Kremlin official says Afghanistan railway project under active discussion

Russia is discussing plans to build a railway line through Afghanistan, despite continued instability in the region, a senior official has said.

According to Russian media, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk made the remarks during the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

“Discussions continue on building a railway through Afghanistan, including a western route via Herat. It is very actively being discussed, and it is not only about the railway — there are also pipelines and road infrastructure,” Overchuk said during a session titled “Trade in Turbulent Times”.

He acknowledged that “conflict situations arising in the region slow down these processes”, but added that such developments occur at a time when there is increased activity related to strengthening transport and logistics routes.