Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge

The Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge is a road and rail bridge across the river Amu Darya, connecting the town of Hairatan in the northern Balkh province of Afghanistan with Termez in the Surxondaryo Region of Uzbekistan. The bridge was built by the Soviet Union and opened in 1982 to supply its forces who were based in Afghanistan at the time. It is used today for trade and travel purposes between the two countries.

The Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge in 2010

An Afghan Border Police officer standing on the Afghan side of the bridge in 2020.

Overview

It is the only fixed link across the Afghanistan–Uzbekistan border, located some 75 km north of the city of Mazar-i-Sharif. The nearest other bridge across the Amu Darya is some 120 kilometers (74.5 mi) to the west, a pipeline bridge crossing the Afghanistan-Turkmenistan border from/to the Lebap Region.

The bridge was closed in May 1997 when Taliban forces attacked the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, and Uzbekistan feared the disorder could spread across the border. It reopened on December 9, 2001. Work began in January 2010 to extend the railway to Mazar-i-Sharif, which was completed in November of the same year.

See also

• Tajik–Afghan Friendship Bridge
• Tajik–Afghan bridge at Tem-Demogan
• Tajik–Afghan bridge at Panji Poyon

External links

• Afghan railway: First train runs on new line in north (BBC, Dec. 21, 2011)