Taliban Authority Discusses Railway Expansion with Uzbekistan, Emphasizes Afghan-Trans Project Feasibility Study
The Taliban administration has announced that during a meeting between Afghan and Uzbek railway officials, emphasis was placed on initiating feasibility studies for the ‘Afghan-Trans’ project and increasing transit via the Hairatan railway route.
The Press Office of the Taliban’s Ministry of Public Works stated in a news release that Mullah Mohammad Ishaq Sahibzada, Deputy Minister of Railways, met with Zafar Nazarlov, the head of Uzbekistan’s railway administration, during his visit to Uzbekistan. According to the ministry, the meeting covered discussions on implementing joint projects and accelerating railway infrastructure plans.
The news release detailed that the main topics included starting surveys and feasibility studies for the Afghan-Trans project, handing over survey and feasibility study documents for the Herat-Mazar-i-Sharif railway to Afghanistan, constructing facilities and warehouses in the area of Hairatan’s fourth port on the Hairatan-Mazar-i-Sharif railway line, and increasing transit through this route.
The Taliban administration also claimed that expanding railway cooperation with Uzbekistan could contribute to boosting trade and transit and strengthening Afghanistan’s position in regional connectivity. However, these plans have been raised amid significant challenges faced by extensive transport infrastructure across the country, with many major infrastructure projects either stalled or progressing very slowly in recent years.
The Hairatan-Mazar-i-Sharif railway line is considered one of Afghanistan’s most important rail routes to Central Asia, playing a key role in the transportation of commercial goods between the two countries.
