The transportation of commodities via the Haritan-Mazar e Sharif railway began on Friday after a 10-day closure.
After three-days of negotiations between the delegation of the Islamic Emirate, led by the acting head of the Afghanistan Railway Authority, and officials from Uzbekistan, an agreement was signed between the two sides that also laid out the reopening of the Haritan-Mazar e Sharif railway.
The ARA on Twitter said around 50 cars full of commercial goods have arrived in the country via the rail line.
A spokesman for the ARA, Abdul Sami Durani, said that the delegation that traveled to Uzbekistan agreed to prepare a draft of an agreement to hand over the responsibility for the management of the railway to Afghanistan.
“After detailed discussion, the two sides agreed to handover the responsibility for management of the Haritan-Mazar e Sharif railway to Afghanistan,” said Abdul Sami Durani, a spokesman for the ARA.
This comes as the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) said that the Haritan-Mazar-e-Sharif railway plays an important role in the transit of commodities from South Asia to Central Asia.
“The transit between South and Central Asia is conducted via Haritan port which can also make a good income for Afghanistan,” said Khairudin Mayal, a member of the ACCI.
This comes as the traders say the railway of Haritan-Mazar-e-Sharif is essential for their commercial activities.
“Our government should further focus on the commercial paths, so that we can at least use these routes which can be effective in the reduction of prices and economic rotation as well as relations among the regional countries,” said Mabobullah Mohammadi, a trader.
80 percent of Afghanistan’s trade with Central Asia is conducted through this rail line.
