Kabul hosts Uzbek, Pakistani teams for feasibility accord signing

 

KABUL: High-level delegations from Uzbekistan and Pakistan, headed by the foreign ministers of the two countries, will arrive in Kabul today to participate in bilateral and trilateral meetings. 

According to reports, the delegations also include the Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan and the Minister of Railways of Pakistan.

The Trans‑Afghan Railway (officially the Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan Railway Project) is a ambitious strategic rail corridor planned to connect Central Asia to the Arabian Sea, crossing Afghanistan.

It aims to create a direct trade route from Central Asia to the Arabian sea, bypassing Iran and other longer land routes.

Hafiz Zia Takkal, deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, announced this news on his X  account. He wrote that these high-ranking delegations will first hold a trilateral political consultation meeting hosted by the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The meeting will focus on political understanding, dialogue, and resolving key issues among the three countries. 

During the session, the Afghan foreign minister will present his government's views on political consultation, economic cooperation, and regional stability. Afterward, at the Arg (Presidential Palace), a feasibility study agreement for the major Trans-Afghan Project between the three countries will be signed. 

This agreement will be signed by Afghanistan's Minister of Public Works, Uzbekistan's Minister of Transport, and Pakistan's Minister of Railways.

Following the signing of this project, the two guest delegations will hold bilateral meetings with various officials of Afghanistan.

Key Route

The planned route is:

Termez (Uzbekistan) → Mazar-i-Sharif → Kabul → Jalalabad → Peshawar (Pakistan)

Total Length: Approximately 573–647 km
Estimated Cost: Around $4.8 to $7 billion USD Completion Target: Between 2027 and 2030, depending on regional security and funding

Main Objectives

Shorten trade distances between Central Asia and South Asia
Reduce cargo transit time from 30+ days (via sea) to about 3–5 days over land
Boost economic integration across Central and South Asia
Provide landlocked countries like Uzbekistan with direct access to seaports (Karachi, Gwadar)

Strategic Importance

Regional Connectivity: Connects Central Asian economies to South Asia and the Middle East

Part of Bigger Vision: Supports China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and complements CPEC
Security-Driven Diplomacy: Encourages cooperation between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan
Potential Game-Changer for Afghanistan’s economic revival if peace holds

Challenges

Security concerns in Afghanistan remain the biggest obstacle
Funding issues, especially due to lack of international trust in Taliban-led governance
Technical complexity, since Uzbekistan and Pakistan use different railway gauges (track widths), requiring costly conversions or transshipment hubs
Political tensions in the region could affect progress. Many believe if successfully implemented, the Trans-Afghan Railway could become a modern Silk Road for Eurasian trade