Afghanistan remains one of the most challenging environments in which to operate, with significant implications for organisations sending employees, contractors or representatives into the country.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) currently advises against all travel to Afghanistan, citing the volatile security situation, the risk of terrorism, kidnapping and the heightened risk of British nationals being detained. The FCDO also states that its ability to provide assistance to British nationals in Afghanistan is severely limited. For businesses and organisations that nevertheless have a legitimate requirement to operate in the country, these risks raise an important question:
The threat to foreign nationals in Afghanistan extends beyond conventional criminal kidnapping.
The FCDO currently identifies a very high threat of terrorist kidnapping, with British nationals, including business travellers, humanitarian workers, journalists and tourists, potentially being targeted. There is also a significant risk of criminal kidnapping for ransom.
At the same time, foreign nationals face a significant risk of detention by the Taliban authorities. The FCDO warns that British nationals could face months or years in prison if detained, with limited clarity around the charges and very limited UK government ability to intervene.
This creates an important distinction for brokers and their clients:
Kidnap and detention are not necessarily the same risk, and the policy response to each can be materially different. Why does this matter for brokers?
A client may have an employee travelling to Afghanistan for what appears to be a relatively straightforward purpose — perhaps visiting a local partner, undertaking humanitarian work, conducting due diligence or overseeing a project.
However, the individual’s occupation, nationality, previous employment, connections, movements and reason for being in the country can all influence their exposure.
The FCDO specifically highlights increased detention risks for individuals with previous military connections or links to people previously detained. It also warns that foreign nationals’ activities may be viewed with suspicion.
For brokers, this means that simply asking “Does the client need a dedicated policy as opposed to an inner limit in a business travel policy?”
Questions worth asking your client
If a client has personnel travelling to, or already operating in, Afghanistan, consider asking:
- Who is travelling and what is their nationality?
- What is the purpose and duration of the visit?
- Where will they be travelling and staying?
- Are they employees, contractors, consultants or NGO/humanitarian personnel?
- Do any individuals have previous military, governmental or security connections?
- What security arrangements are in place?
- Does the organisation have an established crisis-management or evacuation plan?
- Does existing insurance respond to the proposed itinerary and activities?
- Does that provision contemplate kidnap, extortion and detention risks?
- Does the current cover exclude Afghanistan?
- Who would coordinate the response if an individual were kidnapped or detained?
Special Risks is about more than the ransom
A K&R policy is not simply a mechanism for paying a ransom. Specialist policies can provide access to experienced crisis-response specialists who can assist an insured organisation during a kidnap, extortion or other crisis situation.
Depending on the policy, associated services can include crisis management, negotiation and advice, helping an organisation manage an incident while protecting the welfare of the individual and wider business.
This is particularly important in environments such as Afghanistan, where the distinction between a criminal kidnapping, terrorist hostage-taking and detention by authorities can become critical.
The appropriate coverage therefore needs to be considered carefully against the actual circumstances of the individual, their activities and the territory in which they are operating.
The wider picture
The security environment is only one part of the challenge. The United Nations continues to report the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan alongside significant humanitarian and economic pressures. In September 2026, the UN also highlighted continuing regional instability and disruption affecting Afghanistan’s economy and borders.
For organisations with legitimate reasons to maintain a presence in the country, this reinforces the importance of considering security and crisis-response arrangements as part of the wider risk-management process.
A conversation worth having
Afghanistan is an extreme example, but the underlying principle applies much more broadly.
If you have a client with personnel, contractors or operations in Afghanistan or another high-risk territory, Markham Special Risks can assist with reviewing the exposure and considering appropriate specialist solutions.
If you would like to discuss which of your clients may benefit from specialist Special Risks cover or would like further information on the crisis response services available, please contact the Markham Special Risks team.