Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Afghan authorities have signed contracts worth $264 million for the design of a new railway connecting Kandahar and Herat, spanning 737 kilometers in western Afghanistan. The project is expected to boost regional connectivity and attract international investment.
The proposed rail corridor has drawn growing interest from foreign partners, as it could serve as a crucial link between Central Asia, Pakistan, and India, bringing the Indian Ocean closer to landlocked nations. Russia is also expected to benefit, using the route to export energy products to India.
Talks on the project have been ongoing since mid-2024, with officials from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan discussing the Herat–Kandahar axis as a key transit route. Turkmenistan has already signed an agreement with Afghanistan to construct a logistics hub in Torghundi, near their shared border, to facilitate grain and container transport.
Afghanistan has invited Kazakhstan to participate in the railway’s construction, and the country has previously proposed supplying rails. Additionally, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have agreed to form a joint venture to assist in Afghanistan’s railway development. Kabul has emphasized its ambition to become a major transit hub, with rail infrastructure also improving its access to Chinese imports.
The project marks a significant step in Afghanistan’s push to enhance trade and transportation links, despite ongoing economic challenges.
