Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have renewed their agreement on the use of the Hairaton-Mazar-i-Sharif (also spelled Hairaton-Mazar-e-Sharif) railway, further solidifying their ongoing cooperation in regional transport. The Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan announced the extension, highlighting the positive impact of the agreement on bilateral relations.
The decision follows productive discussions held in Tashkent from January 21 to 23, 2025, where a delegation led by Afghanistan's Deputy Minister of Public Works for Railways, Muhammad Sahibzada, met with Uzbek officials. The meetings focused on enhancing the efficiency of the railway, as well as accelerating the implementation of the Trans-Afghan Railway construction project.
Ilhom Mahkamov, chairing the talks, emphasized the significance of strengthening relations between the two countries. The talks resulted in an agreement to extend the contract for the use and maintenance of the 75-kilometer Hairaton-Mazar-i-Sharif railway, which has been operational since 2010.
Uzbekistan Railways won the Afghan government's tender to build the railway, connecting the Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif to Uzbekistan's border. The project was implemented with a $165mn grant from the Asian Development Bank.
Since its launch, Sogdiana Trans, a subsidiary of Uzbekistan Railways, has overseen its management and maintenance since December 2011. Under the renewed agreement, Sogdiana Trans will continue its role as the operator of the railway.
On February 12, 2023, a new agreement was signed between the Afghan Railways Administration and Sogdiana Trans LLC to continue operating the Hairaton-Mazar-i-Sharif railway. Under this agreement, Sogdiana Trans will continue its operations for 2 years.
This extension aligns with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's vision of strengthening regional ties, ensuring the efficient and sustainable operation of critical infrastructure that benefits both nations.
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