Tajikistan says the Dushanbe to Tehran transit corridor via Kabul enters pilot phase within a month

Tajikistan's transport ministry has announced that the pilot phase of the Dushanbe, Kabul and Tehran transit corridor will begin within the next month. The announcement was reported on Sunday 2 August 2026.

According to Tajik officials, once the route is active, commercial goods moving between Tajikistan and Iran will pass through Afghan territory, opening the way for higher trade volumes and wider economic cooperation among the three countries. The corridor has been pursued since Tajik, Iranian and Afghan representatives signed a trilateral agreement in the Iranian city of Mashhad.

Under that agreement, the three sides committed to forming a joint working group, reducing transit barriers, improving border services and simplifying goods transfer procedures. Central Asian states have sought in recent years to build new transit routes to cut their dependence on traditional trade corridors and gain wider access to regional markets. Afghanistan, positioned between Central Asia, South Asia and Iran, has the potential to become a significant transit route.