Uzbek officials say that the proposed new transit corridor between Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan is based on a railway project that would connect Uzbekistan and Pakistan through Afghanistan.
According to them, the main objective of the project is to connect landlocked Central Asian countries to the Arabian Sea and expand trade between Central and South Asia.
Uzbekistan’s semi-official media outlet “Gazeta” reported, quoting the country’s Deputy Minister of Transport Jasurbek Choriyev, that the planned railway route will connect Termez to Afghanistan and then link up with Pakistan’s rail network.
He previously stated that the project is expected to cost between $4.6 billion and $6.9 billion.
A section of the report said: “The railway cost is estimated between $4.6 billion and $6.9 billion, and completion is expected to take five years. The project is considered strategically important for Uzbekistan’s efforts to diversify trade routes and reduce dependence on transport corridors through Russia and Iran.”
The Uzbek Deputy Minister of Transport added that Iran’s Abbas port was also considered as an option, but the unstable situation in the Middle East has reduced confidence in that route.
He further said that feasibility studies for the project have already begun, and the next step is to assess funding and timeline requirements.
According to him, Uzbekistan is also seeking partners for the project and is assessing their level of interest.
On the other hand, economic analysts consider the project highly significant for Afghanistan, saying that it could turn the country into a key connectivity hub between Central and South Asia.
Economic analyst Abdul Nasir Rakhteya said: “Afghanistan can play a key role in connecting these countries. Central Asian states, especially Uzbekistan, are highly interested in reaching Iran’s Chabahar and Abbas ports through Afghanistan, and also reaching Gwadar and Karachi through Afghanistan. If these projects are implemented, Afghanistan will become a regional transit hub, create tens of thousands of jobs, generate millions in revenue, and enable the government to implement strategic plans based on those revenues.”
Uzbekistan has long been working to strengthen its political, economic, and trade relations with Afghanistan, which is why its delegations frequently visit Kabul and northern provinces.
However, due to current conditions, it is difficult to say when the project will actually begin or be completed. Afghan authorities, however, say that the current situation is suitable for implementing such projects and that Afghanistan can play an important and constructive role in regional connectivity agreements.
