Afghan, Uzbek Officials Discuss Afghan-Trans Railway Project
The Ministry of Public Works of the Islamic Emirate says Mohammad Ishaq Sahibzada, the Deputy Minister for Railways, has traveled to Uzbekistan leading a technical delegation and held talks with Zufar Narzullayev, Director General of Uzbekistan Railways.
According to the ministry, the main focus of the meeting was advancing the Afghan-Trans railway project and expanding railway cooperation between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.
The two sides also discussed launching feasibility studies for the Afghan-Trans project, handing over survey documents for the Herat–Mazar railway to Afghanistan, developing branch rail lines, and increasing rail freight transportation.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Mohammad Ashraf Haqshenas, said: “Both sides emphasized strengthening bilateral cooperation in the railway sector, expanding trade links, increasing the transport of commercial goods, and providing greater facilities for traders and investors.”
Economic experts say that, given Afghanistan’s strategic location connecting Central and South Asia, expanding economic and railway cooperation between Kabul and Tashkent could boost the country’s transit sector and economy.
Economic analyst Sayed Quraishi said: “If Afghanistan and Uzbekistan implement cooperation, particularly in the railway, trade, and Afghan-Trans project, Afghanistan could become a major transit corridor connecting Central and South Asia.”
Another economic expert, Jannat Fahim Chakari, said: “Uzbekistan has consistently supported Afghanistan in the areas of transit, trade, and economic cooperation. Relations between the two countries are strong, and projects such as Afghan-Trans can further expand this cooperation.”
The Afghan-Trans project is considered one of the region’s key railway initiatives. If completed, it will connect Uzbekistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan, creating a major trade and transit corridor for the region.
