TEHRAN, Iran, Aug. 27
Trend:
It is possible that the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran (KTAI) road transport corridor would reopen in North West of Afghanistan for access of Iran to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, said the head of Khorasan International Transport Companies Association, Trend reports citing Mehr News Agency.
Based on current evidence and political changes in borders and Afghanistan customs, the guarantees were provided to secure transportation fleet routes to Central Asian Countries from Afghan territory, said Ahmad Zamanian Yazdi.
"These changes could raise hopes for the development of the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran (KTAI) road transport corridor. The increase of trade transaction via KTAI road transport corridor could be an alternative route for transportation in Central Asia and increase export and cargo transit in Central Asian countries," he noted.
Turkmenistan is currently the entrance gate for cargo transit from Iran to five Central Asian countries and problems such as inadequate tariffs on transit cargo, disputes with some neighbors, and Turkmenistan special Coronavirus restrictions on the passage of commercial fleets have prompted regional traders and international transportation companies to look for alternative routes to send cargo to four other Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Iran and Afghanistan trade is mostly done via Islam Qala – Dogharoon border crossing that includes $1.5 billion export, $3 billion transit, and $20 million import per year.