KABUL: Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan have signed a trilateral railway agreement. The announcement was made by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Senator Ishaq Dar, during a formal signing ceremony held in Kabul.
The agreement mentions a pivotal moment in efforts to develop sustainable infrastructure that will link Central Asia with South Asia through a modern and efficient railway corridor.
The proposed railway line will connect Pakistan’s rail network with that of Uzbekistan via Afghanistan, creating a direct overland trade route.
This corridor is expected to significantly reduce cargo transit time and improve access to international markets for landlocked Central Asian states.
Afghan officials noted the project’s importance in reviving Afghanistan’s economic infrastructure, while Uzbek authorities focused on its role in diversifying export routes and increasing regional supply chains.
The railway project aligns with Pakistan’s strategic vision of regional connectivity under the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) framework, as well as broader Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) goals.
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The trilateral railway project is expected to create thousands of jobs, stimulate cross-border trade, and lay the groundwork for increased people-to-people ties among the three nations.
