Uzbekistan Railways to extend contract for operating rail line in Afghanistan

TASHKENT. Dec 8 (Interfax) - Uzbekistan Railways is set to continue the operation and maintenance of the Hairatan - Mazar-i-Sharif rail line in Afghanistan, terms of the contract are being discussed with the Afghan side, the company press service said on Thursday.

"Negotiations have yielded an agreement to extend the contract for the operation of this line," the press service said.

Now the sides will draft a road map on the phased engagement of Afghan technicians in the operation of the line in Afghanistan, it said.

No further details were provided.

Media outlets said earlier that Afghanistan was planning to terminate the contract with the Uzbek company for operation of the rail line.

Uzbekistan Railways set up a subsidiary, Sogdiana Trans, in December 2011 to operate and service the Hairatan - Mazar-i-Sharif rail line in Afghanistan. The Uzbek company finalized the construction of the 75-kilometer line with a value of $129 million in November 2010. According to the company, Sogdiana Trans has delivered about 28 million tonnes of cargo along the Hairatan - Mazar-i-Sharif line to Afghanistan and third countries to date.