AFGHANISTAN: The Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail has suspended Afghanistan’s voting rights, citing non-payment of its contributions due for 2022 and subsequent years.
Afghanistan became the 51st member of OTIF on May 1 2019, acceding to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail 1999 which provides a legal framework for international rail operations. The Taliban regime retook power in Afghanistan in 2021.
The suspension announced by OTIF on March 24 applies from January 1 2026 until the outstanding contributions have been paid. A member state whose voting rights are suspended remains bound by the convention, and can perform treaty acts and participate in OTIF meetings, except the administrative committee, as an observer.
If the fees are not paid for a further two years, the OTIF general assembly can consider whether this should be regarded as a tacit denunciation of the convention.
Afghanistan has a cross-border rail link with OTIF member Iran, and rail links with non-members Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Pakistan is also an OTIF member, but does not have a cross-border rail link to Afghanistan.
