KABUL: Pakistan has entered into a groundbreaking trilateral railway agreement with Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Thursday. the move is aimed at enhancing regional integration and strengthening economic ties across Central and South Asia.
The initiative, known as the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project, envisions establishing a rail corridor that links Uzbekistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan, providing Central Asian countries with direct access to Pakistani ports. This connectivity is expected to facilitate trade, improve transit routes, and foster regional stability and development.
In a message posted on X, Dar extended his congratulations to the governments and people of the three nations on signing the Framework Agreement for the joint feasibility study of the Naibabad–Kharlachi rail link, part of the broader UAP corridor.”I appreciate the support and commitment of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministers for the timely conclusion of this agreement. Our teams worked diligently throughout the negotiation process to finalize the details,” Dar stated.
He highlighted that the UAP Railway Corridor marks a significant milestone in advancing regional economic cooperation, connecting Central Asian states to Pakistani seaports via Afghanistan. Dar also credited the previous government’s leadership for laying the groundwork for this historic project, which he described as transformational.
The signing ceremony, witnessed by Dar, was attended by Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi, Afghanistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, and the Secretary for Railways, according to the Foreign Office.
Earlier, the Foreign Office emphasized the importance of the agreement, noting that it underscores Islamabad’s commitment to the success of the UAP Railway Project. The signing of the Framework Agreement in Kabul is seen as a critical step toward its practical implementation.
During his visit to Kabul, Dar also held a meeting with Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi alongside senior officials from both sides. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations, enhancing trade, transit, and security cooperation, and expanding regional connectivity.
Both countries agreed to stay engaged to unlock the full potential of regional economic development, emphasizing the importance of trans-regional connectivity.
In recent months, Pakistan has taken significant diplomatic steps to deepen ties with Afghanistan, including elevating its diplomatic representation in Kabul to ambassadorial status earlier this year. Moreover, during the initial round of talks between the foreign ministries, both sides agreed to facilitate the legal movement of individuals across borders and address key issues such as trade, transit, security, and counter-terrorism.
