TASHKENT: Uzbekistan has fully reopened its only border crossing with Afghanistan, closed to travelers since the Taliban seized power in 2021, signaling a renewed focus on economic cooperation with its neighbor. The Termez-Hairatan bridge crossing is now operational, allowing people to travel directly and safely between the two countries, the Uzbek Chamber of Commerce and Industry said Tuesday.
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The reopening comes as Central Asian nations, including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, balance initial security concerns over the Taliban with growing economic interests. Shutting the border had previously forced travelers to detour via Tajikistan to reach Mazar-e-Sharif, only 75 kilometers from Uzbekistan’s border. The chamber said the move would “greatly facilitate the operations of exporting companies” and boost trade, which has steadily increased in recent years.
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Afghanistan has now begun exporting to Uzbekistan & Central Asia instead of Pakistan.Today, 500 tons of pomegranates, apples, & dried mulberries worth $250,000 were exported to Uzbekistan via the Hairatan port.
This process will continue. pic.twitter.com/mKiOty1Sg6
— Afghanistan Defense (@AFGDefense) December 3, 2025
While private travel had been prohibited since August 2021, limited goods trade continued. Afghans were also allowed to travel without a visa to the Uzbek free-trade zone of Airitom, created to strengthen cross-border commerce. The reopening has been in effect since November 23, according to officials, though visa requirements between the two countries remain in place.
Uzbekistan has reopened the Turmoz-Hairatan bridge with Afghanistan after a closure lasting over four years. Passengers can now travel directly and safely between the two countries. pic.twitter.com/Nf3L5GdZBO
— Bakhtar News Agency (@bnaenglish) December 3, 2025
The crossing spans the Amu Darya River and is located near Termez, on the Friendship Bridge—a historic route through which the Soviet army withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989 and Afghan soldiers fled during the Taliban’s advance in 2021.
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Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries are now investing in major infrastructure projects, such as railways, to enhance access to regional markets via Afghanistan. These initiatives not only benefit trade but also provide the Taliban with critical food and energy security support, further intertwining Afghanistan’s economy with its northern neighbors.