Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan Advance Trans-Afghan Trade Corridor Project
Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan are making progress on plans to develop a major trans-Afghan transport corridor aimed at connecting Central Asia with Pakistani seaports and expanding regional trade.
The project centers on a proposed railway linking Uzbekistan with Pakistan through Afghanistan, giving landlocked Central Asian states faster access to ports in Karachi, Gwadar and Qasim. Officials say the corridor could significantly reduce cargo delivery times and strengthen trade between Central and South Asia.
Earlier this year, Uzbekistan approved a joint feasibility study for the railway project following agreements between the three countries. The planned route would run from Termez through Afghan territory to Pakistan’s rail network near Kharlachi.
According to Uzbek officials, the railway could cost between $4.6 bn and $6.9 bn and may take around five years to complete. The project is viewed as strategically important for Uzbekistan’s efforts to diversify trade routes and reduce dependence on transport corridors through Russia and Iran.
Despite ongoing security concerns in Afghanistan and tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, regional governments continue to promote the corridor as a key economic and infrastructure initiative for Eurasian connectivity.
