KABUL: Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan signed an agreement to jointly conduct a study for a new railway project. The proposed railway will link Central Asia with Pakistani seaports through Afghanistan, a move aimed at improving regional trade and connectivity.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar shared the news in a post on X (formerly Twitter) from Kabul, where he visited for a day to attend the signing ceremony.
“I congratulate the people and governments of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan on signing the Framework Agreement for the Joint Feasibility Study of the Naibabad–Kharlachi rail link under the UAP Railway Corridor,” Dar stated.
He also thanked the foreign ministers of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan for their support during the negotiation process.
Railway to Link Central Asia with Pakistani Ports
Dar called the project a major step toward improving regional connectivity and economic cooperation. The planned railway will give landlocked Central Asian states easier access to Pakistani ports.
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According to the proposed plan, the rail line will pass through Termiz in Uzbekistan, then go through Mazar-i-Sharif and Logar in Afghanistan, and finally enter Pakistan at the Kharlachi border crossing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The railway will support both passenger and cargo services, making trade between the three countries smoother and faster. The agreement follows a decision made by the three countries in 2023 to work on this railway project.
High-Level Meetings in Kabul
During his visit to Kabul, Mr Dar met with Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi. He was accompanied by Pakistan’s Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi and other senior officials.
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According to a statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Office, both sides agreed to strengthen bilateral relations and increase cooperation in trade, transit, and security. They also agreed to stay engaged in promoting regional economic development through major connectivity projects.
Dar credited the success of the agreement to the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who had earlier assigned him, as finance minister, to lead the project. “Together, we laid the foundation for this important project,” he said.
During the trip, Dar was also expected to meet with Afghanistan’s acting prime minister to discuss bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international matters.
