KABUL, July 29 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Vice presidents of both Afghanistan and Iran opened on Saturday a road linking Herat province to the north and also inaugurated work on extension of railway from Khaf city of Iran to Herat.

Afghan Vice President Ahmad Zia Masoud and his Iranian counterpart for Executive Affairs Ali Saeedlou opened the Herat-Maimana Highway constructed with $23 million fund pledged to Afghanistan's reconstruction by Iran. The 60-kilometres road links the western city to Faryab, Badghis and Jawjzan provinces in the north. Maimana is provincial capital of Faryab.

Saeedlou said four bridges along the road were also built with a $7 million fund granted by his country. For his part, Zia Masoud appreciated Iran's assistance to Afghanistan and said the highway was part of the ring road which would connect all provinces of the country to each other.

The two vice-presidents also inaugurated work on extension of railway from Khaf city of Iran near the border to Herat. Saeedlou said the railway road would link the two border cities, extending 191 kilometres. The railway will end up at 15 kilometres west to the Herat city.

A press release issued from the Iranian embassy in Kabul said Iran would pay the $78-million fund for the 77 kilometres of the railway from Khaf till the joint border from its own budget. 

Iran will also fund the 61 kilometres from the joint border till Herat, taking $75 millions as Tehran pledged Kabul. The project must be completed in three years, according to a mutual agreement signed in this regard.

The Iranian vice-president said creation of the Khaf-Herat railway would be very useful for both the countries in enhancing commercial and transport facilities between the two neighbours.

Governor of Herat Syed Hussain Anwari, who also attended the ceremony, said it would ease up transportation of commercial goods for Afghan traders since they were using the hard Abbas Port way for importing materials. They also opened Iran's governmental bank's branch Arian Bank in Herat.

Ahamd Ehsan Sarwaryar

by/rh