“Due to the proximity of Iran, Afghanistan, and China, this route (Iran-Afghanistan-China) is the only route that can shorten the transit route and reduce the costs, therefore completing the Herat rail route based on the schedule is very important,” Jabar-Ali Zakeri said in the meeting with Mohammad Ishaq Sahibzadeh.
In this meeting, Zakari stated that Iran is determined to
support the development of Afghanistan's railways, noting that the existence of
a railway line in the northwest of Afghanistan and the proximity to the common
border with Iran is a great opportunity for transit between the two countries.
Referring to the training courses held for Afghan railway
employees in the past years, the RAI head emphasized, “According to
Afghanistan's request, soon the third training course for Afghan railway
employees will be held.”
According
to Zakeri, many of the problems faced by the Iran-Afghanistan Railway
Consortium have been resolved and, currently, three trains a week are running
on the designated route between the two countries.
Further in this meeting, Sahibzadeh also pointed to the
growing cooperation between the railways of Iran and Afghanistan, while
appreciating the training programs for 96 employees of Afghanistan Railways by
Iran Railways.
“Due to the successful holding of the first and second
courses, we are now waiting for the third course,” he said.
Sahibzadeh stated that the Khaf-Herat railway project
depicts the friendship between the two countries, adding, “We hope that with
cooperation, we will see an increase in transit, and as a result, the growth
and promotion of trade between the two countries.”
