Taliban Ministry Reports 39 Percent Increase in Rail Trade Volume

The Taliban government’s Ministry of Public Works has announced that Afghanistan’s rail-based trade volume increased by more than 39 percent during the past solar year. According to an official ministry statement, approximately 6.1 million metric tons of goods were transported through the country’s four active rail crossings, marking a substantial increase from the 4.3 million metric tons recorded in the previous year.

Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Ashraf Haqshenas indicated that the trade figures remain heavily weighted toward imports, with the Hairatan crossing in Balkh province processing the largest share of freight. Additional cargo moved through the Aqina, Torghundi, and Khaf-Herat border terminals. The ministry confirmed that Afghanistan currently operates direct rail links to Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran, while maintaining indirect transit connections to several other regional partners.

Officials noted that roughly 400 kilometers of main and branch railway lines are currently functional. The ministry also outlined several major expansion initiatives currently underway, which are intended to extend the domestic rail network and enhance cargo handling capacity at key border points. The ministry emphasized that the expansion of rail infrastructure is a key component of its strategy to boost economic activity. The reported growth in transit volume reflects ongoing efforts by the administration to develop cross-border infrastructure and integrate Afghanistan into broader regional trade corridors.