Pul-e-Charkhi prison, maximum security prison located in Kabul, Afghanistan
Pul-e-Charkhi is a large prison facility in Kabul with high walls, watchtowers, and barbed wire forming a fortified compound. The complex contains numerous cells and a small courtyard where inmates are allowed brief outdoor time.
The prison was used during periods of political unrest and saw significant changes over decades. In December 1979, soldiers stormed the gates, leading to the release of many inmates, but the facility remained a place of suffering and fear.
The facility is a high-security location with limited or no public access, so visits are typically not possible. It is best to approach from outside and respect guards and barriers, as this remains an active prison.
The prison was a site of executions and violence, with many occurring both inside and outside its walls. Families waited long hours outside the gates seeking news of loved ones, a reflection of the profound human tragedy that marked this place.
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