Indian Drivers and Afghanistan 2026: No Treaty, Keep Right
India
Afghanistan
No treaty route exists: Afghanistan is party to neither road convention, so an Indian IDP has no legal standing there. Traffic keeps right, alcohol is banned outright, and police answer on 119.
An Indian licence holder looking at a drive in Afghanistan meets two hard facts before any question of speed limits: there is no treaty that makes Indian driving papers valid there, and the government travel advice that does exist is about danger on the road, not paperwork.
The paperwork gap
India is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention on road traffic and issues its international driving permits under it. The UN Treaty Collection lists Afghanistan as a party to neither the 1949 nor the 1968 convention. A permit from an Indian RTO therefore has no treaty standing in Afghanistan, and nothing obliges a checkpoint or hire firm to accept it. The Driving Permit Checker covers countries where an Indian licence or IDP is recognised.
Road conditions
The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Afghanistan and describes road travel as highly dangerous; border crossings are volatile and can close at short notice. Mobile and internet services may be cut without warning, so phone navigation cannot be relied on. Photographing government buildings, military sites or Taliban checkpoints can lead to detention, and the Taliban have made it illegal for women to travel more than 72 km without a male relative.
Switching to the right
India drives on the left; Afghanistan drives on the right. Junctions, overtaking and roundabouts all reverse, and the reflex glance at a crossing points the wrong way.
Alcohol
India’s limit is 30 mg per 100 ml of blood under section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act. In Afghanistan the question does not arise: GOV.UK says alcohol may not be used or brought into the country, and you could be arrested.
Emergency number
GOV.UK lists 119 for the police. The Afghanistan driving guide has the rest of what is known.
Sources
- UN Treaty Collection, 1949 Convention on Road Traffic (India party; Afghanistan absent): treaties.un.org
- UN Treaty Collection, 1968 Convention on Road Traffic (Afghanistan and India absent): treaties.un.org
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Afghanistan (advice against all travel): gov.uk
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Afghanistan safety and security (road travel highly dangerous; border crossings; alcohol ban; checkpoints; women’s travel limit; communications cut-offs): gov.uk
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Afghanistan getting help (police 119): gov.uk
- India Code, Motor Vehicles Act 1988, section 185 (30 mg per 100 ml): indiacode.nic.in
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Frequently Asked Questions
Not on any treaty basis. India issues permits under the 1949 Geneva Convention, but the UN Treaty Collection lists Afghanistan as a party to neither the 1949 nor the 1968 road traffic convention, so the permit carries no guaranteed recognition there.
The right. India keeps left, so every junction, overtake and roundabout runs the opposite way from home.
No. GOV.UK travel advice says alcohol may not be used or brought into the country and that you could be arrested for it. India's own limit of 30 mg per 100 ml of blood is irrelevant there.