N-40 Quetta-Taftan Highway Guide

The N-40 is the 610 km national highway that runs from Lakpass, near Quetta, west through Nushki, Dalbandin and Nokkundi to Taftan on the Iranian border. It is a remote, two-lane desert road used mainly by trucks, oil tankers and cross-border traffic, not by tourists, and the UK government advises against all travel to Balochistan. In 2026 it has seen blockades, a bridge bombing and tanker burnings, so this guide is about understanding the road and its current status, not recommending a drive.

If you are working out how to reach Taftan or Iran, the practical answer today is usually a flight rather than a road trip. The sections below explain why and what the road is like.

Where does the N-40 go?

The highway leaves the N-25 at Lakpass, south of Quetta, and turns west into the dry country of Chagai. From there it passes Nushki, the last sizeable town before the desert, then runs across open desert plains to Dalbandin, the headquarters of Chagai district. Nokkundi lies about 150 km beyond Dalbandin, and Taftan is the border town where the road connects to Iran's Road 84.

This is thinly settled land. Distances between settlements are long, services are limited, and summer temperatures are very high. The Saindak copper-gold project and the Reko Diq mining site, about 110 km north of Nokkundi near the Afghan frontier, are the main reasons for heavy freight traffic.

What is the N-40 used for?

The road's importance is trade and transit rather than leisure:

• Cross-border trade. Iranian fuel and goods come in through Taftan, and tankers and trucks run the whole length to Quetta and beyond.
• Mining traffic. The Saindak and Reko Diq projects generate freight and security convoys.
• Pilgrim traffic. Taftan is the main land crossing for Pakistanis travelling to Iran and Iraq. In 2025 the interior minister said pilgrims would not be allowed to travel by road to Iran and Iraq for Arbaeen, and flights to Iran were increased. A registered-organiser system for pilgrims was announced from 1 January 2026. Check the current rule before relying on the road.
• Returns from Iran. After strikes on Iran in March 2026, many Pakistanis came back through Taftan, and the Nation reported more than 34,000 crossing in from 1 March to 16 July 2026.

What has happened on the road in 2026?

Please take this section seriously. These are the incidents we could confirm from news reports:

• February 2026. Security forces restricted the Nushki to Quetta section of the N-40 to daytime, with the road open from 9 am to 5 pm and closed from 5 pm to 9 am until further notice (Minute Mirror, 7 February 2026).
• 10 to 17 May 2026. News agencies reported a series of armed attacks and blockades along the highway between Mastung, Nushki, Dalbandin, Kharan and Washuk. A bridge at Sheikh Wasil near Nushki was blown up on 15 May and the road closed for several hours. Armed men were reported to have briefly taken parts of Dalbandin on 16 May, including a police station. Some of these accounts come from separatist claims and should be read with caution.
• 27 July 2026. According to Dawn, more than a dozen armed men stopped five empty oil tankers on the N-40 at Nokcha in Chagai district and burned them. No one was hurt.

In March 2025 the provincial government also banned night travel on major highways, with notifications for several districts. Our guide to the Balochistan night travel ban explains how it works. Reports from the time say the N-40 was limited to 6 am to 6 pm.

Because the situation changes quickly, a restriction in force this week may be eased or tightened next week. Local drivers, bus terminals in Quetta and the district administration are the only reliable sources.

Is the N-40 safe?

The UK government's advice is not to travel anywhere in Balochistan, and the area within about 10 miles (16 km) of the Afghan border is also on its list. Taftan sits on the Iranian border rather than the Afghan one, but Chagai district borders both. Overseas visitors should assume the road is closed to them, and travelling against government advice can void insurance. Non-Pakistanis also need permission to travel in much of the province.

Pakistanis do use the road, mostly truck drivers, traders, local families and officials. If you must travel it, the advice we would give is:

• Travel only in daylight and keep to the permitted hours.
• Carry your original CNIC. Expect checkposts at Nushki, Dalbandin and Nokkundi.
• Tell someone your route and expected arrival times.
• Check the morning's news for closures. For background, read our guide on whether Balochistan is safe to travel and on CNIC requirements in Balochistan.
• Avoid travelling in convoys of oil tankers or trucks, which have been targeted.

How long does the drive take?

News reports put Taftan about 500 km from Quetta, and the full N-40 is 610 km. On a two-lane desert road with checkposts and slow freight, that is a full day of driving for fit drivers in good conditions, and practically two days if you obey a daylight-only rule. We could not verify an official standard journey time, so treat any figure you read as an estimate.

Fuel is the main practical issue: fill up at Nushki and Dalbandin, carry extra water, and keep a spare tyre. Phone coverage is patchy outside towns.

Who should and shouldn't consider the N-40?

The N-40 doesn't lead to anywhere a visitor would stop for sightseeing. It is a freight and border road. If your goal is Iran, check the current rules for pilgrims and travellers, and consider the flights that were expanded in 2025. If you are looking for desert landscapes or a long road trip in Balochistan, there are far better-documented options, starting with the places in our guide to visiting Balochistan, and most are best seen when security allows.

It may be necessary for people with family or work in Nushki, Dalbandin or Nokkundi. They should follow local advice, not guidebooks. For everyone else, we would not plan a trip on this road in 2026.

Frequently asked questions