zarmat district, Paktia province, 17 miners were rescued from severe cold and snow conditions with the help of aerial support.
In Jaghori district, six civilians stranded due to heavy snowfall were transported to Ghazni city by an MI-17 helicopter of the Ministry of National Defense Air Force, demonstrating aerial emergency readiness.
Civilians stranded in the Gak area of Hazrat Sultan district were safely rescued.
In the Shabaghli area of Khulm district, Samangan province, personnel of the 2nd Infantry Brigade, 209 Al-Fath Corps rescued a large cargo truck and numerous stranded civilians. Roads were reopened, and essential food supplies were delivered.
Vehicle Recovery and Public Assistance
Personnel of the 5th Infantry Brigade in Maidan Wardak freed many civilian vehicles that had been stuck in snow, lifted overturned vehicles, and assisted stranded travelers in the provincial center as well as in Sayyidabad and Behsud I districts.
Engineering and Road Clearance Operations
The Engineering Directorate of the 2nd Infantry Brigade, 205 Al-Badr Corps rescued citizens stranded on the Kabul–Kandahar highway and contributed to reopening the route.
Soldiers of the 2nd Infantry Brigade at Charkhi Pul (313 Central Corps) cleared snow from the Shah Arous Dam road, reopening it to traffic.
The Engineering Battalion of the Mansouri Corps cleared the Khost–Kabul highway from the Ghalgai area to the Chatto Pass, where heavy rainfall had caused severe travel disruptions.
In Kapisa province, heavy snowfall had closed roads in the Nijrab, Alasay, and Tagab districts. The Chief of Staff of the 2101 Infantry Brigade under the 221 Shaheed Aftab Division, accompanied by an engineering team, initiated field operations to reopen these routes.
In Siah Gerd district of Parwan province, the main road of Kheshko Valley was reopened through the efforts of the Parwan Brigade’s engineering team.
Earlier, due to heavy snowfall, the Herat–Kandahar highway was also reopened in affected sections through coordinated action involving military and local authorities.
Livestock and Humanitarian Support
Defense forces of the Islamic National Army’s Parwan Brigade rescued hundreds of livestock belonging to nomadic herders in the Gulbahar area of Jabal al-Saraj district, where animals had been stranded by snowfall.
In Maidan Wardak province, military personnel provided emergency assistance to a woman suffering from gas poisoning in a camp for returning refugees.
Overall Mission
Throughout the severe weather emergency, military and engineering personnel remained fully mobilized to reopen major highways, assist stranded civilians, recover vehicles, deliver essential supplies, protect livestock, and provide urgent humanitarian aid. These coordinated efforts significantly reduced risks to public safety and restored critical transportation links.
