Afghanistan Peace Campaign
Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan agreed to establish a road transit corridor aimed at expanding regional trade and improving cross-border freight connectivity.
Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan have agreed to establish a new road transit corridor through Afghan territory to facilitate regional trade and streamline freight transport between Iran and Tajikistan, officials said on Thursday.
Taliban’s Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation said the agreement was reached during a trilateral meeting in the Iranian city of Mashhad. The ministry said the initiative will create a dedicated overland transport route allowing commercial goods to move between Iran and Tajikistan via Afghanistan, with the aim of strengthening regional connectivity and expanding economic cooperation.
According to the ministry, the corridor will enable cargo shipments from both Iran and Tajikistan to transit Afghanistan territory under a coordinated transport framework designed to simplify cross-border freight movement and improve logistics.
Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, citing the General Directorate of Road Maintenance and Transportation of Razavi Khorasan Province, reported that senior transport officials from the three sides signed an operational framework for implementing the corridor.
Jafar Shahamat, head of the Razavi Khorasan road transport authority, said the first pilot shipment is expected to pass through the corridor within the next month. The trial will involve transport fleets from all three participants and will assess customs procedures, border operations, logistics coordination and the commercial viability of the route before full implementation.
The agreement comes as Afghanistan seeks to diversify trade routes and strengthen regional economic integration amid persistent economic challenges. Improved overland connectivity has become increasingly important as businesses continue to face higher transport costs, supply chain disruptions and logistical uncertainties linked to regional instability.
According to the World Bank, Iran accounted for 31.6% of Afghanistan’s total imports, making it the country’s largest import partner. Analysts say the planned corridor could strengthen regional trade and improve supply chains, although its long-term success will depend on security conditions, efficient customs coordination and effective implementation by all three countries.
Afghanistan has increasingly sought to expand regional transit links with neighboring countries as part of broader efforts to boost trade, reduce transport costs and improve access to international markets. Landlocked Afghanistan relies heavily on overland trade corridors through neighboring states, making regional transport cooperation critical to its economic recovery and long-term development.