Afghanistan Map: Live Conflict Map & Key Locations
A satellite map of the Afghanistan conflict — Kabul, Kandahar and Herat — with a sourced, dated control status for 1 of the 8 locations plotted below.
Open the full Afghanistan tracker →Current situation
Since the 2021 Taliban takeover, Afghanistan faces an insurgency by the Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), a severe humanitarian and economic crisis, and tensions with neighbors.
Key actors: Taliban authorities — the de facto government. Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) — the principal insurgent threat. Civilian population — facing humanitarian and economic hardship. Neighboring states — managing borders and security concerns.
What's at stake: Humanitarian crisis — widespread poverty and aid dependence. Counter-terrorism — the ISIS-K threat to the region and beyond. Women's rights — severe restrictions under Taliban rule. Regional tensions — border disputes with Pakistan and others.
Afghanistan conflict map — key locations
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Kabulcity34.5553, 69.2075
Capital of Afghanistan, captured by the Taliban on August 15, 2021.
Control: Taliban (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) — Council on Foreign Relations, Global Conflict Tracker, as of 2026-08-03
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Kandaharcity31.6289, 65.7372
Southern city that serves as the Taliban's spiritual and political heartland.
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Heratcity34.3529, 62.2042
Major western Afghan city near the Iran border and a historic trade hub.
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Mazar-i-Sharifcity36.7092, 67.1108
Largest city in northern Afghanistan and a former stronghold of anti-Taliban forces before 2021.
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Durand Lineborder33.7000, 69.9000
Contested colonial-era border dividing Pashtun tribal lands between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the site of repeated cross-border clashes since October 2025.
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Torkhamborder34.1042, 71.0797
Main Afghanistan-Pakistan border crossing on the historic Khyber Pass route, repeatedly closed during 2025-2026 clashes.
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Spin Boldakborder31.0089, 66.4258
Southern Afghan border town opposite Pakistan's Chaman, another key crossing point affected by cross-border fighting.
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Panjshir Valleyregion35.3500, 69.6000
Mountainous valley northeast of Kabul and historic center of anti-Taliban resistance.
Where to go for the full picture
This map page is a fast, visual companion. The 8 locations plotted above (1 with a sourced, dated control status) are the same ones listed under the map heading, colour-keyed to match their pin. For the complete profile — actors, conflict type, intensity, timeline, and continuously updated headlines — see the Full Afghanistan conflict tracker.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a live map of the Afghanistan conflict?
Yes. This page plots 8 key locations for the Afghanistan conflict on a satellite map, 1 of them with a sourced, dated control status, covering the areas most frequently searched for. Coordinates and descriptions are listed below the map for anyone whose browser cannot load the interactive layer.
How current is the control status shown here?
Every control claim on this page shows the source it came from and the date it was current as of, directly beneath the location it describes. Locations without a listed control status are shown for geographic reference only, without an unsourced control claim.
Where can I read the full Afghanistan conflict briefing?
See the Full Afghanistan conflict tracker for the complete profile, or the Afghanistan conflict briefing for deeper analysis.
Source provenance
- Council on Foreign Relations, Global Conflict Tracker 2 days · as of 2026-08-03
- News feed 0 days · as of 2026-08-05
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-05 | Headlines refreshed | News feed |
| 2026-08-03 | Kabul control updated | Council on Foreign Relations, Global Conflict Tracker |