The agreement showed Russia's willingness to cooperate with the Western military alliance over Afghanistan despite sharp disagreements over the war in Georgia, NATO enlargement and Washington's plans to build a missile shield in Europe.

"The Federal Customs Service has issued a general permission for ... transit by rail through Russian territory of the Bundeswehr's arms, military equipment and military goods to Afghanistan," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Russia has confirmed at the highest political level that it wants to continue and develop its cooperation with the alliance over Afghanistan," says the statement on www.mid.ru

NATO forces already transport supplies across Russia using an air bridge - an agreement that survived the soured relations between Moscow and the alliance after Russia's August war with Georgia when other links were severed.

"This (the rail shipments) will be the first experience of this kind in Russia's relations with foreign countries, taking into account the close cooperation with Germany in countering common challenges and threats to security," the statement said.

A NATO-led coalition called the International Security Assistance Force is fighting an increasingly difficult battle against the resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan.