{"id":6765,"date":"2016-11-07T21:18:40","date_gmt":"2016-11-07T21:18:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.andrewgrantham.co.uk\/afghanistan\/?p=6765"},"modified":"2016-11-07T21:22:45","modified_gmt":"2016-11-07T21:22:45","slug":"turkmenistan-to-aqina-railway-reaches-afghanistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrantham.co.uk\/afghanistan\/turkmenistan-to-aqina-railway-reaches-afghanistan\/","title":{"rendered":"Turkmenistan to Aqina railway reaches Afghanistan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tbzZ2RGxyCE\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>A ceremony was held at Aqina<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-6765-1' id='fnref-6765-1' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(6765)'>1<\/a><\/sup> in Afghanistan on 30 October 2016 to mark the laying of the final rails for the <a href=\"\/afghanistan\/railways\/turkmenistan-to-imanazar-aqina-and-andkhoy\/\">new railway from Atamurat<\/a><sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-6765-2' id='fnref-6765-2' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(6765)'>2<\/a><\/sup> in Turkmenistan to Afghanistan via the border crossing at Imamnazar<\/a>.<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-6765-3' id='fnref-6765-3' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(6765)'>3<\/a><\/sup> <\/p>\n<p>The new line is around 88 km long, with about 85 km on the section as far as Imamnazar and about 3.55 km on the cross-border secton which runs into Afghanistan. <\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/embed?mid=12qM7MCiKCpL9sByL8OgIdaOYyJw&#038;hl=en\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Guests at the ceremony included Engineer Mahmoud Baligh, Afghanistan&#8217;s Minister of Public Works (the MPW includes the Afghanistan Railway Authority), Turkmenistan&#8217;s Minister of Railways and the country&#8217;s Ambassador to Kabul,<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-6765-4' id='fnref-6765-4' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(6765)'>4<\/a><\/sup> Special Envoy to the President of Afghanistan on the CIS countries Shakir Kargar as well as representatives of the railway builders, media and local authorities.<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-6765-5' id='fnref-6765-5' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(6765)'>5<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Atendees &#8220;greeted the symbolic moment with the storm of applause&#8221; when a &#8220;powerful tracklaying machine of the construction units of the Ministry of Railway Transport of Turkmenistan&#8221; laid the final rails and sleepers.<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-6765-6' id='fnref-6765-6' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(6765)'>6<\/a><\/sup> Minister of Public Works Mahmood Baligh said co-operation with Turkmenistan to build the railway network would not only be beneficial for neighbouring countries and peoples, but would also contribute to widening mutually beneficial regional and international economic co-operation that meets the interests of peace, stability and sustainable development.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/images\/rail\/af-akina-tracklaying-20161030.jpg\" alt=\"Laying the final rails for the railway from Atamurat to Afghanistan\" title=\"Laying the final rails for the railway from Atamurat to Afghanistan\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Construction of the line is now almost finished, and the presidents of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan are scheduled to attend an <a href=\"\/afghanistan\/aqina-railway-opening-ceremony-committee-formed\/\">opening ceremony<\/a> on 28 November 2016.<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-6765-7' id='fnref-6765-7' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(6765)'>7<\/a><\/sup>. <\/p>\n<p>The <a hre=\"\/afghanistan\/president-berdimuhamedov-inspects-construction-of-tat-railway\/\">project included the construction<\/a> of two 5.8 m wide bridges over the River Karakum, one 363 m long and one 256 m long, which were built by Turkmenistan in co-operation with specialists from Ukrainian company <a href=\"http:\/\/www.altcom.ua\/\">Altcom<\/a>.<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-6765-8' id='fnref-6765-8' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(6765)'>8<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The new Asian International Railway Corridor connects countries in the region through Afghanistan revitalizing <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/TheSilkRoad?src=hash\">#TheSilkRoad<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RECCAfghanistan\">@RECCAfghanistan<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/oiWZob782I\">pic.twitter.com\/oiWZob782I<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Wahid Waissi (@WahidWaissi) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WahidWaissi\/status\/787660424858726400\">October 16, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The next phase of the line will run for 33 km within Afghanistan <a href=\"\/afghanistan\/lapis-lazuli-inauguration-soon\/\">from Aqina to Andkhoy<\/a>.<sup class='footnote'><a href='#fn-6765-9' id='fnref-6765-9' onclick='return fdfootnote_show(6765)'>9<\/a><\/sup> <\/p>\n<p>The new line is intended to form the first stage of the <a href=\"\/afghanistan\/railways\/tat-railway\/\">TAT Railway<\/a> corridor linking Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Construction had been <a href=\"\/afghanistan\/presidents-launch-construction-of-turkmenistan-afghanistan-tajikistan-railway\/\">launched by the presidents of the three countries<\/a> with a ceremony on 5 June 2013. <\/p>\n<p>Announcing the completion of the first section of the route, Turkmenistan&#8217;s Ministry of Foreign Afairs said the new railway &#8220;is intended to become an important link in the international transport, to encourage trade relations between the countries of the region and give a strong impetus to the restoration of the Afghan economy&#8221;, and would &#8220;contribute to the solution of social issues, ensuring employment of the population.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><q>The importance and potential of the new railway, which will connect Turkmenistan and Afghanistan with the economic ties, is proved by the intense freight traffic flow passing through the Ymamnazar customs post. Turkmenistan exports oil products, liquefied gas, carbamide, cement, grain, licorice, carbon, cotton seed oil, Saradja wool, etc. Moreover, large transit consignments of humanitarian and other cargoes pass through the Ymamnazar customs post. Citrus and fruits transiting through Afghanistan are registered as import. A number of food products are transported to the neighbouring countries of the region and Europe through territory of Turkmenistan.<\/a><br \/>\n<cite>Source: <a href=\"\"http:\/\/www.turkmenistan.gov.tm\/_eng\/?id=6725\">Turkmen construction specialists mounted the final joints of the first stage of the Asian railway in Akina, Afghanistan<\/a>, Turkmenistan: The Golden Age, 30 November 2016.<\/cite>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Lazuli railway network to link Afghanistan to Europe and China soon<br \/>  <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ru3GniaIny\">https:\/\/t.co\/ru3GniaIny<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/8q5HkVufdI\">pic.twitter.com\/8q5HkVufdI<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Khaama Press (KP) (@khaama) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/khaama\/status\/788727712202358784\">October 19, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Aqeena city will be soon connected to Turkmenistan railway &amp; will facilitate delivery of Afghan goods to Europe in 5-7 days, P. Ghani says<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; VOA DARI (@VOADariAfghan) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/VOADariAfghan\/status\/752556344486596608\">July 11, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>References<\/h3>\n<div class='footnotes' id='footnotes-6765'>\n<div class='footnotedivider'><\/div>\n<ol>\n<li id='fn-6765-1'> Also written Akina, Aqeena etc <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-6765-1'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-6765-2'> Or Atamyrat, and formerly Kerki <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-6765-2'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-6765-3'> Countless spellings including Ymamnazar, Ymam Nazar, Ymymnazar etc, sometimes inconsistently within the same official text <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-6765-3'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-6765-4'> <a href=\"http:\/\/mopw.gov.af\/fa\/news\/169667\">\u0634\u0631\u0648\u0639 \u0643\u0627\u0631 \u0631\u064a\u0644 \u06af\u0630\u0627\u0631\u064a \u062e\u0637 \u0622\u0647\u0646 \u0628\u0646\u062f\u0631 \u0622\u0642\u064a\u0646\u0647 \u0628\u0627 \u062d\u0636\u0648\u0631 \u0648\u0632\u064a\u0631 \u0641\u0648\u0627\u064a\u062f \u0639\u0627\u0645\u0647\u060c \u0646\u0645\u0627\u064a\u0646\u062f\u0647&#8230; <\/a>, Ministry of Public Works, 1 November 2016 <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-6765-4'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-6765-5'><a href=\"http:\/\/www.mfa.gov.tm\/en\/news-en\/4862-the-construction-of-the-first-phase-of-an-international-railway-corridor-turkmenistan-afghanistan-completed\">The construction of the first phase of an international railway corridor Turkmenistan \u2013 Afghanistan completed<\/a>, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, 2016 <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-6765-5'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-6765-6'> <a href=\"\"http:\/\/www.turkmenistan.gov.tm\/_eng\/?id=6725\">Turkmen construction specialists mounted the final joints of the first stage of the Asian railway in Akina, Afghanistan<\/a>, Turkmenistan: The Golden Age, 30 November 2016 <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-6765-6'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-6765-7'> <a href=\"http:\/\/recca.af\/asian-international-railway-corridor\/\">Asian International Railway Corridor<\/a>, Regional Economic Cooperation Conference for Afghanistan, 1 November 2016 <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-6765-7'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-6765-8'> Altcom previously built a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.altcom.ua\/project_most\">road bridge over the Amu Darya<\/a>. <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-6765-8'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li id='fn-6765-9'> Various similar spellings <span class='footnotereverse'><a href='#fnref-6765-9'>&#8617;<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A ceremony was held at Aqina1 in Afghanistan on 30 October 2016 to mark the laying of the final rails for the new railway from Atamurat2 in Turkmenistan to Afghanistan via the border crossing at Imamnazar.3 The new line is around 88 km long, with about 85 km on the section as far as Imamnazar [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,10],"tags":[16,241,19,299,191],"class_list":["post-6765","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-afghanistans-railways","category-projects","tag-andkhoy","tag-aqina","tag-atamurat","tag-tat-railway","tag-turkmenistan"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrantham.co.uk\/afghanistan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6765","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrantham.co.uk\/afghanistan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrantham.co.uk\/afghanistan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrantham.co.uk\/afghanistan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrantham.co.uk\/afghanistan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6765"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrantham.co.uk\/afghanistan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6765\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6798,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrantham.co.uk\/afghanistan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6765\/revisions\/6798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrantham.co.uk\/afghanistan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrantham.co.uk\/afghanistan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6765"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.andrewgrantham.co.uk\/afghanistan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}