Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan have signed a landmark agreement to begin the feasibility study for the Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan (UAP) railway project. This is seen as a major strategic step toward unlocking regional trade, transit, and economic integration across South and Central Asia.
The trilateral agreement was signed in the presence of senior leadership from all three countries. Pakistan’s delegation included Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Special Representative for Afghanistan Sadiq Khan, and Secretary Railways Syed Mazhar Ali Shah. Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Naeem Wardak and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kabul, Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani, received the delegation. Prior to the signing, Ishaq Dar held a bilateral meeting with Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, where both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade, transit, and security.
The UAP railway corridor will be 681 kilometers long, starting in Termez (Uzbekistan), passing through Mazar-i-Sharif and Logar in Afghanistan, and entering Pakistan via the Kharlachi border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Once operational, the line will link Central Asia to Pakistani ports, primarily Karachi and Gwadar. Kit will offer landlocked states a direct route to warm waters. The project has the potential to generate billions in annual revenue and create thousands of jobs.
More than just a transit route, the UAP railway represents a structural shift in regional dynamics. It could stimulate economic integration across Central and South Asia and open up new trade and transport corridors—bringing economic stability to a region long plagued by conflict and fragmentation. The concept isn’t new. The idea of linking Central Asian republics to South Asia via Afghanistan dates back decades, rooted in the historical Silk Road.
The railway’s primary construction will take place in Afghanistan, since existing lines already connect Termez to Mazar-i-Sharif, and Pakistan’s rail network extends to Torkham. The Afghan Taliban administration, which has shown surprising speed in infrastructure work, is expected to complete its portion efficiently. Observers note the absence of corruption in recent Afghan projects—an encouraging sign for this multibillion-dollar venture.
Importantly, the project aligns with broader connectivity strategies, complementing China’s Belt and Road Initiative and CPEC. In fact, it enhances CPEC’s potential by offering an alternative, shorter route to Central Asia through Pakistan. A direct rail line from Uzbekistan to Gwadar via Kabul and Kharlachi could transform the economic map of the region—linking emerging markets and stabilizing fragile economies.
Yet, the road ahead is not without obstacles. Security remains the biggest challenge. The threat of terrorism in Afghanistan and border regions of Pakistan could derail progress if not contained. While Pakistan’s security forces have had success in neutralizing militant threats in the past, sustained peace and intelligence-based operations will be critical for this project’s protection. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called the project “revolutionary” and credited the 2022–23 PDM government for laying the groundwork. He stressed that long-term prosperity in the region hinges on cooperation, infrastructure, and mutual trust.
The UAP railway, if completed within its planned five-year timeline, could become the backbone of regional commerce. But that outcome depends not just on engineering and funds—it requires political will, security cooperation, and uninterrupted collaboration among the three governments.
The vision is promising. The commitments are made. The region now waits to see if its leaders can deliver.
By Ziaul Haq Sarhadi 
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