Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan sign railway project agreement in Kabul

Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan signed the Framework Agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study for the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project in Kabul. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced the signing during his visit to Kabul. The agreement aims to build a rail link connecting the three countries, facilitating regional trade and transit. The project will pass through Termiz in Uzbekistan, Mazar-i-Sharif and Logar in Afghanistan, and enter Pakistan via the Kharlachi border crossing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The UAP Railway Corridor is seen as a significant step towards enhancing regional connectivity and economic integration. It will link Central Asian countries to Pakistani seaports through Afghanistan. The agreement was praised as a milestone achieved through the leadership and commitment of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The project is expected to support both passenger and freight services, promoting regional stability, growth, and development.

During the visit, Dar met with acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to discuss expanding cooperation in trade, transit, and security sectors. The project is part of efforts to realize trans-regional connectivity projects and boost regional economic development. The agreement between the three countries is a crucial step towards the project's implementation.

Earlier discussions with Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister and the decision to begin work on the trilateral railway transit corridor project highlight the importance of the initiative for regional economic growth and trade ties.

According to the source: Dawn.