Pakistan-Russia railway opening delayed due to Iran-Israel conflict

Dubai: Pakistan and Russia have postponed plans for the inauguration of their new direct railway route link. This comes as borders between Iran and Pakistan have shut down amid rising regional tensions. The service was anticipated to start on June 22 but has now been delayed indefinitely.

Here’s an insight into what was expected from the project.

Plans for this railway corridor began last year, when Pakistan and Russia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the 27th St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in June 2024. The MoU was signed by Pakistan’s Ambassador Muhammad Khalid Jamali and Russia’s Deputy Minister of Transport Dmitry S. Zverev. The main focus of the agreement was on cooperation in the railway sector and promotion of future trade opportunities between the two countries.

The train route begins in Lahore, heading towards Astrakhan in southern Russia. The expected path of the train was to travel through countries like Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan before entering Russian territory.

The cargo train was set to transport large amounts of goods, with an estimated 16 freight wagons on the first trains. There are high hopes for the success of the trains and great anticipation to increase the load of goods in future. It signifies an important step for Pakistan in growing trade relations with Russia and the greater Central Asia region.

Currently, Pakistan is prioritising trade via its railway networks. In fact, earlier this month Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting dedicated to the improvement and expansions of the Pakistan railway. This was primarily aimed at improving trade with Central Asian countries.

The PM expressed the importance of the subject stating that railway systems are, “the backbone of any country’s economy.” Sharif also called out the need for sustainable rebuilding and modernisation of railway infrastructure, calling it a key component to promote regional trade and connectivity.

In addition to the growing relations with Russia, Pakistan most recently also announced a new railway route to Uzbekistan via Afghanistan. The route is the first-of-its-kind and provides both Afghanistan and Uzbekistan access to the Arabian Sea, a key benefit for the landlocked countries. Additionally, the train services will not be limited to cargo, offering passengers the ample opportunity to travel across the region.

Mariam Khan in a trainee journalist at Gulf News