Kazakhstan and Afghanistan Expand Railway Cooperation as Freight Volumes Rise
Kazakhstan and Afghanistan are strengthening cooperation in the railway sector as freight volumes between the two countries increased significantly in early 2026, according to the press service of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ).
The issue was discussed during a meeting on the sidelines of the Organization for Cooperation Between Railways (OSJD) gathering in Astana. Chairman of the Management Board of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy Talgat Aldybergenov met with Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of Public Works for railway transport Sahibzada Mawlawi Mohammad Ishaq.
During the talks, both sides noted steady growth in freight transportation. In the first three months of 2026, cargo volumes rose by 77% year-on-year, reaching one million tons. The increase was driven by rising exports and transit flows, including higher shipments of Kazakh grain, ferrous metals, chemical products, mineral fertilizers, and flour.
Exports of Kazakh flour to Afghanistan reached 291,000 tons, up 37% compared to the same period last year. The parties also discussed the development of bilateral cooperation in railway infrastructure and logistics to improve efficiency and expand trade routes.
Both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening transport connectivity to support growing trade volumes and reaffirmed their intention to continue cooperation and further increase freight transportation volumes.
Photo credit: KTZ
