Afghanistan - Coordination Meeting Minutes, Kabul, 1 April 2026

Content

1. LWG Workplan Q1 Updates

   During the Logistics Working Group (LWG) coordination meeting, the LWG colleague presented the Q1 workplan objectives, progress achieved, and the key action items for Q2.

The main areas of focus included:

• Regional LWG Coordination Meeting: 
  The Northern Region successfully conducted its first LWG Coordination Meeting on 25 March, making it the first region to complete its Q1 coordination meeting.
• Training & SOP Topics:
  Training and SOP topics have been categorized and will be shared with all partners. Partners will be invited to indicate their areas of interest in delivering training. SOPs will be shared after the SOP format has been developed for partner input.

2. Border Status Updates

   During the meeting, the WFP focal point for border operations shared an update on the status of the borders closure.

    

   Torkham, Spin Boldak Crossing Point and Salang Pass Update:

• Spin Boldak: The Spin Boldak crossing remains closed to both commercial transport and pedestrian movement. At present, only Afghan refugees are authorized to cross the border. The prevailing security situation along the border is assessed as calm and stable, with no incidents of firing reported.  
• Torkham: The Torkham crossing remains only partially open as of 2 April 2026, for the deportation of undocumented Afghan migrants while staying closed to normal pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

Unclear Future: The situation remains unpredictable, with no ongoing/planned negotiations and any specific timeline for the reopening of the crossing points.

3. Termez Border Re-constructions and Transport Update 

   During the meeting, the WFP colleague presented an update on the ongoing Termez border reconstruction and transport update.

1. Uzbekistan–Afghanistan Border (Termez): 

Reconstruction of the Uzbekistan Customs/Border Inspection Zone is ongoing and is expected to be completed by 15 April 2026. The redesign aims to expand capacity to 8 inbound truck inspection lines.

Only one inspection line is currently operational, reducing truck availability in Termez and temporarily increasing transport costs, with truck flow expected to improve and costs to decrease once all inspection lines are completed.

2. Railway Transport Initiatives:

China – Kazakhstan – Uzbekistan – Termez Pilot Route

• A pilot railway shipment was launched by Uzbekistan and China, carried 40‑foot containers and reached Termez in 3.5 weeks.

   

China – Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan (Termez) – Tajikistan (Dushanbe) Pilot Route

• A second joint pilot route was initiated by Uzbekistan Railways and China. The trip duration in this corridor was 18–20 days.

4. SUPPLY CHAIN CORRIDOOR DISRUPTIONS

• Iran corridor (Western Corridor): Currently not reliably usable for humanitarian consignments due to heightened regional uncertainty.
• Alternative routing (Northern Corridor)
  • Karachi → Mersin (ocean) → overland via Georgia–Azerbaijan–Turkmenistan → Afghanistan (e.g., Torghundi / other northern entry points).
  • Mesrin overland via Georgia–Azerbaijan–Turkmenistan and/or Uzbekistan → Afghanistan.
• To avoid costly routes, the procurements have started or are recommended to start from Europe and China, leaving the conventional procurement hubs like Pakistan, India, UAE, Indonesia, etc., for Afghanistan.

For further updates on BCP Challenges, Online Resources, Humanitarian Services, and Aviation Updates, please click here.

5. AOB

• Any partners who would like to request dedicated time to present their specific logistics challenges in the next LWG Coordination Meeting can contact the LWG Team. Contact us below. We will keep you updated on the date and time of the next LWG coordination meeting.

Contacts