Taliban Cabinet Discusses Railway Gauge and Land Distribution for Returnees

The Taliban administration held its eighth cabinet meeting, chaired by Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund and attended by senior officials. The session focused on two key issues: setting the railway gauge between Hairatan and Spin Boldak, and the distribution of land to returning Afghan migrants.
According to the official resolution, the cabinet approved a technical committee’s report recommending a railway gauge of 1,520 millimeters for the critical route connecting Hairatan in the north to Spin Boldak in the south. However, the alternative standard gauge of 1,435 millimeters will also remain under consideration. The route is seen as essential for linking the country’s northern and southern regions.
Another focus of the meeting was the land distribution process for returnees to Afghanistan. It was decided that Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi will be responsible for convening the committee overseeing migrants and reviewing its operations to accelerate and ensure transparency in the distribution of land to eligible individuals. The aim is to speed up land allocation and identify obstacles that have delayed the process in certain areas.
The meeting concluded with a prayer after discussing a range of economic, social, and cultural topics. While the decisions reflect an effort to address structural issues within the country, analysts have questioned whether the Taliban administration can deliver on these commitments, especially given the weakened state of oversight and administrative transparency.