Khyber Pass forms a natural geographic barrier between Afghanistan and Pakistan and for thousands of years has been the dividing line or/and linking point of various empires and peoples, including Babur, Nadir Shah, Darious the Great, Buddhist travellers and the Greek troups.

But today, as in the most of its past history, the area is a wild west frontier, no mans land. We needed special government permission guide and a armed guard to leave Peshawar and enter the Khyber Pass. There is a 53km stretch of winding road and railway track that link Peshawar with the Afghan border at the Micini check point. The area off the main road is no-go area for not just foreigners but also the Pakistani authorities. Most of the area is run and ruled by the one of many tribes such as the Afridi, who make their money from drugs, weapons smuggling and money printing.

(1)Afghan border at the distance, the only threatening bits are the storm clouds.

(2/4)Plenty of overturned trucks along the way

(3)The western end of the Grand Trunk Road. The Road starts at the Khyber pass and stretches some 4000km eastwards to Kolkata in eastern India.
(5)Khyber Pass at its narrowest.

El paso Khyber es la barrera geologica natural entre Afganistan y Pakistan. Durante miles de anos ha sido la frontera, el punto de union o de separacion entre distintos imperios y civilizaciones, incluyendo Babur, el Shah Nadir de Iran, Dario el Grande, Alejandro Magno, peregrinos budistas, tropas griegas...
Hoy en dia la zona es una 'frontera salvaje', tierra de nadie. Para visitar el paso tuvimos que pedir un permiso a las autoridades, contratar un guia especial y llevar escolta armada desde Peshawar.
Hay unos 53 kilometros de carretera y ferrocarril de montana que unen Peshawar con la frontera afgana de Micini. Las zonas mas alla de la carretera principal son 'zona prohibida', no solo para los extranjeros sino tambien para las autoridades pakistanies ya que el territorio cercano a la frontera esta bajo la jurisdiccion de una de las numerosas tribus afganas, la tribu Afridi, que vive del contrabando.
(1)La frontera afgana en la distancia. La unica amenaza es la de lluvia!
(2/4)Varios camiones volcados en el camino.
(3) La gran carretera "Great Trunk Road" tiene su extremo occidental en el paso Khyber y se extiende hacia el este 4000km hasta Calcuta, en la India.
(5)El punto mas estrecho en el paso Khyber.