Kazakhstan and Afghanistan Sign Railway Memorandum

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport and Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Works have signed a memorandum of understanding on railway cooperation, reports Orda.kz.

The two sides discussed the construction of the Turgundi–Herat railway during a meeting in Kabul. According to a statement on the website of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country confirmed its willingness to invest in the project.

Following the meeting, a memorandum was signed between the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Public Works of Afghanistan outlining the basic principles for the construction and operation of a railway linking Central and South Asia, the Ministry said.

While the Kazakh side did not disclose the exact investment amount, the spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Works wrote on X:

Kazakhstan was first invited to take part in the railway construction project in July 2024 during a meeting in Aqtau.

The route is expected to enhance the country's access to seaports in Pakistan.

Original Author: Igor Ulitin