Amidst the scorching heat in Kabul, Mullah Mohammad Isa Sani, Acting Minister of Public Works of the Afghan Interim Government, sat opposite Hoja Ovezov, Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Afghanistan. They unfolded the border transportation drawings and checked the latest construction schedule of cross-border railways and port expansion line by line - this was not a polite diplomatic exchange, but a pragmatic meeting between the two landlocked neighboring countries to truly connect the "road".

Kabul talks lock in progress on two major projects

Both parties have conducted a detailed review of the construction progress and schedule arrangement of key cross-border sections, and have identified the laying of tracks for the Akhina Andehey railway and the expansion of the Torgundi inland port as priority projects for promotion. The Turkish side had previously promised to fund the expansion of Torgundi Port and participate in the railway construction under the framework of the Lapis lazuli Corridor, while the Afghan side emphasized the need to ensure timely delivery of the project.

The Akhina Andehey railway enhances the transportation capacity of the northern corridor

This railway connecting the Akhina Port in Faryab Province, Afghanistan and the town of Andekhoy is the first section of the Turkmenistan Afghanistan Tajikistan cross-border railway in Afghanistan. After completion, it will open up a land route from northern Afghanistan to Central Asia, effectively enhancing the overall transportation capacity of the northern transportation corridor and facilitating cross-border circulation of fuel, building materials, and daily necessities.

Torgundi Inland Port accelerates cargo handling efficiency

The Torgundi Port, located in the northwest of Herat Province, Afghanistan, is one of the main cargo clearance ports between Afghanistan and Turkey. It is also the starting point of the Lapis lazuli Corridor, which connects to the Turkmenbashi Caspian Sea Port and leads to the Caucasus and Europe. Both sides exchanged views on the technical parameters of port expansion and new cargo terminal facilities, and the meeting pointed out that the upgrade of the hub will directly improve the processing speed of containers, grain, and energy goods from earthworks.

The meeting ultimately emphasized that after the above-mentioned ongoing projects are completed on schedule, the bilateral freight volume between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan will achieve significant growth; Ashgabat and Kabul both consider the coordinated development of border infrastructure as a strategic cornerstone for building a sustainable economic and trade route in the Eurasian region.Editor/Yang Meiling