ISLAMABAD – In a major step towards enhancing regional connectivity, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan are edging closer to signing a landmark agreement to build a trilateral railway link that could reshape trade and transit routes across South and Central Asia.
The development was confirmed by Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, during an appearance on PTV World’s program Newsroom, where he described the project as a potential “game-changer” for regional commerce, energy transport, and people-to-people exchanges.
According to Ambassador Hashmi, the proposed railway would connect Uzbekistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan, giving the landlocked Central Asian region direct and efficient access to Pakistan’s seaports in Gwadar and Karachi. The corridor is designed to facilitate the movement of goods, passengers, and energy resources — marking a pivotal shift in the way the region does business.
Adding momentum to the initiative, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, is visiting Kabul today for a high-stakes meeting with Afghan officials. His visit, accompanied by a senior-level delegation, is focused on signing a framework agreement for a joint feasibility study of the Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project.
With an estimated cost of $4.8 billion, the ambitious plan envisions a 573-kilometer (or possibly 760 km, depending on sources) railway line that could cut delivery times between Uzbekistan and Pakistan by up to five days and reduce transport expenses by more than 40%. By 2030, the route is projected to carry as much as 15 million tonnes of cargo annually, positioning it as a vital economic artery in a region long plagued by logistical and geopolitical hurdles.
Importantly, the railway will also accommodate passenger travel, opening new avenues for tourism, labor migration, and interpersonal connectivity among the three nations.
The project is not entirely new — discussions date back several years, with a foundational trilateral agreement having been signed in Tashkent in February 2021. Since then, progress has been steady despite formidable challenges, including instability in Afghanistan and the need to unify differing railway standards across the countries involved.
Still, officials remain optimistic. The UAP railway aligns closely with broader efforts to boost regional integration and unlock economic potential in South and Central Asia. If realized, it could serve as a cornerstone of future development — fostering stability, trade, and cooperation in a historically fragmented landscape.
