AFGHANISTAN: Newly-appointed head of the Ministry of Public Works Rumi Bakht-ur-Rehman Sharafat held an initial meeting with ministry staff and the Afghanistan Railway Authority on August 21 following the Taliban’s takeover of the country.
The acting minister said the Taliban leadership was committed to the rehabilitation of the transport infrastructure, technical staff were still required and salaries would be paid. Pictures shared on social media show various road construction works underway.
AfRA officials provided the minister with details of work which they said needs to be done for the benefit of the country.
Meanwhile, Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on August 18 that it was in regular contact with the new regime regarding border issues, and trains were continuing to operate through the Aqina and Towraghondi border crossings to freight terminals inside Afghanistan.
Rail freight over the Friendship Bridge from Uzbekistan to Hairatan and Mazar-i-Sharif is understood to be suspended.
Regular services have not yet begun on line between Iran and Rozanak in Herat province which was officially opened last December.
