Torghundi

Torghundi (Pashto: تورغونډۍ, romanized: Torghūnḍəi, pronounced [ˌt̪oɾɣuɳˈɖəɪ]) or Turgundy (Turkmen pronunciation: [ˌtʊɾɢuːnˈdɯ]) is a border town in northern Herat Province of Afghanistan. The town's main attraction is the Torghundi custom house and border checkpoint, which officially connects Afghanistan by road with Turkmenistan. Torghundi is the second checkpoint and border crossing between the two countries, with Aqina to the northeast being the other. Torghundi is connected by both a regular road and a 1520 mm gauge railroad with the neighboring town of Serhetabat in Turkmenistan. The city of Herat in Afghanistan is located about 100 km (62 mi) of driving distance south from Torghundi. The railroad at Torghundi was originally established in the early 1960s as a single track, and was upgraded in 2017. Torghundi has become the starting point of the Lapis Lazuli trade corridor. Situated at 678 m (2,224 ft) above sea level in the Kushk District of Herat Province, Torghundi serves as one of the major transporting, shipping and receiving locations in Afghanistan. It also serves as one of the official border crossings between the people of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Security in and around the town is provided by the Afghan National Security Forces, which include the Afghan Border Force. The town fell to Taliban forces in July 2021, as part of the wider 2021 Taliban offensive. Every visitor or traveler between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan is required to possess a valid travel visa.