Salang highway was reopened on Wednesday after being blocked for nearly four months, with the presence of some officials of the caretaker government.

At the opening ceremony of this highway, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, deputy prime minister for economic affairs, announced the construction of a new tunnel in the near future.

Baradar said that with the reopening and reconstruction of the Salang Highway, the country's trade volume will increase and Afghanistan will become self-sufficient.

He added: "The volume of trade through this route will increase and there will be improved ease with [trade] with neighboring countries. The Islamic Emirate plans to build the second Salang tunnel by providing the facilities. Discussions are ongoing."

Parts of the Salang highway, including the inside of the tunnel, have been reconstructed during this period.

Mohammad Isa Saani, acting minister of public works, who was present at the reopening ceremony of Salang, said that efforts were made to implement this reconstruction project in a better way and in accordance with the accepted criteria.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) said that Salang highway has great transit importance and can help the country in increasing trade.

Mohammad Yunus Momand, the first deputy of the ACCI, said: “Tlhis project has an important role in Afghanistan’s trade and the economy of the region.”

Drivers and citizens are also happy about the reopening of Salang.

"We are not satisfied with this. This is the way to eleven provinces and it should be paid more attention to than any other way. When people travel by alternative ways, they are facing lots of challenges," said Zmarai, a Parwan resident.

The Ministry of Public Works has added that based on the decree of the leader of the Islamic Emirate, the cost of rebuilding the Salang highway will be financed from the crossing tax of cars.