Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy prime minister for economic affairs, called for the immediate commencement of the Iran–China railway project through Afghanistan during a meeting with the head of Iran’s railway administration in Kabul.
The Taliban’s Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs stated in a press release that Jabbar Ali Zakri, head of Iran’s railway administration, told Abdul Ghani Baradar that Iran is interested in extending its railway through Afghanistan to China, using Afghanistan’s strategic location to connect China with Europe.
Baradar noted that he had discussed the economic value and significance of the project with Iran’s vice president three years ago and had provided detailed information on its potential benefits.
Both Baradar and Zakri called for the formation of a joint committee to advance the project.
Previously, the Taliban, Iran, and Turkey agreed on the construction of the Herat–Mazar-i-Sharif railway. According to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Works, the three countries will contribute financial, technical, and human resources to the project.
Connecting Afghanistan by rail to China would, for the first time, link the country’s eastern provinces to its western regions and provide easier access to Iranian and Chinese markets.
The project has the potential to reestablish Afghanistan as a key commercial crossroads in Asia.
