Hairatan: Difference between revisions
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A freight terminal in Hairatan is the terminus of one of two rail lines in Afghanistan - a 10 km link to Termez.<ref>{{cite news |title=Afghan rebuild underway |date=2007-07-12| accessdate=2010-02-24 |publisher=[[Railway Gazette International]] |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//afghan-rebuild-underway.html}}</ref> On January 22, 2010, the construction was started of a 75 km rail link from Hairatan to a terminal at [[Gur-e Mar]] near the city of [[Mazar-i-Sharif]], Afghanistan's second largest commercial center. The project, part of the transport strategy and action plan of the [[Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Programme]], is contractually scheduled for completion by June 2011. <ref>[http://www.andrewgrantham.co.uk/afghanistan/railways/hairatan-to-mazar-i-sharif/ "Hairatan to Mazar-i-Sharif railway"]</ref> <ref>{{cite news|title= Construction of Afghan railway launched |date=2010-01-27| accessdate=2010-02-24|publisher =Railway Gazette International|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//construction-of-afghan-railway-launched.html}}</ref> |
A freight terminal in Hairatan is the terminus of one of two rail lines in Afghanistan - a 10 km link to Termez.<ref>{{cite news |title=Afghan rebuild underway |date=2007-07-12| accessdate=2010-02-24 |publisher=[[Railway Gazette International]] |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//afghan-rebuild-underway.html}}</ref> On January 22, 2010, the construction was started of a 75 km rail link from Hairatan to a terminal at [[Gur-e Mar]] near the city of [[Mazar-i-Sharif]], Afghanistan's second largest commercial center. The project, part of the transport strategy and action plan of the [[Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Programme]], is contractually scheduled for completion by June 2011. <ref>[http://www.andrewgrantham.co.uk/afghanistan/railways/hairatan-to-mazar-i-sharif/ "Hairatan to Mazar-i-Sharif railway"]</ref> <ref>{{cite news|title= Construction of Afghan railway launched |date=2010-01-27| accessdate=2010-02-24|publisher =Railway Gazette International|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//construction-of-afghan-railway-launched.html}}</ref> |
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On May 25, 2010, U.S. Ambassador [[Karl Eikenberry]], the president of the [[Asian Development Bank]] (ADB), the Afghan Minister of Finance, Minister of Mines, Minister of Transportation and Civil Aviation, and fellow Ambassadors from Japan, Finland, and Uzbekistan attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony inaugurating the [[Hairatan Rail Line]]. The United States and Japan are the two largest shareholders in ADB. The grant of the ADB covers 97% of the total project cost of $170 million, with the Afghan Government contributing $5 million. This rail link is the first phase of a larger rail network planned for the country, including further links to [[Herat]] in the west and to [[Shir Khan Bandar]] in the |
On May 25, 2010, U.S. Ambassador [[Karl Eikenberry]], the president of the [[Asian Development Bank]] (ADB), the Afghan Minister of Finance, Minister of Mines, Minister of Transportation and Civil Aviation, and fellow Ambassadors from Japan, Finland, and Uzbekistan attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony inaugurating the [[Hairatan Rail Line]]. The United States and Japan are the two largest shareholders in ADB. The grant of the ADB covers 97% of the total project cost of $170 million, with the Afghan Government contributing $5 million. This rail link is the first phase of a larger rail network planned for the country, including further links to [[Herat]] in the west and to [[Shir Khan Bandar]] in the northeast. At Herat the line will connect to [[Iran]] and at Shirkhan Bandar with [[Tajikistan]]. These future lines will create a rail corridor through north Afghanistan and enable freight coming from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to reach [[Persian Gulf]] ports on rail, avoiding the need to pass through [[Turkmenistan]]. <ref>[http://kabul.usembassy.gov/remarks_2505.html "May 25, 2010: U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry Remarks at Hairatan Rail Line Ceremony"]</ref> <ref>[http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/afghan-railway-to-go-ahead-with-adb-funding.html "Afghan railway to go ahead with ADB funding"]</ref> <ref>[http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/hairatanuzbekistanra/ "Hairatan-Uzbekistan Rail Project, Afghanistan"]</ref> |
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{{See|Rail transport in Afghanistan}} |
{{See|Rail transport in Afghanistan}} |
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Revision as of 11:06, 22 August 2010
Hairatan is a border town in the north of Balkh province, Afghanistan, on the Amu Darya river. The river forms the border with Uzbekistan, and the two nations are connected by the Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge. The city of Termez in Uzbekistan is close to Hairatan. The altitude of Hairatan is 300m.
History
In the early 1990s, Hairatan was the location of the 70th Division of General Abdul Momen, who was loosely aligned with Abdul Rashid Dostum's National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan. After Momen's death by an RPG missile attack on 5 January 1994, the 70th Division split and Dostam loyalist Colonel General Helaluddin took command.[1]
Railway
A freight terminal in Hairatan is the terminus of one of two rail lines in Afghanistan - a 10 km link to Termez.[2] On January 22, 2010, the construction was started of a 75 km rail link from Hairatan to a terminal at Gur-e Mar near the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan's second largest commercial center. The project, part of the transport strategy and action plan of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Programme, is contractually scheduled for completion by June 2011. [3] [4]
On May 25, 2010, U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, the president of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Afghan Minister of Finance, Minister of Mines, Minister of Transportation and Civil Aviation, and fellow Ambassadors from Japan, Finland, and Uzbekistan attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony inaugurating the Hairatan Rail Line. The United States and Japan are the two largest shareholders in ADB. The grant of the ADB covers 97% of the total project cost of $170 million, with the Afghan Government contributing $5 million. This rail link is the first phase of a larger rail network planned for the country, including further links to Herat in the west and to Shir Khan Bandar in the northeast. At Herat the line will connect to Iran and at Shirkhan Bandar with Tajikistan. These future lines will create a rail corridor through north Afghanistan and enable freight coming from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to reach Persian Gulf ports on rail, avoiding the need to pass through Turkmenistan. [5] [6] [7]
See also
References
- ^ Anthony Davis, 'The Battlegrounds of Northern Afghanistan,' Jane's Intelligence Review, July 1994
- ^ "Afghan rebuild underway". Railway Gazette International. 2007-07-12. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
- ^ "Hairatan to Mazar-i-Sharif railway"
- ^ "Construction of Afghan railway launched". Railway Gazette International. 2010-01-27. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
- ^ "May 25, 2010: U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry Remarks at Hairatan Rail Line Ceremony"
- ^ "Afghan railway to go ahead with ADB funding"
- ^ "Hairatan-Uzbekistan Rail Project, Afghanistan"
External links
37°13′01″N 67°25′01″E / 37.21694°N 67.41694°E
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