Diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (IRA) were established in October 1992.

Uzbekistan has been constantly assisting Afghanistan in recovering its national economy. Uzbekistan took an active part in the Project on the reconstruction of “Mazari–Sharif – Kabul” highway. Particularly, Uzbek specialists put in commission 11 bridges along this route that ensured uninterrupted cargo flows from northern provinces to Kabul in the first years of Afghan statehood.

Today Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have intensified economic dialogue in the spheres of transport communications, transit, energy sector, trade and etc.

With the aim of reconstructing Afghanistan’s infrastructure, within the framework of official visit of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov to Iran on June 17-18, 2003, Uzbekistan initiated signing of Trilateral Agreement between Uzbekistan, Iran and Afghanistan on establishing the International TransAfghan Transport Corridor.

With the aim of strengthening the cargo transportation capacity, during the 7-th Ministerial Conference of Member – States of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) - Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation Program (CAREC) on November 20, 2008 in Baku (Azerbaijan) ADB, the governments of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan signed Memorandum on the construction of a railroad “Hayraton – Mazari-Sharif - Herat” which is part of TransAfghan transport corridor.

To implement the provisions of the Memorandum, on February 20, 2009, inaugural meeting of a joint Uzbek-Afghan working group with the participation of ADB representatives took place in Tashkent where the issues of a construction of railway “Hayraton - Mazari-sharif - Herat” were discussed.

ADB plans to provide $1,8 million for conducting a feasibility study of this project. After its completion, according to ADB’s rules and procedures, the international bidding on constructing the railroad «Hayraton-Mazari – Sharif» will be announced. According to preliminary estimates, the overall length of the railroad line is 73-75 kilometers. Estimated cost will make up $175-180 million if the width of a track is 1520 mm., and estimated time for the completion of construction is 45 months. At width of a track 1435 mm, the cost will make up $250-270 million, estimated duration of the construction is 72 months.

In June, 2009, there was a meeting in Hayraton between the delegations headed by the Chairman of State Railroad Company «Uzbekiston Temir Yullari» A.Ramatov and the Minister of Trade of Afghanistan Vahidulla Shahrani. During this meeting the issues of cargo transit to Afghanistan through the territory of Uzbekistan were discussed as well as some aspects of the project of constructing a railroad line “Termez - Mazari-Sharif” were touched upon. Uzbekistan will be the main contractor of this project.

With purpose to assist the efforts of international community to stabilize Afghanistan, in December, 2002 the Government of Uzbekistan issued Decree on re-opening the “Hayraton” bridge along the Uzbek-Afghan border, which is the only railway communication with Afghanistan. On November 9, 2003 the customs clearance center “Airitom” was put in commission in Termez. Since then the volume of humanitarian and other various cargoes through “Airitom” has made up more than 6,5 million tons.

The Implementation of arrangements on transit through Uzbekistan of US and NATO non-military cargoes to Afghanistan has begun. Since the beginning of 2002 the supply of electricity to Afghanistan has been restored. In 2007 Uzbekistan exported to Afghanistan 20 mVt of electricity. Its volume reached 24 mVt in 2008.

From November 8 through November 12, 2006 Minister of Energy and Water Resources Muhammad Ismailhan and Minister of Economy Muhammad Dzhalil Shams visited Uzbekistan. Following the visit, the agreement was reached on increasing electricity supply to Afghanistan up to 70 mVt in the short-run and up to 300 mVt in the long-run.

In June, 2007 the Protocol between the “Uzbekenergo” and the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of Afghanistan was signed in Tashkent. The document set forth concrete spheres of cooperation on increasing the electricity supply to Afghanistan up to 300 mVt.

As a result of the negotiations parties have agreed upon the creation of a joint venture on the maintenance of new Electric Transmission Lines (ETL) and the training of Afghan experts. On January 26, 2009, through ETL-220 «Hayraton - Puli- Humri - Kabul» electricity started to arrive in Afghan capital. In 2008 Uzbekistan exported 24 mVt of electricity to Afghanistan. After launch of ETL-220 «Hayraton - Puli- Humri - Kabul» electricity supplies to this country in January-April of this year have reached 56 mVt.

On May 18, 2009, the ceremony dedicated to the commissioning of power facility transferring 150 MgVt of electricity from AC Substation “Surkhan” to Kabul took place in AC Substation “Chantala” (suburb of Kabul).

By the end of this year the increase of a supply of electricity to 150 ìVò from Uzbekistan to Afghanistan is projected with the plans to reach 300 mVt in the coming year.

In 2008 Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have intensified the cooperation in the sphere of fiber-optic communication. According to the Afghan side, this area of cooperation is the most beneficial and effective. Uzbekistan is widely reputed in Afghanistan for its highly qualified experts.

Currently, all stages of laying cables along the border between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan with the overall length of 1538 kilometers have already been completed. Of 32 communication sites, which Afghan side is planning to construct along the border with Uzbekistan, 9 have already been completed. Inaugural ceremony of fiber-optic communication center, connecting Uzbekistan with Afghanistan, took place in July 7-9, 2009 in Hayraton.



Information Agency JAHON