Hairatan

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Hairatan is a port city in northern Afghanistan, in Balkh Province. It is the capital of Kaldar District and sits along the Amu Darya river, about 60 km north of Mazar-i-Sharif. The Amu River forms the border with Uzbekistan, and the Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge connects the two countries. The Uzbek city of Termez is just across the river.

Hairatan is a major border crossing for trade and travel. Security is provided by the Afghan National Security Forces. Foreign travelers need a valid travel visa to enter Afghanistan, while Afghan citizens can stay visa-free for up to two weeks in the nearby Airitom Free Zone in Termez.

Historically, the Amu River area has been important for civilizations and early migrations. In the 1990s Hairatan hosted the 70th Division under General Abdul Momen; after his death in 1994, command changes occurred.

Today, Hairatan has a freight terminal and a rail link to Termez, Uzbekistan. A longer rail connection to Gur-e Mar near Mazar-i-Sharif was completed around 2010, forming part of plans for a northern rail corridor that would eventually link Iran and Tajikistan and allow freight to reach Gulf ports. In 2023, the Afghanistan Railway Authority took control of the Hairatan–Mazar rail service.

The nearby Airitom Free Zone in Termez allows Afghans and other visitors to stay up to two weeks without a visa. The Hairatan area also attracts tourists visiting northern Afghanistan.