Afghan FM: Khwaf-Herat railway to connect Afghanistan to Pakistan

Kabul, April 15, 2007 (IRNA): Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta said on Sunday that the executive operations of Khwaf-Herat railway project, which is highly important to his country, started last year.

He made the remark at a press conference in Kabul during which he briefed the media on his last week's three-day visit to Iran.

"Once this railway project is implemented, northern and southern parts of Afghanistan will be connected to Pakistan. Besides railway lines inside the country will also expand," he said.

Turning to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's upcoming visit to Kabul, he said that in addition to participation in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, Iran supports attempts to promote peace and stability in his country.

In response to the question whether his visit to Iran was connected to formation of Afghanistan's National Front in the current month, he said that Iran supports the elected Afghan government.

"Given that establishment of political groups and parties are required to promote and strengthen democracy, the government supports such institutions," he added.

Concerning scholarships granted by Iran to Afghan students, he said that 1,500 scholarships have been provided, adding that a number of Afghan youth applying for them have been introduced to make use of them.

On the establishment of Khajeh Abdollah Ansari University in Herat by Iran, he said that it will be a private higher education institute.

"Once preliminary administrative affairs are completed, the project will get underway during the upcoming visit of President Ahmadinejad to Afghanistan," he added.