Travel soon from Pakistan to Uzbekistan via Afghanistan using new rail link

Dubai: In a major stride toward regional integration, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have finalised a road map for the early implementation of the long-anticipated Trans-Afghan railway project.

This transformative infrastructure initiative expected to revolutionise trade and connectivity across South and Central Asia.

The 760-kilometer rail corridor will run from Termez in Uzbekistan through Mazar-i-Sharif and Logar in Afghanistan to Pakis­tan via the Kharlachi border crossing in the Kurram district. It is projected to cut cargo delivery times between Uzbekistan and Pakistan by up to five days and reduce freight costs by at least 40 per cent. By 2030, the line is expected to handle 15 million tonnes of goods annually, positioning it as a new economic artery for a region long stifled by logistical and political barriers. The rail link will also make passengers’ travel cheaper and more convenient between these countries.

It will be the first railway link which will give direct access to Central Asian States to the Arabian Sea.

Coordination committee

Following high-level delegation talks in Tashkent between Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif early this year, the three countries have agreed to establish a tripartite coordination committee.

This body will oversee remaining technical studies, financing mechanisms, and implementation modalities to ensure the $4.8 billion project stays on course for completion by the end of 2027.

“This rail link is not just about logistics, it is about unlocking the economic potential of 240 million Pakistanis, offering Central Asia unprecedented access to warm water ports, and reshaping trade flows across the region,” said a senior Pakistani official involved in the talks.

A significant portion of the route includes a new 573-kilometer railway through Afghanistan. Experts from the three national rail agencies have reached consensus on the route and terrain, and a joint survey expedition and preliminary feasibility studies are already underway.

Diplomatic ties

Beyond economics, the project symbolises deepening diplomatic ties. In a recent breakthrough, Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to restore full ambassadorial-level relations, marking a thaw in previously strained relations. The announcement followed a phone call between Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, during which both emphasised the urgency of finalising the railway framework agreement.

“This railway is more than steel and sleepers, it is a bridge of trust,” said Muttaqi, calling the initiative a “significant milestone” in regional diplomacy.

The railway project also aligns with China’s broader ambitions under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Beijing has quietly facilitated improved Islamabad-Kabul coordination, underscoring its role as a regional stabiliser. Analysts say this growing cooperation sidelines India, whose influence in post-2021 Afghanistan has waned sharply.

With relative calm returning to its western border, Pakistan is seising the opportunity to redirect strategic bandwidth toward its eastern challenges, including its fraught ties with India. The railway, in this context, becomes not just a trade corridor but a strategic lever in Islamabad’s broader geopolitical calculus.

For Afghanistan, the rail line represents a rare moment of economic promise potentially increasing international engagement and much-needed revenue through transit fees and regional integration.

As the project moves into its execution phase, stakeholders hope it can serve as a model of how infrastructure, diplomacy, and shared economic interests can overcome decades of conflict and mistrust.

Economic Importance

Reduced costs and transit time: The rail line is projected to lower cargo delivery time between Uzbekistan and Pakistan by five days and cut transport costs by at least 40%, making trade faster and more affordable.

Boost in trade volume: Expected to carry up to 15 million tonne’s of goods annually by 2030, the project will significantly expand trade capacity and regional exports.

Access to global markets: By connecting landlocked Central Asia to Pakistani ports on the Arabian Sea, it provides direct access to international shipping routes, increasing export competitiveness.

Regional connectivity

Strategic link between Central and South Asia: This is the first direct rail corridor connecting Central Asia with South Asia, establishing a land bridge between Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Integration into the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): The project aligns with China’s BRI goals and may attract further investment and infrastructure development in the region.

Political and diplomatic impact

Regional cooperation: The project has brought together three countries, each with complex relations, into a collaborative infrastructure plan, showcasing a rare moment of regional alignment.

Improved Pakistan-Afghanistan relations: The railway initiative helped facilitate the restoration of full diplomatic ties between Islamabad and Kabul, which could stabilise cross-border dynamics.

Shift in geopolitical influence: As China facilitates cooperation and India’s influence in Afghanistan wanes, the project underscores a regional power shift in favour of economic diplomacy.

Peace and stability

Post-conflict reconstruction in Afghanistan: By providing employment, infrastructure, and transit revenue, the railway could support economic stabilisation in Afghanistan, helping reduce incentives for conflict.

Platform for confidence-building: Joint implementation and oversight of the project require sustained cooperation, potentially reducing mistrust and fostering long-term peace in a historically volatile region.

Strategic leverage for Pakistan

Economic Hub Vision: The rail corridor strengthens Pakistan’s ambition to become a transit and trade hub linking Central Asia, China, and the Middle East.

Eastern rebalancing: With growing regional cooperation on its western flank, Pakistan can reallocate strategic focus to pressing eastern issues, especially tensions with India.