Aqina

Aqina اقينه
Aqina Location within Afghanistan
Coordinates: 37°13′43″N 65°15′47″E
Country	Afghanistan
Province	Faryab Province
District	Khani Chahar Bagh
Languages
• Dari
• Pashto
• Turkmen
Time zone	UTC+4:30

Aqina (Dari: اقينه; Pashto: اقينه), also known as Aqina Port, is a border checkpoint and border crossing in the northern Faryab Province of Afghanistan.^[1] It has a train station by the same name, which serves as the second rail service between Afghanistan and neighboring Turkmenistan.^[2] Aqina is located in the northern part of Khani Chahar Bagh District, directly adjacent to the border with Turkmenistan.^[3]

Security in and around Aqina is provided by the Afghan National Security Forces, which includes the Afghan Border Force. Every visitor or traveler between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan must possess a valid travel visa.^[4][5] The city of Andkhoy is less than 35 kilometres (22 mi) of driving distance to the southwest of Aqina.

Rail station and heliport

Further information: Transport in Afghanistan

Aqina is the southern terminus of a railway line via Imamnazar to Kerki in Turkmenistan, which officially became operational in late 2016.^[6][7] It became one of three railways in Afghanistan.

The rail extension from Aqina to Andkhoy was completed in early 2021.^[8][9][10] Unknown when it will actually happen, the rail line will eventually become part of a railway corridor through northern Afghanistan.^[11]

There is a small dry port with basic facilities in Aqina,^[12][13] which includes a heliport where about a dozen helicopters can be parked.

See also

• Afghanistan–Turkmenistan relations
• Torghundi (second border crossing between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan)
• Hairatan (border crossing between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan)
• Sherkhan Bandar (border crossing between Afghanistan and Tajikistan)

References

1. "Aqina port revenue increases despite limited imports". Pajhwok Afghan News. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
2. "Rail freight transport to Aqina station (Afghanistan)". 13 June 2017. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
3. UNOCHA. "Faryab Province District Atlas April 2014" (PDF). Humanitarian Response. UN OCHA Afghanistan. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
4. "Afghanistan tourist visa for Turkmen citizens". visalist. 7 July 2022. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
5. "Turkmenistan tourist visa for Afghan citizens". visalist. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
6. Pannier, Bruce (28 November 2016). "New Turkmen Railway: First Stop, Aqina, Afghanistan. Next Stop...?". RFE/RL. Archived from the original on 11 February 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
7. Salehai, Zarghona (28 November 2016). "Afghan-Turkmenistan railroad inaugurated". Pajhwok Afghan News. Archived from the original on 12 May 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
8. "Aqina-Andkhoi railway line inaugurated, 3 projects signed". Pajhwok Afghan News. 14 January 2021. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
9. "Aqina-Andkhoi Railway Officially Opened". TOLOnews. 14 January 2021. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
10. Hejaab, Aslam (31 October 2016). "Work Begins On Aqina-Andkhoy Railway". ariananews.af. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
11. Grantham, Andrew (31 October 2016). "TAT Railway". Railways of Afghanistan. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
12. "Aqina port revenue shoots up". Pajhwok Afghan News. 28 March 2013. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
13. "Aqina port revenue up 57%". Wadsam Afghan Business News. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2017.

External links

• "Aqina" (3D visual). Google Earth.
• Search results for Aqina @ Pajhwok Afghan News.
• Information on Aqina rail station with photos