Kabul (TDI): Pakistan has signed a railway agreement with Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Thursday, a move that could reshape trade routes in the region.
The deal focuses on the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Corridor, which is meant to connect landlocked Central Asia to Pakistan’s ports through Afghanistan. Officials believe it could be a game-changer for trade and economic activity.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called it a “milestone” for all three countries. He said that the agreement covers a joint study for building a key rail link between Naibabad and Kharlachi.
Dar credited the previous government, when he was Finance Minister, for starting the groundwork. “This effort began in 2022–23 under the PDM government. We worked closely with our Afghan and Uzbek partners to lay the foundation,” he said.
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The signing ceremony took place in Kabul. Pakistan’s Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi and the special envoy for Afghanistan were also present.
The Foreign Office said Dar’s trip shows how serious Pakistan is about making the UAP project happen. Officials believe the railway can boost economic links, open up transit routes, and help the entire region grow.
While in Kabul, Dar also met with Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Both sides discussed security, trade, and cross-border movement. They agreed to keep working together to expand cooperation and tackle shared challenges.
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In May, Pakistan announced to upgrade its diplomatic mission in Kabul, and appoint an ambassador for the first time in years. And just a few weeks ago, both sides sat down for talks to improve how people move across the border and to deal with threats like terrorism.
The new railway line could turn out to be one of the most important infrastructure links between South and Central Asia in recent times.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
