Kazakhstan has secured its participation in the construction of a new railway line running from the Turkmenistan border through Afghanistan to the Pakistan border via the Turgundi – Herat – Kandahar – Spin-Boldak route.
A protocol of intent was signed last week between Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Trade and Integration and Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Works securing Kazakhstan’s participation in the railway construction.
The event took place as part of the visit of a Kazakh delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin to Afghanistan.
According to the Kazakh government’s press service, the next step is the conclusion of a cooperation agreement on the beginning of construction of a railway section between Turgundi and Herat with the necessary infrastructure, as well as a transport and logistics center in the city of Herat.
Turgundi is a town in northern Herat Province of Afghanistan at the border with Turkmenistan.
The signed protocol paves the way to establishing a joint venture between the railway companies of Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan.
The project also plans to lay a fiber optic cable along the new railway line. It will ensure the development of digital infrastructure along the new transport corridor, improve train safety, and open up opportunities for future connection of settlements along the railway to high-speed Internet.
The project is of particular importance for Kazakhstan in terms of expanding regional connectivity, strengthening transport and logistics links between Central and South Asia, and getting access to Indian Ocean ports via Pakistan.
