A local woman who had planned to be in Afghanistan now for a climbing trip is relieved she pulled out of the expedition just two months ago.

The speed of the Taliban's conquest of Afghan cities and now capital Kabul has taken local people and international observers by surprise this week. It comes after US President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw US forces from Afghanistan after 20 years of war.

There are now fears of a Taliban crackdown on freedom of speech and women's rights.

Wanaka resident Patricia Deavoll was part of a group of mountaineers who planned a traverse of Koh-e-Barfi and Koh-e-Langar (both mountains are over 7,000m) in Afghanistan.

Patricia Deavoll and her sister Chris Byrch on the summit of Koh e Baba Tangi in the Wakhan Corridor, a 6800m peak.

“I just had a really bad feeling about it,” Patricia told the Wanaka App. “I was worried about the Taliban and the chance of getting stuck there.”

Having undertaken three mountaineering trips to Afghanistan (in 2011, 2012, and 2017), Pat said she has “a vested interest in the place”. 

“I'm pretty annoyed with the Afghan military. The US put a trillion dollars into training, maintenance and support over 20 years, but the moment the US pulls out the Afghan military folds and within days the Taliban have control. 

Porters who assisted Patricia’s group in 2012 on the first ascent of Koh-e-Rank (6050m).

They’ve just given up. I don’t understand it.”

Patricia has been in touch with a climbing friend who knows mountaineers who are now stuck in Afghanistan.

“When I was there in 2012 the border was closed for a period of time and the only way we got back was to use bribes of US hundred dollar notes,” she said.

Men at the petrol pump in the village of Ishkashim.

Each time she has visited Afghanistan she has climbed in the Wakhan Corridor.

“Rather than fly into Kabul and travel north, we fly into the capital of Tajikistan and travel south for about 25 hours on a 4WD, and travel north and cross the border from there.”

In the past few days much of the Wakhan Corridor has fallen to Taliban control.

“I’m glad I didn’t go, but I’m also disappointed because it’s my favourite place to go climbing. It’s really out there, it’s really wild, and the people are really nice,” she said.

Patricia expected the Afghan border to be closed once more under Taliban control.

PHOTOS: Patricia Deavoll