DUSHANBE (Avesta news agency) –The route of the railway from China to Afghanistan through Kyrgyzstan depends upon the decision of China, Tajik Railway Company Vice Chief Usmon Kalandarov told at a press conference on Monday in Dushanbe.

“The Iranian company Metro concluded the appraisal of the project to be realized in Tajikistan. However, the investment issues remain open”, Kalandarov stressed. “Everything depends upon investments and China will play the major role in this project”, he said.

Kalandarov confirmed Kyrgyzstan lobbies construction of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. However, he believes the route through Tajikistan for transportation of cargoes to Afghanistan and Iran would be more beneficial if the route runs along Kashgar-Osh-Jergital-Vahdat-Kurgan-Tube-Nizhny Pyanzh-Herat.

“If the railway runs through Tajikistan, its length would be shorter”, he said. China plans to develop several mines in Afghanistan and this makes the route through Tajikistan much more beneficial, he added.

The construction of Dushanbe-Vahdat-Kurgan railway started a couple of years ago following the blockade of railway by Uzbekistan. This segment is part of Kashgar-Herat railway, which will run through Tajikistan and will stretch for some 2,000 km. About 400 km of this path will run inside Tajikistan and around $4 bln is needed for its construction.

Kurgan-Tube is located in Vakhsh Valley (100 km to the south of Dushanbe) and is one of the largest cities of the republic, the regional centre of Khatlon area.