In a move aimed at fostering regional connectivity and cooperation, Mullah Bakht ur Rehman Sharafat, the head of the Afghan National Railways, representing the Taliban-led government, has arrived in Uzbekistan, Avapress reported. The visit comes in the context of participating in a crucial meeting regarding the Trans-Afghan project and expanding bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
The delegation's visit to Tashkent underscores the importance both countries place on the Trans-Afghan project, which seeks to establish vital railway links connecting Central Asia with South Asia. Scheduled for February 19, the meeting will convene representatives from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and the United Arab Emirates to discuss the progress and future plans for this ambitious initiative.
Initiated by Uzbekistan in 2022, the Trans-Afghan railway project aims to create a crucial transportation artery that will link the railway networks of Central and South Asia. This endeavor received further impetus with Kazakhstan expressing readiness to participate in the construction of the Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway in 2022.
In February 2023, Uzbekistan and Pakistan announced plans to expedite the construction of the Trans-Afghan railway, signaling a shared commitment to enhancing regional connectivity. The momentum culminated in a quadrilateral meeting on December 7, 2024, where transport ministries from Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Qatar, along with railway administration leadership, deliberated on the implementation of the railway construction project.
Further solidifying the bilateral ties, on December 27, Uzbekistan's Minister of Transport, Ilhom Mahkamov, held discussions with a delegation led by Hamidullah Akhundzada, the acting Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation of Afghanistan.
The meeting addressed various aspects of cooperation in transport and logistics, including toll collection mechanisms, transit development through Afghanistan, and tariff concessions for railway transportation. Additionally, both parties explored avenues to expedite the construction of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway project.
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