Trans-Afghan Railway Project
| Pakistan-Afghanistan-Uzbekistan railway | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Status | Under study |
| Owner | Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan |
| Locale | Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan |
| Termini | |
| Service | |
| Type | Passenger and freight |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 573 km (356 mi) |
The Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project is an extensive project undertaking with the objective of creating a direct railway link between Uzbekistan and Pakistan, passing through Afghanistan's territory. This project aims to enhance trade and logistics efficiency by establishing a 573 km (356 mi) rail connection that would connect Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, to Kabul and Peshawar, the capitals of Afghanistan and a provincial capital of Pakistan, respectively.[1][2][3][4][5]
Project Details
[edit]The estimated cost of the UAP project is US$4.8 billion, and its implementation is anticipated to strengthen trade relations between Pakistan and Central Asia.[6] The trilateral agreement spanning 760 km (470 mi) was signed by Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan, aiming to significantly reduce cargo delivery times between Uzbekistan and Pakistan by approximately five days.[7]
The railway route will traverse through Termez, Mazar-i-Sharif, and Logar in Afghanistan, and continue to the Kharlachi border crossing in Pakistan's northwestern Kurram district. Designed to facilitate both passenger and freight services, the railway is poised to foster regional trade and contribute to overall economic growth in the area.[7]
On 17 July 2025, a joint feasibility study was agreed upon by the three countries.[8]
In January 2026, the Kazakh government via its ambassador in Pakistan offered to fully finance the construction of a railway connecting Kazakhstan to Pakistani ports via Afghanistan.[9]
On 4 February 2026, the Uzbek president Shavkat Mirziyoyev formally decreed to launch procedures to begin a joint feasibility study on the railway project with Afghan and Pakistani governments.[10]
Gauge
[edit]Three different gauges are involved:
- Iran in the West (1435mm)
- Afghanistan in the center (1435mm Iranian built railways, 1520mm Turkmen and Uzbek built railways)
- Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in the North (1520mm) with dual gauge (1435mm) to bypass two breaks of gauge.
- Pakistan in the South (1676mm)
- China in the East (1435mm)
References
[edit]- ↑ "Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan finalize talks on major railway project dispatch". Trend.Az. July 23, 2023.
- ↑ "Pak, Afghan & Uzbek sign 573km connecting railway". July 19, 2023.
- ↑ "Joint protocol on tri-nation rail link signed". Tribune.com.pk. 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
- ↑ Ahmed, Amin (July 18, 2023). "Trans-Afghan railway to connect Uzbekistan with Pakistan". DAWN.COM.
- ↑ "Uzbekistan Approves Feasibility Study for Trans-Afghan Railway". 12 February 2026. Archived from the original on 12 February 2026.
- ↑ February 28, 2023 (2023-02-28). "Regional connectivity via Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-Railway Corridor". Daily Times. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - 1 2 "Tripartite railway project to reduce Pak-Uzbekistan cargo time by 5 days". July 22, 2023.
- ↑ February 28, 2023 (2025-07-18). "Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan ink rail project deal". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Kazakhstan offers to finance rail link to Pakistan ports via Afghanistan". Arab News. 28 January 2026. Archived from the original on 19 February 2026.
- ↑ "Постановление Президента Республики Узбекистан Об утверждении международного договора" (in Russian). 4 February 2026. Archived from the original on 27 March 2026.
