Uzbekistan Signs Trilateral Agreement with Afghanistan and Pakistan on Trans-Afghan Railway Route
On July 17, the capitals of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan marked a milestone in regional cooperation as foreign ministers from the three nations met in Kabul for the first time. During the meeting, an intergovernmental framework agreement was signed, paving the way for a feasibility study on the railway route Termez – Naibabad – Maidan Shar – Logar – Kharlachi.
The agreement was concluded between Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Works and Pakistan’s Ministry of Railways.
Strategic corridor to boost Eurasian connectivity
Given the global geopolitical significance of the proposed transport corridor and Uzbekistan’s proactive role in its promotion, the signing ceremony was held in Kabul. The agreement aims to accelerate the project’s implementation and lays the foundation for the creation of a unified transport hub across Eurasia, deepening multilateral ties between the three countries.
The idea stems from commitments made earlier this year, during the February meeting between the Presidents of Uzbekistan and Pakistan. As a follow-up, railway experts from all three nations developed a draft trilateral framework agreement for the feasibility study of the Termez – Naibabad – Maidan Shar – Logar – Kharlachi railway line.
Project office to lead development efforts
To support project coordination and execution, the agreement designates a lead trilateral Project Office, established in May 2023 under the Strategy Office for International Digital Transport Corridors of Uzbekistan Railways (UTY). This office will oversee all work related to the feasibility study and operate through its regional branches in Kabul and Islamabad.
Earlier, each participating country completed internal approval procedures and held several online meetings between their respective railway administrations. The final route for the railway line was officially agreed on 18 July 2023 in Islamabad. That same year, a preliminary feasibility study was jointly developed with Boshtransloyiha JSC and Ernst & Young (EY).
Kursiv also reports that authorities in Afghanistan and Kazakhstan have signed a memorandum launching an investment project to construct a railway. It will be linking the Afghan city of Herat with Turgundi, near the Turkmenistan border.
