#SilkRoad: Afghanistan Expanding Railway Connectivity with Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Pakistan
- #SilkRoad: Afghanistan Expanding Railway Connectivity with Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Pakistan
- Chabahar Port of Iran to Melk Railway in Afghanistan will be Ready for Initial Operation in 2025/2026: Official
- The connection of Kandahar to Chabahar via railway is top priority for Afghanistan: Mustafa Rezaei, CEO of the Afghanistan Rail Development Consortium
- Kandahar to Milak and Chabahar railway to facilitate in expanding Afghanistan’s exports
- The Chamber of Industries and Mines calls to increase investments in connectivity projects of Afghanistan
- Currently Afghanistan has some 230 kilometers active railway line
- SilkRoad: The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has commenced several projects for expanding railway connectivity with Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Pakistan
By: Muhammad Arif, Editor NSN.Asia
Kabul; The Chabahar port of Iran to Melk railway will be ready for initial operation by the first half of 1404 (solar year) which is the same to (2025/2026), said Mustafa Rezaei, the CEO of the Afghanistan Rail Development Consortium.
The railway from Kandahar to Melk and Melk to Chabahar is a standard line constructed within Afghanistan’s territory, and it can cover a significant portion of Afghanistan’s exports, aside from Iran”, said Mustafa Rezaei in an interview with, according to local media reports.
Rezaei further added by saying said, “Of course, connecting Kandahar to Chabahar is a top priority for the Taliban, besides this Herat will also be connected with the construction of the Milak to Chabahar railway.”
He also noted that aside from the Afghanistan railway network connecting Uzbekistan and Pakistan, other Afghan railways have been designed to meet standards. Additionally, the Herat to Turkmenistan railway will also be upgraded to meet these standards.
He emphasised that the Kandahar to Milak and Chabahar railway facilitate in expanding Afghanistan’s exports, including minerals, dried fruits, and oilseeds to countries other than Iran.
Welcoming the railway connectivity with Chabaar, the Chamber of Industries and Mines stressed the need to increase further investments in connectivity projects of Afghanistan via railway with regional countries.
Shirbaz Kaminzada, the head of the Afghanistan Chamber of Industries and Mines in his remarks said: “The line that connects us from Chabahar to Kandahar is good news for all Afghans. All Afghans should invest in, support, and assist this project to help Afghanistan emerge from the current situation.”
Some economic experts praise the efforts of the Islamic Emirate officials in developing the Chabahar-Kandahar railway and stressed the acceleration of this project’s construction.
“If Afghanistan connects to other countries via railway, this railway will help the country’s economy, and we can also reduce unemployment,” said Shams Rahman Ahmadzai, an economic analyst.
According to the Afghan Ministry of Public Works, approximately 230 kilometers of active railway currently exist across Afghanistan, and daily transfers to various countries are conducted through these routes.
When completed, Iranian port Chabahar will reduce Afghanistan’s dependence on Pakistani ports and facilitates India’s access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy economic chief, recently said at a meeting in Kabul that expanding regional relations prevents trade dependence on specific countries.
To increase trade and commerce across the region, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has started talks and negotiations for expanding railway connectivity with Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Pakistan, besides pledges for swift Implementation of Railway Projects, like Torghundi-Herat Railway, Hairatan-Mazar-e-Sharif Railway, Khaf-Herat Railway.
