Afghan and Iranian Officials Discuss Economic and Strategic Importance of Herat-Mazar-i-Sharif Railway

Technical officials from the Taliban administration and the Islamic Republic of Iran met in Kabul to discuss the economic and strategic significance of the Herat-Mazar-i-Sharif (Herat-Balkh) railway and the initiation of its practical work.

According to official sources, Abdul Karim Fattah, Technical Deputy of the Taliban’s Ministry of Public Works, held talks with Jabbar Ali Zakari, Head of Iran’s Railway Organization, focusing on the economic benefits, transit role, investment attraction, and implementation stages of this project.

During the meeting, both parties evaluated the Herat-Mazar-i-Sharif railway as a crucial route connecting northern and western Afghanistan to regional transport networks. They also exchanged views on the technical and administrative preparations needed to commence practical work on the railway.

Simultaneously, the Iranian Embassy in Kabul posted a message on the social media platform X stating that, based on a joint decision, approximately 1.5 million tons of goods are expected to be transported between the two countries in the year 1405 in the Persian calendar (2026-2027) via the Khaf-Herat railway. This route is recognized as Afghanistan’s first railway connection with Iran.