Representatives of Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Iran have signed an operational plan to establish a trilateral road transport corridor. The first pilot shipment is expected to travel along the new route within a month, using trucks from all three countries.
The agreement was reached at a meeting in the Iranian city of Mashhad, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.
The talks were attended by Reza Akbari, Iran’s Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development also head of the Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization; an Afghan delegation led by Yar Mohammad Ramazan; and a Tajik delegation headed by Deputy Transport Minister Shoista Saidmurodzoda.
The three sides reportedly discussed existing transport capacity, obstacles to freight traffic and ways to expand road transport cooperation. The signed document outlines the framework for putting the Iran-Afghanistan-Tajikistan corridor into operation.
According to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, the agreement will allow commercial cargo between Iran and Tajikistan to be transported through Afghan territory.
The three countries also agreed to make the corridor a priority in their transport and trade policies. A draft joint strategic document is expected to receive final approval after diplomatic procedures are completed.
First pilot shipment expected within a month
The first pilot shipment is due to travel along the corridor within a month, with freight vehicles from all three countries taking part.
The trial will test transport operations, border and customs procedures, and coordination between the relevant agencies in Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Iran.
A permanent trilateral working group will also be established to oversee implementation of the agreement, resolve operational problems and prepare regular progress reports.
The parties discussed improving border infrastructure, simplifying visa procedures for drivers, reducing waiting times at border crossings, modernizing freight fleets and developing joint insurance mechanisms.
They also considered building roadside service facilities, using the resources of the Economic Cooperation Organization and potentially extending the corridor to other Central Asian countries and China.
Iranian officials said the corridor could diversify regional transport routes, reduce freight costs and increase trade and exports between the participating countries.
The next trilateral meeting is expected to take place in Kabul during the Iranian month of Aban, which falls between late October and November 2026. The parties will review progress in implementing the agreements reached in Mashhad.
