Russia and the United States have not engaged in any direct discussions on Afghanistan, according to Zamir Kabulov, the Russian President’s special representative for Afghanistan. Speaking to TASS, Kabulov confirmed that no negotiations between Moscow and Washington on the Afghan issue have taken place.

“No, they have not made contact, which is why there has been no such conversation so far,” he told TASS.

Uzbekistan has addressed major organizational matters related to the Trans-Afghan railway project, with work now focused on preparing its feasibility study, according to Trend citing the Uzbek Ministry of Transport.

The country is also continuing construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway as part of broader efforts to strengthen its transit and connectivity capacity.

In international road transport, Uzbekistan has rolled out an electronic permit (E-permit) system in cooperation with Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan, aimed at simplifying cross-border transport procedures and improving logistics efficiency.

Furthermore, 24 transport and logistics facilities nationwide have been designated as international dry ports, reinforcing Uzbekistan’s role as a regional transport and logistics hub.

Earlier in July, the first meeting of the foreign ministers of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan was held in Kabul, where a framework intergovernmental agreement was signed. This agreement laid the foundation for conducting a feasibility study of the Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan Trans-Afghan Railway.

Under the trilateral plan, the proposed 573-kilometer rail line will link Termez in Uzbekistan to Mazar-i-Sharif and Logar in Afghanistan, before extending to Kharlachi in Pakistan. Once operational, the railway is expected to transport up to 20 million tonnes of cargo annually, substantially lowering transport costs and shortening transit times.

Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) officially introduced Al-Haj Mullah Abdul Haq Hamkar as its new Chief Executive Officer, following a special decree by the Islamic Emirate’s Supreme Leader Amir al-Mu’minin Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada.

The ceremony was attended by senior officials, including representatives from the Ministries of Defense and Interior, provincial authorities, national institutions, the former DABS CEO Abdul Bari Omar, and directors and staff of the company.

Speakers highlighted recent progress at DABS, efforts to improve transparency and services, and the company’s move from losses toward profitability. In his remarks, Hamkar emphasized the importance of orderly transfer of responsibilities, obedience to leadership, and expanding electricity services, noting the central role of power supply in daily life and economic development.