Islamic Emirate Launches Construction of Kabul-Bagram Road for New Kabul City

KABUL (Afghan Verified) — Construction work on the Kabul-Bagram road was officially launched in the presence of senior officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

At the ceremony, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, emphasized the project's importance for connecting Kabul and called on regional and international countries to pursue positive engagement with Afghanistan, strengthen connectivity, and focus on shared development goals. "This road is considered one of the key transportation infrastructures of the new Kabul city, holding particular importance for urban development as well as social and economic activities," Baradar said.

Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, noted that urban master plans had not been properly implemented in the past and stated that the Islamic Emirate is determined to develop Afghanistan and its cities in accordance with international standards. Hanafi added: "We invite all countries, including those that were once at war with us—which is now part of our history—to invest in Afghanistan’s mining, energy, and other sectors."

Najibullah Haqqani, Minister of Urban Development and Housing, described economic development across the country’s provinces as a priority of the Islamic Emirate and pointed to the return of migrants and housing challenges. "The new Kabul city spans 370,000 jeribs, including agricultural and economic zones, with capacity to accommodate up to three million people," Haqqani said.

Din Mohammad Hanif, Minister of Economy, criticized economic restrictions and the reduction of international assistance. "After the Islamic Emirate took over, aid was cut, and sanctions were imposed, which continue to this day," Hanif said.

The 6.2-kilometer-long and 50-meter-wide road is being constructed by the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing at a cost of 455 million Afghanis. Project contractor Sayed Moqaddam Amin stated that the road will facilitate further progress on the New Kabul City project. "The New Kabul City and other ongoing projects, under current conditions, mark the beginning of significant changes in people’s lives," Amin said.

Participants highlighted the large-scale return of Afghan migrants and the need to address their challenges. They noted that the Islamic Emirate has 601 development projects planned for the current solar year, of which 156 have been completed.