15-Jun-2004 -- Visit to Confluence Point 34N 69E Nr Puli Alam, Logar Province, Afghanistan.

15th June 2004
Those involved in the visit
Nick Peckett
Paul Nixon
Fareed (Afghan Driver)

As may be realized this is the first CP from Afghanistan. My work as Microwave Backbone Link Planner for the major Cellular Operator in Afghanistan takes me to many parts of the country. I use a GPS extensively in my work. While planning the link Kabul-Logar I noticed, while site searching near Puli Alam, which is the provincial capital of Logar province, that the 34N/69E CP was quite close. This prompted me, during my next visit to endeavor to visit this CP.

Visiting CP locations in Afghanistan as can be imagined is hazardous! Minefields are everywhere, some marked, some not. Al Qaeda and the Taliban remnants are a very dangerous additional hazard, mostly in the East and South of the country, normally we have armed guards with us on these field trips. Much of the country is over 2000masl and extremely mountainous. Roads are in a dreadful state and some of the little used back roads may contain anti tank mines. Poppy and Cannabis growing is extensive in many parts of the country, and the appearance of a western expat, with a GPS and binoculars can arouse suspicions of spying on narcotic cultivation for the eradication program, which can cause a very hostile reaction.

The CP near Puli Alam is relatively easy to reach with a track virtually adjacent to it. Anyone who has the opportunity to visit it should look for a large wood yard which is on a street running parallel to the main road on the West side. A track runs up the left side of the wood yard. Proceed along this track to the South West for about 2klm and when it enters a steep gully, the CP is approximately .5klm inside the gully. The CP is in the centre of the first bomb crater on the left.

Nick Peckett
Kabul
Afghanistan.