Kabul, Astana discuss regional connectivity through Afghanistan

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghan and Kazakh officials have discussed regional connectivity and linking Central and South Asian countries through Afghanistan, as well as the launch of practical work on the Torghundi–Herat and Herat–Kandahar railway lines.

Deputy Minister of Public Works Mawlawi Mohammad Ishaq Sahibzada met with Kazakh President’s Special Envoy Yerkin Tukumov and the country Ambassador in Kabul Gaziz Akbasov, Mohammad Ashraf Haqshenas, spokesman for the Ministry of Public Works (MoPW) said in a statement on his X handle.

Haqshenas added that the two sides discussed commercial, economic and social cooperation. The meeting also covered plans to connect Central and South Asia via Afghanistan and to begin practical work on the Torghundi–Herat and Herat–Kandahar railway lines.

“The two sides also discussed the construction of the Torghundi–Herat railway. The investment memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the project, valued 500 million US dollars, was recently signed by Kazakhstan,” the statement said.

Technical teams from both countries are now working on a framework agreement for the project, and once the agreement is finalised, practical work will formally begin.

The meeting concluded with an agreement to convene, in the near future, a gathering of transport and railway ministers and deputies from Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and the United Arab Emirates to review the commencement and implementation of the Torghundi–Herat and Herat–Kandahar railway projects.

kk/ma