New Rail Link Agreement Signed by Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan: A Game Changer for Regional Connectivity

Trilateral Agreement for Rail Connectivity

On Thursday, a significant trilateral agreement was established between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan to develop a railway connection among the three nations.

This proposed railway line is designed to connect Tashkent, Kabul, and Peshawar, with extensions to Gwadar and Karachi ports, and is projected to cost approximately $4.8 billion.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who traveled to Kabul for the signing, expressed his congratulations to the citizens and governments of the involved countries via a post on X.

He also expressed gratitude to the foreign ministers of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan for their dedication and support in finalizing the agreement promptly, stating, "We remained closely engaged throughout the negotiation process to finalize the details."

Dar emphasized that the UAP Railway Corridor represents a significant achievement in enhancing regional connectivity and economic integration, linking Central Asian nations to Pakistani seaports through Afghanistan.

Previously, the Foreign Office indicated that the UAP Railway Project aims to establish a rail link connecting Uzbekistan with Pakistan via Afghanistan, facilitating access to Pakistani ports for Central Asian states.

The statement noted, "By facilitating regional trade and transit, the project is expected to promote regional stability, growth, and development."

This initiative was launched in 2021 to improve regional connectivity by linking Central Asia with Pakistan's southern ports of Gwadar and Karachi through Afghanistan.

In a separate meeting, Dar also conferred with Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to discuss bilateral issues and share insights on regional and international developments.

The two parties emphasized the need for enhanced efforts to sustain the momentum in bilateral relations and to broaden cooperation in trade, transit, and security for the mutual benefit of both nations.