RECCA V reportedly to consider construction of rail link via Afghan territory

DUSHANBE, January 5, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- The Fifth Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA V) that will take place in Dushanbe in March this year will consider projects for construction of new rail link connecting Central Asia with Iran and Pakistan via Afghanistan, Ardasher Qodiri, the head of the Tajik MFA department for Asia and Africa, announced at briefing in Dushanbe on January 4.

“Afghanistan and countries bordering it are expected to offer specific projects for construction of new railroad sections that will link Central Asia to Iran and Pakistan,” said Qodiri.  “We are expecting such projects from Iran, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and other countries of the region.”

Tajik official expressed hope that international organizations and countries that will participate in the conference will confirm their participation in construction of regional rail lines.

The regional rail lines are expected to boost trade, increase exports, and ease transit costs in the region, as well as expand passenger traffic.

“The issue of use of waters of the transboundary river Amu Darya will also be raised at the conference,” Qodiri noted.

According to him, the conference will consider issues related to development of economy through improvement of infrastructure, development of human resources through improvement of education as well as development of investment and entrepreneurship.

We will recall that in March 2010, some Tajik officials suggested building a railroad link through Afghanistan to avoid the delays in rail cargo bound for Tajikistan via Uzbekistan.  According to them, Tajikistan could build a 250-kilometer rail link connecting Tajikistan with Turkmenistan via northern Afghanistan, a route that would avoid Uzbekistan.  Some specialists noted that a railroad linking Tajikistan and Turkmenistan via Afghanistan was feasible and could be completed within a few months.