The first export shipment from the country in five years was dispatched to Turkey via the Herat-Khaf railway.

Officials at the Herat Railway Authority stated that there will be a daily train transporting import and export shipments between Iran and Afghanistan via the Herat-Khaf railway.

This train carried over 1,100 tons of talc stone destined for the city of Bilecik.

Mohammad Naseem Mohammadi, head of the Herat Railway, told TOLOnews: “For a period of one month, one train will travel daily from Afghanistan to Iran and vice versa. After a month, due to the increase in traders' goods, two trains will operate daily, and passenger services are also planned for the future.”

The initiation of exports and imports through the Herat-Khaf railway is deemed beneficial for the country's economy. The private sector states that activating this route will enhance the process of exporting and importing commercial goods between Afghanistan and Iran, as well as European countries.

Ahmad Saeed Seddiqi, Deputy of the Herat Chamber of Commerce and Investment, commented: “Establishing the Rozanak railway line can be a good alternative for ground transportation and also for the transfer of passengers. This will create significant ease in Afghan trade as well as in the exports of Afghanistan.”

Tahir Afshar, a representative of the Iranian Railway Administration, regarding the resumption of exports and imports through the Herat-Khaf railway, said: “This trade balance is more in favor of Afghanistan; the volume of exports that can move from Afghanistan towards Iran or towards European countries will be more than what was previously conducted through road borders.”

It has been reported that the infrastructure at the Rozanak station in Herat is being developed, with plans to start passenger train services between Afghanistan and Iran as the infrastructure is expanded.

Nazir Ahmad Rahimi, responsible for the loading and unloading company at the Rozanak station in Herat, stated: “The problems existing in certain areas, once resolved, will allow us to send larger shipments in the future.”

The Herat-Khaf railway was inaugurated nearly four years ago; however, about three years ago during the political changes in the country, some facilities at the Rozanak station were stolen by locals.

In recent months, all sections of this railway have been rebuilt, and it is planned that, going forward, trains carrying export and import goods will regularly operate on this route daily.