Afghanistan inaugurates key 43-km segment of Herat-Khaf railway

KABUL, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan has inaugurated the first phase of the fourth section of the strategic Herat-Khaf railway, a 43-kilometer stretch valued at 58.5 million U.S. dollars, the Herat provincial government office announced in a statement on Monday.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in western Herat province, Governor Sheikh Mawlana Islamjar described the project as a pivotal milestone in advancing economic development and consolidating Herat's position as a vital hub for regional transit and commerce.

The newly operational segment is expected to significantly enhance Afghanistan's trade linkages with neighboring countries and facilitate access to European markets, officials said.

Construction of the second phase of the same section, a further 47 km estimated at more than 54 million U.S. dollars, remains underway.

Once completed, the full 225-km cross-border railway will connect Iran's Khaf with Afghanistan's Herat province, strengthening the country's integration into regional and global trade networks.