Afgan Transport
Afgan Transport
AFGHANISTAN
August 2002
REPORT OBJECTIVE & BACKGROUND
Japan continues to play an active and leading contribution to the efforts of the
international community toward the reconstruction of Afghanistan and as
affirmed in the Tokyo Conference that, Japan will provide up to 500 million
dollars of assistance over a period of two and a half years. This amount of
assistance is commensurate with the role of Japan in the international
community. One of the key concerns of the present Afghan Interim Administration and the
International community is the reconstruction of Afghanistan. The poor Infrastructure situation has
multiple links to Afghanistan poverty. Improved Infrastructure in Afghanistan can help to create
jobs, raise worker productivity and in general will help to improve health, education and the
quality of life.
1. AFGHANISTAN AN INTRODUCTION
3. ECONOMY OVERVIEW
4. TRANSPORTATION DEMAND
5. ROADS
6. AVIATION
7. FERRY TRANSPORT
8. RAILWAY
ATTACHMENTS
Note * : A detailed Highway Network Analysis Program, linking the highway data with analysis
is also available and is not included as a part of this report.
1. AFGHANISTAN AN INTRODUCTION
Afghanistan, (which literally means Land of the Afghan) is a mountainous and land locked
country located in Southern Asia. It has a history and culture that goes back over 5000 years. Throughout
its history, this area of the world has been known by various names. In ancient times, its inhabitants called
the land Aryana. In the medieval era, it was called Khorasan, and in modern times, its people have
decided to call it Afghanistan. The exact population of Afghanistan is unknown, however, it is estimated to
be somewhere around 21-26 million.
Afghanistan is a heterogeneous nation, in which there are four major ethnic groups: Pashtoons,
Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks. Numerous other minor ethnic groups (Nuristanis, Baluchis, Turkmens, etc.)
also call Afghanistan their home. While the majority of Afghans (99%) belong to the Islamic faith, there are
also small pockets of Sikhs, Hindus and even some Jews. The official languages of the country are Pashto
and Dari (Afghan Persian). The capital of Afghanistan is Kabul, which throughout history, was admired by
many great figures, such as the great Central Asian conqueror, Zahirudeen Bab ar. Unfortunately, due to
many years of war, this great city has been shattered and nearly destroyed.
Today, Afghanistan is on a road to recovery, however, after decades of war, the economy is still
in ruins, its environment is in a state of crises. The country is riddled with landmines left from the war,
which are still injuring and killing people on daily basis. Afghanistan is being run by an interim
administration headed by Hamid Karzai. The administration took powe r in December 22, 2001 after
various delegates in Bonn, Germany signed an accord. The administration is to rule for 6 months, after
which an emergency Loya Jirga (Traditional Grand Assembly) will be convened to decide on a transitional
authority. This will include a broad -based transitional administration, to lead Afghanistan until the people
can elect a permanent government. The permanent and elected government is supposed to be in place no
more than 2 years after the emergency Loya Jirga is convened.
Some of the useful information about the country is as follows:
• Capital : Kabul
• Other Cities : Kandahar, Heart, Mazar-i-Sharif, Jalalabad, Konduz.
• Location : Southern Asia
• Area : 647,500 sq km
• Border Countries : Pakistan 2,430 km
Iran 936 km
Turkmenistan 744 km
Uzbekistan 137 km
Tajikistan 1,206 km
China 76 km
• Climate : Arid to Semi Arid
• Terrain : Mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
• Population : : 26,813,057 (July 2001 est)
• Ethnic groups : Pashtun 38%, Tajik 25%, Hazara 19%, Uzbek 6%, Others 12%
• Religions : Muslim 99 % , Others 1%
• Languages : Pashtu 35%, Afghan Persian 50%, Turkic 11%, other 4%.
• Administrative : 32 provinces
• Independence : 19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
High mountains cover much of Afghanistan, with about one -half of the land over 2,000 m in
elevation. Small glaciers and year-round snowfields are common. The highest peak, Nowshak (Noshaq),
rises 7,485 m on the northeast border and is a lower spur of the Tirich Mir peak in Pakistan. The Hindu
Kush range extends across the country in a southwest direction from the Vakhan Corridor almost to the
Iranian border. From the Hindu Kush, other lower ranges radiate in all directions. Some of the major
mountain systems include the Pamirs in the upper northeast of the Vakhan Corridor, the Badakhshan
Ranges in the northeast, the Paropamisus Range in the north, and the Safed Koh range, which forms part
of the frontier between Afghanistan and Pakis tan. Lowland areas are concentrated in the south and west
and include the Turkistan Plains, the Herat-Farah Lowlands of the extreme northwest, the Sistan Basin
and Helmand River valley of the southwest, and the Rigestan Desert of the south.
Except for the river valleys and a few places in the lowlands where underground fresh water
makes irrigation possible, agriculture is difficult. Only 12 percent of the land is cultivated. Moreover, a war
with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in the 1980s and the subsequent civil war in the
1990s left some of that land unusable because of neglect, the planting of explosive mines, and other
problems. In general, sheep and goat grazing make up the main agricultural land use. In eastern and
southeastern Afghanistan, forest lands amounted to 1.4 million hectares (3.3 million acres), or 2 percent of
the country's land area in 2000. The ravages of war, the scarcity of fuel, and the need for firewood for
cooking and heating have caused rapid deforestation.
Afghanis tan has many high mountains and the passes through them have been of profound
importance in both the history of invasion of the country and in commerce. In the 320s BC Alexander the
Great invaded the country through the Kushan Pass (about 4,370 m) in the west and left it to the east
through the low Khyber Pass (1,072 m) to invade India. These same passes were used by the Mughal
emperor Babur to conquer both Afghanistan and India in the 1500s. The famous Salang Pass (3,880 m)
and its Soviet-built tunnel in the central Hindu Kush was one of the main routes the Soviets used to invade
Afghanistan in 1979.
However, the legacy of land mines in Afghanistan is the worst environmental nightmare that has
been created as a result of constant war. The presence of more than ten million land mines in the country,
makes it the world's most deadly mine field. The daily death toll due to these devices is about 20 to 30
people, mostly children and civilians.
Even though Afghanistan itself doesn't have any industry to create air pollutants, smog is a
common phenomenon in most of the urban areas. Trans -boundary air pollution is another concern. Due to
this, Afghanistan receive enormous amounts of pollutants originating from the Aral sedimentary basin, Iran,
Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan's industrial parks.
3. ECONOMY OVERVIEW
Afghanistan is an extremely poor country, highly dependent on farming and livestock raising
(sheep and goats). Economic considerations have played second fiddle to political and military upheavals
during two decades of war, including the nearly 10-year Soviet military occupation (which ended 15
February 1989). During that conflict one-third of the population fled the country, with Pakistan and Iran
sheltering a combined peak of more than 6 million refugees. In early 2000, 2 million Afghan refugees
remained in Pakistan and about 1.4 million in Iran. Gross domestic product has fallen substantially over
the past 20 years because of the loss of labor and capital and the disruption of trade and transport; severe
drought added to the nation's difficulties in 1998-2000. The majority of the population continues to suffer
from insufficient food, clothing, housing, and medical care. Inflation remains a serious problem throughout
the country. International aid can deal with only a fraction of the humanitarian problem, let alone promote
economic development. In 1999-2000, internal civil strife continued, hampering both domestic economic
policies and international aid efforts. Numerical data are likely to be either unavailable or unreliable.
Afghanistan was by far the largest producer of opium poppies in 2000, and narcotics trafficking is a major
source of revenue.
During the 1960s and 1970s the patterns of employment changed noticeably with the
economy's initial ind ustrialization. The share of agriculture in total employment dropped from 70 percent in
1966 to 55 percent in 1982. Agriculture dwarfed industry in terms of employment, but the industrial labor
force grew quickly. The number of people engaged in industry, including handicrafts, approximately
doubled between 1966 and 1982, and this sector's share of total employment rose from about 0.5 percent
in 1966 to 10 percent in 1982. Still, agricultural workers outnumbered their industrial counterparts six to
one.
4. TRANSPORTATION DEMAND
Afghanistan is a landlocked country and has an estimated population of 26 million people, of which
about 3 million are living as refugees in neighboring Pakistan and Iran. It has a rugged mountainous
terrain with plains in the south and west and arid extreme weather conditions. Afghanistan is rich in
untapped natural resources (gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore,
salt, precious and semiprecious stones). Less than one third of its arable land (12 percent of the country)
is irrigated. In fact large portions of the irrigation system are in disuse due to drought and ravages of war.
Afghanistan economy, rely on agriculture, horticulture, sheep and cattle herds and minerals. Its small
manufacturing base has been decimated by war and strife. The country is divided into 32 provinces
administratively. The major trading centers are at Herat, Kandahar, Jalalabad, Mazar-i-Sharif and Kabul,
the capital. Manufacturing industry was largely undeveloped, with only a few plants established (in textiles,
medicines, cement, etc.)
Afghanistan's networks of transport and power-generating facilities were built mostly after World
War II. Before the major development projects under Daoud, an observer wrote that "the economic
organization of Afghanistan resembles a wide sea dotted with islands of economic activity, each one more
or less limited to its own local market, primarily because of inadequate transportation." The first motorable
road over the Hindu Kush was finished only in 1933. The first two development plans of 1956-66 prepared
the basic grid of paved, all weather roads that integrated the nation's economy to a limited extent. The
dispersion of the Afghan population required mainly low-cost, low-volume roads. The physical features of
Afghanistan made this difficult because the rocky, mountainous terrain and the harsh climate raised road
construction and maintenance costs. As a result of foreign aids in 1960s and 1970s, the country
developed major road network, as well as some other infrastructure including major irrigation and
hydroelectric facilities. This major highway system joins together the country's major commercial centers
and also linked the country to the outside world; however, it did not extend beyond the main arteries and
urban centers. Social and other services (such as education and health) were largely limited to the
relatively small urban sector.
5. ROADS
Most road building occurred in the 1960s, funded by the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The two
superpowers built roads to tie Afghanistan into their own respective commercial and economic spheres.
Soviet assistance completed a road linking Jabalossara with Dusti on the Soviet border in 1964. Along this
road was located the 1.7km Salang Tunnel at an altitude of over 3,300 meters above sea level. The tunnel
eliminated about 200 kilometers from the previous roundabout route between the Soviet border and Kabul.
In 1965 the Soviets finished the road between Jabalossara and Kabul and completed the highway joining
the Soviet border town of Kushka with Kandahar. By 1971 the Soviets had also built a road extending from
Polkhumri through Mazar-i-Sharif to Sibirgan. While the Soviets were linking Afghanistan with their border
towns, the Americans put in roads to join Afghanistan to Pakistan and Iran. Two roads were completed in
1964 and 1965 extending from Pakistan up to Kandahar and Kabul. In 1965 the Americans also finished
surfacing the road between Qandahar and Kabul. In 1967 they completed the road between Herat and
Islam Qala on the Iranian border. By 1975, when all the major road projects were completed, Afghanistan
had 23,500 kilometers of roads, of which there are about 2,500 kilometers of paved highways.
Some of the traditional road network indicators such as percentage of paved network (of total),
density and road length per 1000 people, for Afghanistan, are summarized here:
Good
14%
Poor
15%
Road Condition : Good : 14%, Fair : 24%, Poor 15%, Very Poor 47%,
Rehabilitation COST Required in million US $ = 1,677.22
LOCATION PRIMARY HIGHWAY NETWORK
Hairatan
Shirkhan
Tourghondi
Islam Qala
KABUL
Herat Tourkham
Zaranj
Speenboldak
This road complete a ring between the principal cities centers, in the east (Kabul), the
south (Kandahar) and the West (Heart), and the north (Mazar-i-Sharifh
Road Condition : Good : 24%, Fair : 33%, Poor 14%, Very Poor 29%,
Rehabilitation COST Required in million US $ = 719.51
The immediate priorities are proposed to be on the main Highway network as defined( Ring
Road and International Border Links). The strategy is first of all to implement fast track projects all over
Afg hanistan aiming at removing all bottlenecks (collapsed bridges, disintegrated pavements, damaged
tunnels). The road works would generate employment through extensive subcontracting and inclusion of
extensive drainage; erosion protection and routine maintenance works in the contracts to increase input of
manual labor. This will restore normal traffic operations on the main road network and help to facilitate the
transport movements on the key import/export links and main corridors while preparing for a broader
program. As a long Term priority the whole of the National Highways need to be rehabilitated and
upgraded starting the international links as the first priority.
A detailed analysis of each section and the overall network of National Highways is attached in
Annexure A.
6. AVIATION
The transport network is supported by 2 international (at Kabul and Kandahar) and over 40
domestic airports or airfields. Most of them were established with substantial Soviet and American aid.
The largest and most important airport was Kabul International Airport, where traffic doubled to over
100,000 passengers annually between 1969 and
1976. Topographical conditions limited the
airport's capacity to handle wide bodied jets, and Kunduz
Mazar-i- Sharif
OTHER AIRPORTS
for use by larger aircraft, and a new terminal and
hangars were to be built. Passenger movement rose to 127,000 in 1982, up from 106,000 in 1976. The
United States had helped build Afghanistan's other international airport, at Kandahar, beginning in 1956. It
was initially conceived as a refueling stop for piston engine aircraft on the long flights across South Asia
and the Middle East. The introduction of jet aircraft, however, quickly turned the project into a white
elephant, and Karachi became the preferred stopover site. The $15 million, 3,030 meter airstrip and its
airport facilities were little used after their completion in 1963. Only 6,000 passengers went through the
airport in 1976. The Kandahar airport was operated mainly as an alternative to the Kabul airport when
Kabul was fog or snow bound. During the mid 1960s the United States also completed smaller regional
airports in Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif, Konduz, and Jalalabad. By 1978 several smaller towns located far off the
main highway belt, reach as Maymana and Faizabad, also had airports.
In an effort to preclude Soviet influence, the United States also provided technical assistance
when Afghanistan established Ariana Afghan Airlines in 1955. In 1957 the Afghan government took a 51
percent share of the company, while Pan American World Airways held 49 percent. The United States
Export Import Bank later helped Ariana buy two Boeing 727s for its flights to Western Europe. After the
Soviet invasion, however, Ariana landing rights in Western Europe were revoked. It then flew to Moscow,
Prague, Dubai, and New Delhi, but by late 1985 it either had gone out of business or was about to do so.
In 1985 only two foreign carriers served Kabul International Airport Aeroflot and Indian Airlines. Also
serving as an internal carrier within Afghanistan was the state owned Bakhtar Airlines. It had a fleet of two
Antonov 24s, three Canadia Twin Otters, and two Yak 40s.
During the last 20 years the Civil aviation facilities had been badly dam aged. The air traffic
services at many places are virtually non-operating. On many airports the basic civil works (runway,
taxiway, terminal/operational buildings) are damaged. The rescue fire service and runway lights at many
airports are non-existent. Manpower to operate and maintain civil aviation facilities is also in deplorable
state. Afghanistan state -owned ARIANA AIRLINES maintained a sporadic domestic and International flight
but was also badly hit in the last decade .
PRIORITY : The fist priority si the rehabilitation of the Major airports to permit develop international and
domestic links. The second priority should be given to the rehabilitation and improvement of regional and small
airports to expedite connections with center and regions.
COST ESTIMATES : The ADB, UNDP and the World Bank, preliminary Needs assessment indicated a figure of
70 million US $ needed to rehabilitate 8 major, 6 regional and 14 smaller airports.
(8 major airports & 6 regional airports =50 m US $, 14 smaller airports =10 m US$, Civil aviation and training
center = 10 mUS $)
7. Ferry Transport
Afghanistan's major rivers are fed by mountain streams. The Amu Darya on the northern
frontier receives water from two main tributaries, the Panj and the Vakhsh, which rise in the Pamirs. The
Ammu Darya (Oxus) eventually empties into the
j
an
Aral Sea. The Harirud River rises in central
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The Amu Darya is the only navigable river in Afghanistan, though ferry boats can cross the
deeper areas of other rivers. Practically all along the course of the Amu Darya up to Kunduz the extremely
precipitous and rocky Russian bank lies higher than the Afghan bank. Since 1955, the Russians have
helped the Afghans develop river ports. River traffic along the Amu Darya increased rapidly as trade
expanded between the Soviet Union and Afghanistan. River ports unloaded 215 tons of cargo in 1975; by
1981 the government gave a figure of over
Tajikistan China
Uzbekistan
Hairatan
Shir Khan
Located about 60 kms north of Konduz, opposite Tajikistan, the port, handles
commercial goods and fuel shipments. Facilities include a 180 meter quay for vessel
berthing at about 200 meters of riverbank. Maximum cargo transferable through the port
is estimated at 1,000 mt/day.
The smallest of the three port facilities, Keleft is located some100 kms west of Hairatan,
opposite Turkmenistan. The port has a total of only some 175 meters of riverbank
being space, and maximum cargo transferable through the port is estimated at only
320 mt/day.
PRIORITY & COST ESTIMATE: All three of these rivers ports (Hairatan, Shirkhan and Kelefti) need to be enlarged
to handle increased traffic. However a systematic review of water transport system need to be undertaken.
8. RAILROADS
Afghanistan's difficult terrain made the construction and operation of a railroad extremely
expensive. The decision to build a railroad was further impeded by the problem of choosing a track gauge.
The Soviet Union, Iran, and Pakistan each operated railroads with different gauges. Despite these
obstacles the Afghan government had long wanted to build a railroad because of the boost it would
provide for the establishment of heavy ind ustry, especially in the minerals sector. The seven-year plan of
1976-83 had envisioned building a railroad linking Kabul with both Iran and Pakistan. The railroad was to
have followed the main highway's circular path with an extension to Islam Qala on the Iranian border. The
Soviets , after their intervention in Afghanistan, began a new railroad capable of both military and
merchandise movements across the river Amu Darya. In 1982 they completed the first road and rail bridge
over the river at Hairatan on Uzbek-Afghan border.
Presently the total length of Railway Line Network (1.524 m broad gauge) is only 24.6 km, out of
which 9.6 km is located from Gushgy (Turkmenistan) to Towraghondi, and 15 km is located from
Termiz (Uzbekistan) to Kheyrabad at the transshipment point on south bank of Amu Darya.
PRIORITY & COST ESTIMATE : The seven-year plan of 1976-83 need to be evaluated and revised.
ANNEXURE
A
LIST OF REFERENCES
LIST OF REFERENCES
1. Afghanistan Preliminary Needs Assessment for Recovery and Reconstruction. ADB, UNDP,
June 2001.
10. Preliminary Study of Roads in Afghanistan, National Highway Authority, Pakistan. December
1993.
11. Immediate and Transitional Assistance Programme for the Afghan People, UN, January
2002.
13. Development of Road Network in Pakistan and Afghanistan, National Highway Authority,
14. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan - The Tokyo International Conference on
15. Brief on Afghanistan Ring Road, National Highway Authority, Pakistan. June 1999.
16. Conference Preparing for Afghanistan's Reconstruction, UNDP, World Bank and ADB,
November 2001.
17. Different Web Sites Information: UNJLC, CNN, CIA, Ariyana Airlines, ADB, UNDP, WB, U of
20. Preliminary Need Assessment, The World Bank Islamabad, January 2002.
ANNEXURE
B
Mazar-i-
Sharif
Polkhumri
Maymana
Tourghondi
Jabalossara
Islam Qala
KABUL
Herat
Tourkham
Nahri Sarraj
Kandahar
Zarang
INTERNATIONAL LINKS
7. Afghanistan Geography
8. Land Use and Economic Activity
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/afghanistan_econo72.jpg
16. UNJLC Road Survey/Capacity and Truck Transit Times : SECTOR SOUTH
http://www.unjlc.org/Maps/Trunk-Roads-South-020307.PDF
17. UNJLC Road Survey/Capacity and Truck Transit Times : SECTOR WEST
http://www.unjlc.org/maps/Trunk-Roads-West -020307.PDF
18. UNJLC Road Survey/Capacity and Truck Transit Times : SECTOR NORTH
http://www.unjlc.org/Maps/Trunk-Roads-Northern-Region-020429.PDF
19. UNJLC Road Survey/Capacity and Truck Transit Times : SECTOR NORTH and
NORTHEAST
http://www.unjlc.org/Maps/Trunk-Roads-North-Northeast -020307.PDF
20. UNJLC Road Survey/Capacity and Truck Transit Times : SECTOR EAST, EAST CENTRAL
and CENTRAL
http://www.unjlc.org/maps/Trunk-Roads-East -EastCentral-and-Central-020307.PDF
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