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]
Aqina اقينه | |
|---|---|
  Aqina Location within Afghanistan | |
| Coordinates: 37°13′43″N 65°15′47″E / 37.22861°N 65.26306°E | |
| Country |  Afghanistan |
| Province | Faryab Province |
| District | Khani Chahar Bagh |
| Languages | |
| • Dari | |
| • Pashto | |
| • Turkmen | |
| Time zone | UTC+4:30 |
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
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
External links
- "Aqina" (3D visual). Google Earth.
- Search results for Aqina @ Pajhwok Afghan News.
- Information on Aqina rail station with photos