Transport in Afghanistan#Rail

{{Further|Lapis Lazuli corridor|Belt and Road Initiative}}

Most major highways were asphalted around the mid-20th century with assistance from the United States and the Soviet Union. The Soviets built a highway and tunnel through the Salang pass in the 1960s, connecting northern and eastern Afghanistan. A highway connecting the principal cities of Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif, Lashkar Gah, Kandahar, Ghazni, Kabul and Jalalabad, with links to highways in neighboring Pakistan originally formed the primary road system of Afghanistan.

File:Street scene in Kabul-2012.jpg]]

File:Inside the Salang Tunnel in November 2013.jpg, a major north-south connection that cuts through the mountains in high elevation]]

File:K-G_Pass in 2009.jpg in eastern Afghanistan]]

File:Kabul-Jalalabad Road pass.jpg]]

File:Convoy of trucks in Afghanistan.jpg]]

As of 2017, Afghanistan had {{cvt|17903|km}} of paved roads and {{cvt|17000|km}} of unpaved roads, for an approximate total road system of {{cvt|34903|km}}. Traffic in Afghanistan is right hand. In 2008, about 731,607 vehicles were registered in Kabul.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_safety_status/country_profiles/afghanistan.pdf|title=Afghanistan|publisher=World Health Organization (WHO)|access-date=January 8, 2012}} At least 1,314 traffic collisions were reported in December 2022.{{Cite news |title=Nearly 3,000 people killed, injured in traffic accidents in past 9-month |url=https://pajhwok.com/2022/12/16/nearly-3000-people-killed-injured-in-traffic-accidents-in-past-9-month/ |date=16 December 2022 |access-date=2022-06-22 |work=Pajhwok Afghan News}} Many vehicles in the country are driven without registration plates. The Afghan government passed a law banning the import of cars older than 10 years. Toyota Corolla has been the most widely used vehicle in the country since the mid-1990s.{{cite news|url=https://www.stripes.com/afghanistan-gives-antiquated-toyotas-a-new-life-1.356184|title=Afghanistan gives antiquated Toyotas a new life|work=Stars and Stripes|date=July 3, 2015|access-date=2020-10-09 |location=United States}} Afghanistan recently began manufacturing its own microcars for domestic consumers.{{cite news|url=https://in.reuters.com/article/afghanistan-vehicles-idINKBN25T1TO|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903011824/https://in.reuters.com/article/afghanistan-vehicles-idINKBN25T1TO|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 3, 2020|title=Afghan firm eyes emerging middle class with new cars, trucks|editor=Hameed Farzad|work=Reuters|date=September 2, 2020|access-date=2020-10-09}}{{cite news|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/south-central-asia_afghan-company-introduces-locally-made-vehicles/6195407.html|title=Afghan Company Introduces Locally Made Vehicles|publisher=Voice of America|date=September 3, 2020|access-date=2020-10-09}} Long distant road journeys are made in private cars, vans, trucks and buses.{{YouTube|Q_2LVVGd8zE|شام کابل گزارش ضیا، ترمینل پایتخت، مسافران شمال ,Capital terminal kabul}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.afghanrentals.com/|title=Vehicles Rental in Afghanistan | Afghan Logistics|website=AfghanRentals}} Many of the national roads are in need of serious repair due to damage caused by overloaded trucks. For this reason, tourists, business people and the upper class prefer using airline service for long distant travels. The national roads can also be dangerous due to accidents and lack of security forces.

The highway system is currently going through a reconstruction phase. Most of the regional roads are also being repaired or improved. For the last 30 years, the poor state of the Afghan transportation and communication networks has further fragmented and hampered the struggling economy.

The following is a partial list of the major highways in Afghanistan:

• Gardez–Pathan Highway in Paktia Province (still under construction as of February 2015)
• Jalalabad–Torkham Highway
• Kabul–Bamyan Highway
• Kabul–Kunduz Highway
• Kabul–Khost Highway
• Kabul–Ghor-Herat Highway
• Kabul–Jalalabad Road (A-1)
• Kabul–Herat Highway (A-77)
• Kabul–Kandahar Highway (A-1
• Kabul–Mazar Highway (A-76)
• Kandahar–Bamyan Highway
• Kandahar–Boldak Highway{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2017/11/14/improved-transport-access-to-markets-leads-to-lower-costs-and-more-investments|title=Afghanistan: Improved Roads Unlocks Access to Services and Opportunities|publisher=World Bank}}
• Kandahar–Herat Highway
• Kandahar–Tarinkot Highway
• Kunduz-Khomri Highway
• Kunduz–Fayzabad Highway
• Herat–Islam Qala Highway
• Herat–Mazar Highway
• Route Trident (Lashkar Gah to Gereshk)
• Route 606 (Afghanistan)

There are over a dozen official border crossing points all around Afghanistan. They include Abu Nasar Port in Farah Province,{{cite news |url=https://pajhwok.com/2022/06/21/afghanistan-iran-resume-goods-transport-at-abu-nasar-port/ |title=Afghanistan, Iran resume goods transport at Abu Nasar Port |work=Pajhwok Afghan News |date=June 21, 2022 |access-date=2022-08-05}} Angur Ada in Paktika Province, Aqina in Faryab Province, Dand-aw-Patan in Paktia Province, Ghulam Khan in Khost Province, Hairatan in Balkh Province, Islam Qala in Herat Province, Ishkashim in Badakhshan Province, Sher Khan Bandar in Kunduz Province, Spin Boldak in Kandahar Province, Torghundi in Herat Province, Torkham in Nangarhar Province, and Zaranj in Nimruz Province.{{Cite news |url=https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-174055 |title=Analysts Predict Decrease in Govt Revenue as Border Town Falls |work=TOLOnews |date=7 August 2021 |access-date=2022-12-16}}{{cite news |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/info/infographic/24092 |title=Afghan border crossings gain more importance amid Taliban's advance |publisher=Anadolu Agency |date=July 13, 2021 |access-date=2022-08-05 |location=Turkey}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58283177 |title=Afghanistan: How many refugees are there and where will they go? |publisher=BBC News |date=August 31, 2021 |access-date=2022-08-05 |location=United Kingdom}} The Afghanistan-China border crossing at Wakhjir Pass in the Wakhan District is under development since 2021.{{cite news |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1863386/world |title=Set in concrete: In a first, Kabul builds $5m road via tough terrain to access China |publisher=Arab News |date=May 23, 2021 |access-date=2022-08-13}}{{cite news |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/08/14/china-afghanistan-wakhan-corridor-imperial-ambitions/ |title=China Is Protecting Its Thin Corridor to the Afghan Heartland |publisher=Foreign Policy |date=August 14, 2021 |access-date=2022-08-13}}

The Afghanistan-Tajikistan bridge at Sher Khan Bandar-Panji Poyon connects by road Afghanistan and Tajikistan. It was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in 2007.[http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2007/August/20070829160347saikceinawz0.2609064.html Afghanistan-Tajikistan Bridge Links Central, South Asia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831013643/http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2007/August/20070829160347saikceinawz0.2609064.html |date=2009-08-31 |location=United States}} The two countries are also connected by the smaller Tajik–Afghan bridge at Tem-Demogan. The Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge connects Afghanistan by road with Uzbekistan. The Delaram-Zaranj Highway was constructed with Indian assistance and was inaugurated in January 2009.{{cite news |title=India hands over strategic highway to Afghanistan |url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/23/stories/2009012355311200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203072429/http://hindu.com/2009/01/23/stories/2009012355311200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-02-03 |work=The Hindu |date=2007-07-12 |location=India}}

{{Further|Milli Bus}}

File:Jalalabad street with rickshaws.jpgs in Jalalabad]]

Due to the lack of public urban transport systems, taxis and auto rickshaws are popular in the major cities, the latter especially in Jalalabad. Kabul demanded a much needed public transport system in the 21st century with a rapid increase in traffic and population, but many projects were cancelled or not completed. The municipality launched a bus system accompanied by bus stops, the city's first in decades, in March 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://km.gov.af/6060/%D8%A8%D8%B3%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%84-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D8%B7%D8%AD-%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%B1-%D8%A2%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%AA-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF|title=Kabul Municipality - شاروالی کابل: بس‌های شهری شاروالی کابل در سطح شهر آغاز به فعالیت کرد!}} Many urban dwellers ride motorcycles, scooters and bicycles, particularly in Herat, Farah, Lashkar Gah and Kandahar.

{{Main|Rail transport in Afghanistan}}

Afghanistan has a total of four railway connections with three neighboring countries.{{cite news |url=https://pajhwok.com/2022/11/24/nearly-500000-metric-tons-of-goods-imported-exported-via-railroads/ |title=500,000 metric tons of goods imported, exported via railroads |work=Pajhwok Afghan News |date=November 24, 2022 |access-date=2022-11-24}}

A rail line from Khaf in Iran to the city of Herat in Afghanistan has been under construction since 2006.{{cite news |title=Opening up Afghan trade route to Iran |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/opening-up-afghan-trade-route-to-iran.html |work=Railway Gazette International |date=2008-01-29 |author=Murray Hughes}} The Iranian line is a {{RailGauge|1435mm}} standard gauge.{{cite news |title=Modern construction methods mastered on Mashhad - Bafgh line |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/modern-construction-methods-mastered-on-mashhad-bafgh-line.html |work=Railway Gazette International |date=2007-07-01}} It was reported in December 2020 that the Herat-Khaf railway, which is 225 km long, had reached the Ghoryan District in Herat Province of Afghanistan.{{cite news|title=Long-delayed Herat-Khaf rail link inaugurated|url=https://pajhwok.com/2020/12/10/long-delayed-herat-khaf-rail-link-inaugurated-2/|date=10 December 2020|work=Pajhwok Afghan News|access-date=2020-12-20}}{{cite news|url=https://tolonews.com/business-168392 |title=Afghan, Iranian Leaders Hail 'Historic' Khaf-Herat Railway |date=12 December 2020 |work=TOLOnews}} Shipment from China can now make its way to as far as Rozanak rail station,{{cite news |url=https://tolonews.com/business-192336 |title=First Rail Shipment From China Reaches Afghanistan Via Iran |work=TOLOnews |date=27 December 2024 |access-date=2025-01-03}}{{cite news |url=https://pajhwok.com/2024/12/27/first-shipment-of-chinese-goods-arrives-in-afghanistan-via-iran/ |title=First shipment of Chinese goods arrives in Afghanistan via Iran |work=Pajhwok Afghan News |date=27 December 2024 |access-date=2025-01-03}} which is located about {{cvt|71|km}} west of Herat.

A 10-kilometer-long {{RailGauge|1520mm}} broad gauge line extends from Serhetabat in Turkmenistan to the town of Torghundi in Afghanistan, which is about {{cvt|115|km}} to the north of Herat. An upgrade of this Soviet-built line, to renovate and connect the line from Torghundi to Herat, began in 2017.{{cite news|last=Kakar|first=Javed Hamim|title=Construction of Turkmen-Afghan railroad begins|url=https://www.pajhwok.com/en/2017/12/01/construction-turkmen-afghan-railroad-begins|date=1 December 2017|work=Pajhwok Afghan News|access-date=1 December 2017}}

A second rail connection between the two countries is that which extends from Aqina dry port in Faryab Province of Afghanistan, via Imamnazar to Atamyrat (a.k.a. Kerki), where it connects with the Turkmen rail network.{{cite news |url=https://pajhwok.com/2016/11/28/afghan-turkmenistan-railroad-inaugurated/ |title=Afghan-Turkmenistan railroad inaugurated |last=Salehai |first=Zarghona |publisher=Pajhwok Afghan News |date=28 November 2016 |access-date=2017-01-17}} The line extends from Aqina south to Andkhoy in Afghanistan, which is approximately {{cvt|58|km|mi}} long.{{cite news |url=https://www.khaama.com/aqina-andkhoi-railway-officially-inaugurated-443344/ |title=Aqina-Andkhoi Railway Officially Inaugurated |work=Khaama Press |date=14 January 2020 |access-date=2021-01-17}}{{cite news |url=https://tolonews.com/business-169236 |title=Aqina-Andkhoi Railway Officially Opened |work=TOLOnews |date=14 January 2020 |access-date=2021-01-17}}{{cite news |url=https://pajhwok.com/2021/01/14/aqina-andkhoi-railway-line-inaugurated-3-projects-signed/ |title=Aqina-Andkhoi railway line inaugurated, 3 projects signed |work=Pajhwok Afghan News |date=14 January 2020 |access-date=2021-01-17}} It will be extended from Andkhoy in the future to other parts of Afghanistan.{{cite news |url=https://pajhwok.com/2013/06/16/work-afghanistan-turkmenistan-railroad-begins/ |title=Work on Afghanistan-Turkmenistan railroad begins |work=Pajhwok Afghan News |date=16 June 2013}}{{cite news |url=https://www.ariananews.af/work-begins-on-aqina-andkhoy-railway/ |title=Work Begins On Aqina-Andkhoy Railway |last=Hejaab |first=Aslam |publisher=Ariana News |date=31 October 2016 |access-date=2017-01-17}}

File:Freight train in northern Afghanistan-2012.jpg in Balkh Province]]

There is a 75-kilometer-long rail line between Uzbekistan and the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif, all of which is built to {{RailGauge|1520mm}} broad gauge.{{cite news|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/first-major-afghan-railway-opens.html|access-date=25 August 2011|title=First major Afghan railway opens|date=25 August 2011|work=Railway Gazette International}} The line begins from Termez and crosses the Amu Darya river on the Soviet-built Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge, finally reaching a site next to the Mazar-i-Sharif Airport. A survey is being conducted in extending the line to Kabul and then to Peshawar.{{Cite web |url=https://www.silkroadbriefing.com/news/2022/07/28/china-ready-to-assist-in-afghanistan-belt-and-road-railway-infrastructure/ |title=China Ready To Assist In Afghanistan Belt And Road Railway Infrastructure |publisher=Silk Road Briefing |date=July 28, 2022 |access-date=2022-08-13}}{{cite news |url=https://pajhwok.com/2022/07/23/trans-afghan-railroad-to-spur-regional-connectivity/ |title=Trans-Afghan railroad to spur regional connectivity |work=Pajhwok Afghan News |date=July 23, 2022 |access-date=2022-08-05}}{{cite news |url=https://tolonews.com/business-178595 |title=Kabul, Tashkent to Conduct Survey of Trans-Afghan Railway Project |work=TOLOnews |date=June 21, 2022 |access-date=2022-06-21}}

There are no rail links with China, Pakistan, and Tajikistan.

{{Main|List of airports in Afghanistan|List of airlines of Afghanistan}}

File:A-310 Ariana Afghan Airlines (4245010533).jpg Airbus A310-300.]]

Air transport in Afghanistan is provided by the state-owned flag carrier Ariana Afghan Airlines (AAA), as well as the privately owned Kam Air. Domestic flights are available at a number of airports, with international flights taking place to and from Kabul International Airport. Ariana Afghan Airlines operates international flights from Kabul to Delhi, Dubai, Islamabad, Riyadh, and Urumqi,{{cite news |url=https://tolonews.com/business-179266 |title=Kabul-Delhi Flights Resume, Flights to Urumqi to Begin in Weeks |work=TOLOnews |date=August 5, 2022 |access-date=2022-08-05}}{{cite news |url=https://pajhwok.com/2022/08/05/ariana-afghan-airlines-resumes-flights-to-new-delhi/ |title=Ariana Afghan Airlines resumes flights to New Delhi |work=Pajhwok Afghan News |date=August 5, 2022 |access-date=2022-08-05}} while Kam Air operates international flights to Almaty, Ankara, Delhi, Dushanbe, Islamabad, Istanbul, Jeddah, Kuwait, Sharjah, and Tashkent.

File:MAZAR-E SHARIF INT. AIRPORT - panoramio.jpg]]

Following the 2021 fall of Kabul and the reestablishment of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, most international flights were suspended. Domestic flights officially resumed in January 2022.{{cite news |url=https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-176503 |title=Afghan Civilian and Military Airports Resume Activities |work=TOLOnews |date=January 29, 2022 |access-date=2022-08-05}} Prior to the change in government, airlines such as Air India, Emirates, Gulf Air, Iran Aseman Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Turkish Airlines operated a number of international flights from airports throughout the country. Currently only three foreign airlines are operating in Afghanistan. They include Pakistan's PIA and the Iranian carrier Mahan Air, which provides links to Mashhad and Tehran. Indian carriers Air India and SpiceJet are expected to resume operations to Kabul in the near future.{{cite news |url=https://tolonews.com/business-179310 |title= Major Airlines Still Not Making Flights to Kabul |work=TOLOnews |date=August 8, 2022 |access-date=2022-08-10}}

Major airports in Afghanistan include:

International

• Kabul International Airport - The largest airport in Afghanistan and primary hub for international civilian flights located in Kabul.
• Ahmad Shah Baba International Airport - Dual use military airport with civil facilities located in Kandahar.
• Mazar-i-Sharif International Airport - Dual use military airport with civil facilities in Mazar-i-Sharif.
• Herat International Airport - Dual use military airport with civil facilities in Herat.
• Khost International Airport - A new civilian airport located east of the city of Khost, which is the capital of Khost Province.

Domestic

• Bamyan Airport, also known as Shahid Mazari Airport, is located in the city of Bamyan, which is the capital of Bamyan Province.
• Bost Airport, also known as Lashkar Gah Airport, is located in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province.
• Chaghcharan Airport is located in Chaghcharan, the capital of Ghor Province.
• Farah Airport is located east of the city of Farah, which is the capital of Farah Province.
• Fayzabad Airport is located northwest of Fayzabad, the capital of Badakhshan Province.
• Gardez Airport is located north of Gardez, the capital of Paktia Province.
• Ghazni Airport is located southeast of the city of Ghazni, which is the capital of Ghazni Province.
• Jalalabad Airport, also known as Nangarhar Airport, is located southeast of Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar Province.
• Kunduz Airport is located southeast of the city of Kunduz, the capital of Kunduz Province.
• Logar Airport is located southeast of Puli Alam, the capital of Logar Province.{{Cite web |url=https://earth.google.com/web/@33.9259904,69.06903639,2039.29093972a,7747.22420932d,35y,360h,60t,0r/data=KAI |title=Logar Airport |format=3D visual |publisher=Google Earth |access-date=2022-08-13}}
• Maymana Airport is located northwest of Maymana, which is the capital of Faryab Province.
• Sharan Airport is located southeast of Sharana, the capital of Paktika Province.
• Tarinkot Airport is located south of Tarinkot, the capital of Uruzgan Province.
• Zaranj Airport, also known as Nimruz Airport, is located east of the city of Zaranj, which is the capital of Nimruz Province.

Military aviation in Afghanistan had its origins in the 1920s with assistance provided by the British Empire and the Soviet Union. Changing political influence in the country resulted in aircraft orders and military assistant changing between the world superpowers after the Second World War, principally between NATO and the Soviet Union. The current aerial warfare service of Afghanistan is the Afghan Air Force.

Bagram Air Base was originally constructed during the 1950s. It then saw significant expansion during Soviet and later NATO military operations in the region. Its facilities are capable of landing large aircraft such as Boeing 747, Lockheed C-5 Galaxy and Antonov An-124. As a legacy of Soviet and NATO military operations, a large number of military airfields and heliports can be found throughout the country. However, not all of these are in use, and in varying states of repair.

File:India-Iran-Afghanistan transit corridor map.svg in Iran.]]

{{See also|List of rivers of Afghanistan}}

The chief inland waterway of land-locked Afghanistan is the Amu River which forms part of Afghanistan's northern boundary. The river handles barge traffic up to about 500 metric tons. The main river ports are located at Hairatan in Balkh Province and Sher Khan Bandar in Kunduz Province.

There are petroleum pipelines from Bagram into Uzbekistan and Shindand into Turkmenistan. These pipelines have been in disrepair and disuse for years. There are {{cvt|180|km}} of natural gas pipelines. The Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India Pipeline (TAPI) for delivering natural gas from Turkmenistan to India (via Afghanistan and Pakistan) is still under development as of 2024. Only Turkmenistan has completed its section of the TAPI infrastructure as of 2024. The development of TAPI is projected to foster greater economic cooperation and mutual resource utilisation between the 4 countries, giving Turkmenistan alternative routes of natural gas exports and reducing the dependence of South Asian countries on conventional exporters like Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Brunei.

• Economy of Afghanistan
• Geography of Afghanistan
• Tourism in Afghanistan

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Transport in Afghanistan}}

• [https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/institutional-document/327561/afg-transport-plan-2017-2036.pdf Afghanistan Transport Sector Master Plan Update (2017-2036)]

{{CIA World Factbook|year=2010}}

{{Afghanistan topics}}

{{Asia topic|Transport in}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transport In Afghanistan}}