Is Pakistan bypassing Afghanistan by creating new trade route with Uzbekistan?

ISLAMABAD, April 15, 2026: Pakistan says it has has launched a new transit corridor through Iran to facilitate trade with Uzbekistan, effectively creating an alternative route that bypasses Afghanistan.

Islamabad says this initiative comes as Pakistan seeks to enhance its connectivity to Central Asian markets and provides an alternative to traditional routes through Afghanistan.

In this connection, the first commercial shipment, consisting of frozen meat, was dispatched from Pakistan's Gwadar port to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, utilizing this new corridor recently.

Pakistan’s Director General of Transit Trade Customs Sanaullah Abro said the corridor has been operationalized under the TIR (Transports Internationaux Routiers) system, which enables goods to move across multiple countries with minimal customs checks. He added that key border crossing points including Taftan, Rimdan, Sost, and Gwadar, have been activated for TIR transit, with procedures streamlined to support faster cargo movement.

At a launch ceremony, Abro and Director of Transit Muhammad Rashid formally flagged off the first consignment. Officials described the initiative as part of broader efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s trade connectivity with Central Asia and reduce logistics costs.

This is seen as both Pakistan and Afghanistan explore alternate routes because of recent border closure for over six months. The root cause of tensions between the two neighbors is rising militant attacks inside Pakistan.

Afghanistan too is beefing up trade with Uzbekistan firms and recently signed deals worth $520 million in a major step toward strengthening economic ties. Agreements are expected to boost trade, investment, and regional connectivity to grow business cooperation as both sides seek deeper commercial engagement.

The Afghanistan Strategic Studies Center and the International Institute for Central Asia of Uzbekistan held a meeting in Tashkent, the capital of that country. At the meeting, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate discussed with Uzbek representatives the expansion of bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Central Asia and Afghanistan. 

According to a statement from the Afghanistan Strategic Studies Center, participants also emphasized strengthening regional stability, regional connectivity, and cooperation among experts. In addition, the two sides signed an agreement that provides a framework for holding joint scientific events,  implementing joint research projects, and facilitating the regular exchange of research findings and specialized analyses. 

But experts believe much depends on the outcome of the ongoing Iran war. If it prolongs or destroys Iranian infrastructures, it could have serious onsequences for this route.

Comparison / Options

While Pakistan and Uzbekistan have previously exchanged goods through Afghanistan, marking a significant step for regional economic integration.

- Businesses in Pakistan now have an additional, operational trade route to Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries via Iran, diversifying supply chain options.

- The new corridor can reduce reliance on a single transit country, potentially mitigating risks associated with geopolitical instability in the region.

- The route facilitates direct trade between Pakistan and Uzbekistan, fostering stronger economic ties between the two nations.

- The use of Gwadar port for initial shipments highlights its growing role in Pakistan's regional trade strategy.

President Asif Ali Zardari while talking to Mr. Alisher Tukhtaev, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Pakistan, during a meeting at Aiwan-e-Sadr and handed over a letter from President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

In his letter, the Uzbek President thanked President Zardari, the Government and the people of Pakistan for the extraordinary hospitality and warm welcome extended to him during his visit. He also expressed gratitude for being conferred the Nishan-e-Pakistan, Pakistan’s highest civil award, as well as the honorary professorship and doctorate.

President Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening cooperation with Uzbekistan in key sectors including food and agriculture, mining, information technology, tourism, health and banking. He welcomed Uzbekistan’s interest in importing halal meat, fruits and potatoes from Pakistan as a positive step towards enhancing bilateral trade.

According to The Times of Central Asia, bilateral trade between the two countries reached nearly $500 million last year, with around 230 companies with Pakistani capital currently operating in Uzbekistan.

Pakistan's efforts to enhance regional trade take place as Islamabad seeks to stabilize its economy under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.

The IMF said last month it had reached a staff-level agreement with Pakistan which would unlock about $1.2 billion tranche under the Extended Fund Facility and Resilience and Sustainability Facility.

The government has in recent months pushed to expand trade ties and ease export bottlenecks as part of broader efforts to support growth and external balances.