TRANSPORT FRAGMENTATION AND STATE PERIPHERALIZATION IN AFGHANISTAN: A WORLD-SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE

Authors

  • Shakhzodabonu Atabekova Master’s student, Program in Applied Political Science, Department of Political Science, UWED

Keywords:

Afghanistan, transport infrastructure, world-systems theory, spatial fragmentation;, regional connectivity

Abstract

The paper examines Afghanistan’s transport system through the lens of worldsystems
theory, focusing on how limited connectivity between Kabul and peripheral regions
contributes to internal fragmentation. Weak infrastructure integration not only constrains
economic development but also reinforces political instability and dependence on external actors.
The study argues that Afghanistan’s peripheral status is reproduced not only at the global level
but also within its domestic spatial structure.

References

1. Ariana News. (2025, March 27). Afghanistan ships first consignment to Europe via Khaf-Herat

railway. https://www.ariananews.af/afghanistan-ships-first-consignment-to-europe-via-khafherat-

railway/

2. Chronicles of Turkmenistan. (2025, April). European Union to allocate €12 billion to Central

Asia under Global Gateway. https://www.hronikatm.com/2025/04/evropejskij-soyuzvydelit-

dlya-stran-czentralnoj-azii-12-mlrd-evro-v-ramkah-programmy-global-gateway/

3. Cuenca, O. (2021). Afghanistan’s Aqina-Andkhoy extension inaugurated. International Railway

Journal. https://www.railjournal.com/infrastructure/afghanistans-aqina-andkhoy-extensioninaugurated/

4. Cutler, R. (2011). TAPI gas pipeline gets official four-way go-ahead. CACI Analyst.

https://www.cacianalyst.org/publications/analytical-articles/

5.Gazeta.uz. (2021, February). Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan sign roadmap.

https://www.gazeta.uz/ru/2021/02/08/trans-afghan-railway/

6. ISSI. (2018). Pakistan, Central Asia and CPEC: A vision for improved connectivity.

https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA622280

7. Kardulias, N. (2008). World-systems theory. In Encyclopedia of Archaeology (pp. 2219–2221).

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780123739629003241

8.Kashifi, M. (2022). Overview of Afghanistan transportation. ResearchGate.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/363817233_Overview_of_Afghanistan_Transporta

tion

9. Mrunal. (2012). Delaram-Zaranj Highway and Chabahar Port: India-Iran-Afghanistan trade

relations. https://mrunal.org/20.12/08/diplo-delaram.html

10. Omarova, G. (2025). Hope for Afghanistan: Torkham checkpoint resumes operations. PostAsia.

https://postasia.ru/a/281506

11. Pleis, L. J., Lliteras, R., Wood, D. A., Bain, M. D., & Hendrickson, S. J. (2014). The

Afghanistan National Railway: A plan of opportunity. Joint Force Quarterly, 75, 19–27.

12. Railway Gazette International. (2021, January 14). Railway opening forges bonds of friendship

between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. https://www.railwaygazette.com/

13. Railway Technology. (2020, December 16). Khaf-Herat railway project. https://www.railwaytechnology.

com/project

14. Schachter, A. (2013). In Afghanistan, a 2-lane ‘highway’ tells the story of a troubled country.

The World. https://theworld.org/stories/2013/10/18/bbc-series-explor

15. Siyar, S. (2025). Taliban sign contract for 25-kilometer stretch of Qaisar-Laman highway.

Amu.tv. https://amu.tv/157111/

16. TOLO News. (2024, August 13). Public Works Ministry completed 85 projects, plans 2nd

Salang Highway. https://tolonews.com/index.php/business-19021

17. GAO (2007, May). Afghanistan reconstruction (GAO-08-263).

https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao08689.pdf

18. Umarova, N. (2024). Uzbekistan and the new realities of trans-Afghan trade. The Diplomat.

https://thediplomat.com/2024/05/uzbekistan-and-the-new-realities-of-trans-afghan-trade/

19. World Bank. (2024, April 9). Deceptive strength: South Asia’s outlook in five charts.

https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/deceptive-strength--south-asia-s-outlookin-

five-charts

20. Xinhua. (2025, December 21). Road construction launched in northern Afghanistan.

https://english.news.cn/asiapacific/20241221/0a2d7e48b5db4423ad55ce3c0ab9410e/c.html

Downloads

Published

2026-09-18