Islamabad – July 16: In a significant step towards strengthening regional connectivity, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan have reaffirmed their commitment to the development of a trilateral transport corridor designed to enhance cargo flow and trade between Central and South Asia.
Transport authorities from the three countries convened virtually to finalize a draft of the Joint Action Plan aimed at operationalizing the Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan corridor. The meeting was held under a Presidential Decree issued by Uzbekistan, emphasizing the modernization and expansion of the country's transport and logistics infrastructure.
According to a report by Trend, discussions focused on actionable steps to facilitate cargo movement, eliminate trade bottlenecks, and streamline cross-border logistics. The three sides agreed to finalize the plan and initiate domestic procedures required for its formal signing.
The initiative aligns with a broader strategy to boost economic cooperation across the region and supports earlier efforts to develop the proposed Termez–Mazar-i-Sharif–Kabul–Peshawar railway. First agreed upon in February 2021, the multination railway project carries an estimated cost of $5 billion and is projected to handle up to 20 million tons of cargo annually upon completion.
Once operational, the corridor will provide a vital overland link connecting Europe, Russia, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Southeast Asia. Officials from all three nations regard the project as a transformative move that will foster deeper economic integration and enhance geopolitical connectivity in a region long hampered by infrastructure gaps.
The renewed commitment signals a strategic pivot toward shared prosperity and interregional trade cooperation, setting the stage for a new era of commerce and connectivity in Eurasia.
Putin focus on Afghanistan
The Kremlin has announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate in three major summits on October 13 and 14 of this year.
The are Conference on Interaction and ConfidenceBuilding Measures in Asia (CICA), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Heads of State Council, and the Russia–Central Asia Summit.
The central theme in these discussions will be Afghanistan’s role in regional security and how countries in the region can coordinate their engagement with developments following the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate in Kabul.
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