Afghanistan has recorded a sharp increase in rail freight activity, with cargo transported through the country’s railway network rising by more than 33 percent in the first 11 months of the current year compared to the same period last year, officials said.

Mohammad Ashraf Haqshenas, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Works, said more than five million metric tons of goods were moved through four major railway ports during the reporting period.

According to Haqshenas, shipments included fuel, non-oil commercial goods and other materials entering and transiting the country via the northern and western corridors.

The bulk of cargo passed through the key rail links at Hairatan, Aqina, Torghundi, and the Khawaf–Herat railway connecting Afghanistan with Iran.

The rail network plays a critical role in Afghanistan’s trade infrastructure, offering a cost-effective alternative to road transport for bulk imports such as petroleum, construction materials and food supplies.

As a landlocked country, Afghanistan relies heavily on transit routes through neighboring states to sustain its economy.

Haqshenas said that since the return to power of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, several railway development and expansion projects have been initiated to improve connectivity and increase freight capacity. Some projects have been completed, while others remain under construction.

Officials say the growth in rail cargo reflects gradual improvements in transit coordination with regional partners, including Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran.

The government views railway expansion as central to its broader strategy of turning Afghanistan into a regional trade and transit hub linking Central Asia to South Asia and the Middle East.

The ministry added that continued investment in rail infrastructure is expected to strengthen economic activity, generate revenue and facilitate greater regional integration in the years ahead.

Nooruddin Azizi, Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), during his official visit to Termez, Uzbekistan, met with Jamshid Khodjayev, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, to discuss expanding bilateral economic ties.

The meeting was attended by Mohammad Yousuf Wafa, Governor of Balkh, Abdul Ghaffar Bahr, Afghan Ambassador to Tashkent, and several representatives from Afghanistan’s private sector. The two sides held extensive talks on enhancing trade relations, increasing trade volumes, expanding transit routes, removing trade barriers, and promoting joint economic initiatives.

Minister Azizi emphasized the growing partnership between the two countries and stressed the need to accelerate the implementation of agreements while providing greater support and facilities for traders and investors.

Deputy Prime Minister Khodjayev welcomed the Afghan delegation, highlighting the interest of Uzbek investors in sectors such as agriculture, mining, transport, infrastructure, and health. He also announced Uzbekistan’s readiness to deploy technical teams to support the execution of joint projects.

Azizi expressed Afghanistan’s full commitment to cooperating on shared economic initiatives, while representatives from the Afghan private sector shared their proposals, emphasizing the importance of closer collaboration between the two countries’ private sectors.

The meeting also included participation from Uzbekistan’s Ministers of Transport, Agriculture, Energy, and Health, the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and several provincial governors, who joined online.