The Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail, known as OTIF, has suspended Afghanistan’s voting rights over unpaid membership contributions.
The suspension, announced on March 24, takes effect retroactively from Jan. 1, 2026, and will remain in place until Afghanistan pays dues owed for 2022 and subsequent years, the organization said.
Afghanistan joined OTIF in May 2019 as its 51st member, acceding to a convention that establishes the legal framework for international rail transport. The country’s participation has continued following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
Under the suspension, Afghanistan remains bound by the convention and can continue to participate in meetings as an observer, but it loses voting rights and cannot take part in the organization’s administrative committee.
OTIF said that if the outstanding fees remain unpaid for an additional two years, its general assembly could consider the nonpayment a “tacit denunciation” of the convention, potentially ending Afghanistan’s membership.
Afghanistan maintains a cross-border rail link with Iran, an OTIF member, and additional rail connections with Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, which are not members of the organization. Pakistan, also an OTIF member, does not currently have a rail link with Afghanistan.
