India’s First Rail Transit to Afghanistan Via Iran Successfully Completed

TEHRAN (Iran News) The first India-Afghanistan transit train reached Rozanak station in Herat. The shipment, initially transported by sea to Iran’s Bandar Abbas port, was then moved via Iran’s railway network to its final destination in Afghanistan.

This development was facilitated by the Afghanistan Railway Development Consortium, with support from Iran’s Ministry of Roads and Urban Development and the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways. Since the launch of the Khaf-Herat railway corridor earlier this year, more than 30,000 tons of export and transit goods have been transported between Iran and Afghanistan by rail. The corridor is expected to boost bilateral trade while ensuring greater security and reducing transportation costs for traders and manufacturers.

Experts predict that this successful transit will pave the way for expanded trade cooperation between India and Afghanistan through Iran. The Khaf-Herat railway, which connects Iran’s railway network to western Afghanistan, plays a crucial role in regional connectivity. Additionally, it is a key part of the East-West railway corridor, which stretches over 2,000 kilometers, linking China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, and Europe. This railway is expected to enhance transportation security, cut logistics costs and transit time by 10%, and increase its appeal to regional traders.

Mustafa Rezaei, CEO of the Afghanistan Railway Development Consortium, confirmed that the first Indian transit cargo entered Afghanistan through the “Shamtigh” border crossing in Iran’s Khorasan Razavi province on Tuesday night. The shipment, consisting of six containers carrying almonds and oilseeds, traveled from India by sea to Bandar Abbas before being transported via Iran’s railway network through Shamtigh and ultimately arriving at Rozanak station in Herat.

Rezaei emphasized that since the Khaf-Herat railway corridor became operational, over 30,000 tons of export and transit cargo have been transported between Iran and Afghanistan by rail. The enhanced railway network is expected to improve trade security between the two countries while lowering transportation costs for businesses.

The Khaf-Herat rail corridor, which links Iran’s railway network to Herat in western Afghanistan, is a strategic route for regional connectivity. As part of the larger East-West rail corridor, it facilitates a 2,000-kilometer trade route connecting China, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, and Europe.

The Shamtigh border crossing, located in Khorasan Razavi’s Khaf county, was officially opened in 2020 to facilitate trade between Iran and Afghanistan. Positioned approximately 50 kilometers from Khaf city, the crossing serves as a key transit hub in the Khaf-Herat railway route.

This milestone is expected to strengthen regional trade ties and enhance economic cooperation between India, Iran, and Afghanistan.