Chaman is not a safe or practical place to visit as a tourist in 2026. The town sits on the Afghan border in northern Balochistan, the UK government advises against all travel to Balochistan and to anywhere within 10 miles of the Afghan border, and the border crossing at Chaman has been closed or heavily restricted since October 2025. Pakistanis from the area live and work there, but there are no visitor facilities and no sights that justify the risk.
This guide explains what the advice says, what has happened at the border, what the road from Quetta is like, and what to do if you have a genuine reason to go. If you were hoping to see the pass on the way, our guide to Khojak Pass and the Khojak Tunnel covers it, with the same caution.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Location | Chaman District, Balochistan, on the Afghan border opposite Spin Boldak |
| Elevation | About 1,338 m |
| Population | About 130,000 (2023 census) |
| From Quetta | Roughly 130 km by rail; the N-25 highway runs the same corridor |
| UK advice | Against all travel to Balochistan and within 10 miles of the Afghan border |
| Border crossing | Closed since October 2025, restricted since; check current status |
| Train | Quetta to Chaman passenger service reported suspended (September 2026) |
What does the UK advise about Chaman?
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against all travel to Balochistan, and separately against all travel within 10 miles of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Chaman falls inside both. The same advice warns that travelling against it can invalidate travel insurance, which matters if you hold a foreign passport.
Read your own government's current advice rather than relying on this page, because the district is a high-risk border area and conditions change quickly.
Why is the Chaman border closed?
Chaman is the main crossing between Pakistan and southern Afghanistan, linking to Spin Boldak and the road to Kandahar. It has been a trade route and a people route for a long time, and Chaman's economy is built around it.
The recent history, in brief:
- 2024. Pakistan began to require passports and visas for people crossing, where before the border residents could cross on identity cards. That led to weeks of sit-ins in Chaman and clashes in which dozens were injured.
- October 2025. After Pakistani air strikes in Afghanistan and retaliation by Afghan forces, the Chaman crossing was closed on 12 October following deadly clashes. It reopened for some people in late October after ceasefire talks, while trade stayed shut for longer.
- 2026. Reports describe a new round of fighting at the end of February 2026 and a crossing that stayed "restricted". In June 2026 reporting said the border had been shut for most purposes since October 2025 and that visas for Afghan citizens were suspended.
The effect on the town has been severe. Traders interviewed in late 2025 described Chaman as close to total unemployment, with the markets hard hit, and a trade that had once been worth about 200 million US dollars a month is largely stopped. If you read an older travel page that describes crossing at Chaman, treat it as out of date.
Is the road from Quetta safe?
The N-25 highway runs from Quetta through Pishin and Qila Abdullah, over the Khojak Pass and down to Chaman, about 110 kilometres to the pass and a little further beyond. It is the main route for trucks and local travel, and also a route that protests regularly block.
Examples from the news: in June 2026 five tribesmen were killed in an armed attack in the Mezi Adda area of Qila Abdullah, and relatives blocked the Quetta to Chaman highway with the bodies until talks with officials ended the sit-in. Earlier, in February 2024, blasts hit Pishin and Qila Saifullah.
There is a train, the Chaman Passenger, which normally takes more than four and a half hours from Quetta, but it was reported in September 2026 to have been suspended for around six months with no restart date. Train operations in and out of Quetta have been disrupted several times in 2026, including after a deadly bombing in Quetta in May.
Do you need a permit or NOC to go to Chaman?
We could not find a published, current NOC rule for ordinary visitors travelling to Chaman, and we will not guess one. What is certain is that Balochistan has checkpoints, that you should carry your CNIC (or passport and visa, if foreign), and that police or levies may stop travellers heading to the border. Our guide on the CNIC and documents for Balochistan travel covers what is usually asked for, and the rules on night travel in Balochistan apply on this road too.
Foreign nationals should assume that travel to the border district needs prior approval and that the authorities may refuse it. Check with the provincial authorities and your embassy before you consider it.
Is Chaman worth visiting?
For a visitor, no. The town is a trading and transit centre rather than a destination. Its main interest is the border itself, and the crossing is closed. There are no hotels we can recommend, no tours we run, and not much you can do there that is not connected to trade or family.
If your reason for going is work, family, or research, the sensible steps are: confirm the border and road status locally the day before, travel only in daylight, tell someone your route, avoid crowds and protests, and keep to the main road. Avoid taking photographs near checkpoints or the border gate.
If you wanted to see Balochistan, there are better-supported places to start. Our guides to whether Balochistan is safe to travel to and whether Quetta is safe to visit set out the wider picture, and our travel guide explains how we assess access across Pakistan. The north, including Hunza and Skardu, is the easier place to plan a first trip.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chaman safe for tourists?
No. The UK advises against all travel to Balochistan and within 10 miles of the Afghan border, and Chaman is on that border. There are no tourist facilities, and the area has had protests, blockades and attacks.
Is the Chaman border open?
The crossing closed on 12 October 2025 and has been described as closed or restricted since, with trade and travel badly affected. Conditions change, so check local news before relying on it.
How far is Chaman from Quetta?
Roughly 130 kilometres along the railway line, and the N-25 highway follows the same corridor over the Khojak Pass. The pass is about 110 kilometres from Quetta.
Can foreigners visit Chaman?
Foreign visitors should not expect to be permitted, and the UK and other governments advise against it. Travelling against your government's advice can void insurance.
Is there a train from Quetta to Chaman?
The Chaman Passenger was reported suspended for around six months as of early September 2026, with no date for resuming.
