Sabzak Pass

{{Short description| A mountain pass in northeastern Afghanistan.}}

{{Infobox mountain pass

| name = Sabzak Pass

| photo = File:Sabzak pass 01.jpg

| photo_caption = Sabzak pass, Hindu Kush, Afghanistan

| elevation = 2517 metres

| location = Sabzak, Afghanistan

| coordinates = {{Coord|34|38|16|N|63|06|56|E}}

}}

Sabzak Pass is a mountain pass in Afghanistan. It is located in the mountain range of Paropamisu, north of Herat and south of Badghis of Paropamisu.{{Cite journal|last=Oficina de Información Diplomática|date=May 2017|title=Afganistán|url=http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Documents/FichasPais/AFGANISTAN_FICHA%20PAIS.pdf|journal=Fichas Pais|page= 1}}{{Cite journal|date=2001|title=Afghanistan: A Country Study|url=http://countrystudies.us/afghanistan/32.htm|language=en|location=Washington|publisher=GPO for the Library of Congress}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ejercito.mde.es/actualidad/2012/03/1492.html|title=Los militares españoles llevan alimentos a un valle aislado por la nieve|date=20 March 2012|website=Ministerio de Defensa (España)}} It has an altitude of 2517 metres from sea level.{{Cite web|url=https://geografiainfo.es/nombres_geograficos/name.php?uni=-4820579&fid=159|title=Kowtal-e Sabzak: Afganistán|website=geografiainfo.es|access-date=21 October 2018}}

The Ring Road highway, which connects Herat and Qal'eh-ye Now, travels through Sabzak Pass. The road between the two cities, called "Lapis route", is 157 kilometres long. The road is in poor condition and is unpaved for most of the route. The route crosses the pass as a winding dirt road next to a gorge.{{Cite web|url=http://www.emad.mde.es/EMAD/novemad/noticias/2013/03/130315-convoy-alfa-qalainaw.html|title=El contingente español en Afganistán, ASPFOR XXXII, realiza los primeros convoyes de repliegue a Herat|date=15 March 2013|website=Ministerio de Defensa (España)}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ejercito.mde.es/en/personal/cruces_rojas/07_paso_sabzak.html|title=.:Spanish army - Sabzak Pass:.|website=www.ejercito.mde.es|access-date=2019-03-28}}

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan maintained and paved the road over the pass, and about 1,200 Afghan soldiers maintained it and protected it from the Taliban. When that government collapsed, this protection ended. Najibullah Bastani maintains an inn in the pass, the Sayed Abad Hotel, which serves as a lifeline for travelers.{{Cite news |last=Goldbaum |first=Christina |last2=Akbary |first2=Yaqoob |last3=Hayeri |first3=Kiana |date=2023-04-08 |title=In a Deadly Mountain Pass, a Tiny Hotel Is a Lifeline |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/08/world/asia/afghanistan-generosity-sabzak-pass.html |access-date=2023-04-10 |issn=0362-4331}}