Afghanistan, Uzbekistan Advance Trans-Afghan Railway Cooperation

DID Press: Afghanistan’s Taliban-led Ministry of Public Works and Uzbekistan Railways have agreed to expand railway cooperation, with talks focusing on the Trans-Afghan Railway and other strategic rail projects aimed at strengthening regional trade and connectivity.

According to the ministry, a technical delegation led by Mohammad Ishaq Sahibzada, Deputy Minister for Railways, met with Zafar Narzullayev, Director General of Uzbekistan Railways, during a visit to Uzbekistan.

The two sides discussed launching a feasibility study for the Trans-Afghan Railway, transferring survey and feasibility documents for the Herat–Mazar-i-Sharif railway, expanding logistics facilities and warehouses, constructing additional branch lines at the fourth terminal of the Hairatan–Mazar-i-Sharif railway, and increasing cargo-handling capacity along the Hairatan rail corridor.

The Ministry of Public Works said stronger railway cooperation with Uzbekistan would help expand bilateral trade and transit, deepen regional economic integration, and reinforce Afghanistan’s role as a land bridge linking Central Asia and South Asia.