Iran, Afghanistan to Expand Cooperation in Transport, Transit Sectors

Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash and visiting deputy minister of transport and civil aviation of Afghanistan’s caretaker government Hamidullah Saeed held talks in Tehran on Wednesday on the development and enhancement of cooperation between the air, road and rail sectors of the two countries.

The two sides exchanged views on the previously inked memoranda of understanding (MoUs) regarding the development and strengthening of air lines, presenting aviation training services, solving problems facing border terminals, developing road lines and settling transit problems between the two countries.

Increasing flights, exporting technical and engineering services in the field of aviation, activating Afghanistan's international flight corridors for the entry of Iranian flights to Afghanistan's air border, increasing road transit, transiting cargo from the Iranian border, solving the problems of border terminals, and operationalizing the Khaf-Herat railway were among the other topics discussed at the meeting.

Once the Khaf-Herat Railway is launched, Afghan goods can be transported to Iran or to the countries of the Middle East, Turkey and Europe, Bazrpash added.

Implementing new rail projects in Afghanistan to increase the transit of goods and rebuilding Afghanistan’s airports were also mentioned at the meeting. / Tasnim