Latest news with #trans-Afghan
The Print
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Print
Survey in Afghanistan for Trans-Afghan Railway to be completed by 2026, says Russian ministers
The trans-Afghan transport corridor will connect the European Union, Russia, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Southeast Asia. Uzbekistan's southern-most town Termez is already linked with North Afghanistan's Khairaton by the Soviet built railway. The feasibility study of the trans-Afghan railway is due to be ready in early 2026, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said at the 16th international economic forum Russia-Islamic World: KazanForum 2025. Moscow, May 16 (PTI) Russia and Uzbekistan are conducting a feasibility survey work in Afghanistan for the Trans-Afghanistan Railway project, which, if implemented, will provide access to landlocked central Asian countries to the Indian subcontinent, Russian ministers said Friday. 'Russian and Uzbek railway specialists are drafting the feasibility study of the trans-Afghan railway construction project together. We are expecting the project feasibility study to be ready in early 2026 so that decisions on its implementation could be made,' Overchuk was quoted by independent Interfax news agency as saying. State-run news agency TASS reported quoted Russian Deputy Transport Minister Dmitry Zverev as describing that the Trans-Afghan Highway will fundamentally change the geography and transport geography of the region. 'Thanks to the multilateral working group, surveys are currently underway on the territory of Afghanistan. They are being carried out by Uzbek Railways together with Russian colleagues, which will allow us to prepare the primary material for the preparation of a feasibility study,' Zverev announced at the Russia-Islamic World: KazanForum 2025 forum being held in Muslim-majority region Tatarstan's capital Kazan. Interfax said a preliminary agreement on Russia's participation in the project was reached in early April 2024, during Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's visit to Moscow. The Uzbek Transport Ministry said earlier it would take at least five years to build the trans-Afghan railway, the tentative cost of which might reach USD 4.8 billion, it added. PTI VS NPK NPK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Voice of America
26-02-2025
- Business
- Voice of America
Uzbekistan, Pakistan pledge to advance proposed railway link via Afghanistan
Uzbekistan and Pakistan agreed to establish a tripartite committee with Afghanistan to address issues that are hindering the implementation of a proposed railway project connecting the three countries. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reported the development after delegation-level talks with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Tashkent, emphasizing the need to coordinate joint efforts to advance the trans-Afghan railway link. The three neighboring countries signed an agreement in February 2021 to construct a 573-kilometer (356-mile) railway line through Afghanistan, connecting landlocked Central Asia to Pakistani seaports, with an estimated cost of $4.8 billion to enhance regional economic connectivity. 'For the first time, we conducted comprehensive discussions [on the project],' Mirziyoyev said in remarks through his official interpreter broadcast live Wednesday on Pakistani state television. He noted that both sides agreed to form a tripartite committee to evaluate opportunities and address project challenges. The Uzbek leader stated that it was also central to discussions his government recently hosted with officials from Afghanistan. 'Now, we will have the tripartite [committee] meeting on resolving the problems,' said Mirziyoyev without elaborating. 'We know that this [project] is our future,' he added, calling it crucial for regional trade and travel. The Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021 and subsequent Western financial sanctions on the country briefly deterred Uzbekistan and Pakistan from advancing discussions on the railway connectivity project. Lately, Pakistan has accused the Taliban government, which is not recognized by any country, of harboring and facilitating militants responsible for terrorist attacks in the country. The ongoing violence has strained bilateral relations and prevented Islamabad from pursuing any meaningful economic partnership with Kabul, according to Pakistani officials. The Taliban reject allegations that foreign militant groups operate on their territory, saying that no one is allowed to use Afghan soil to threaten other countries. Sharif, speaking alongside Mirziyoyev, reiterated concerns about cross-border terrorism, emphasizing that militant groups should not use Afghan soil to launch attacks against other nations, including Pakistan. The Uzbek and Pakistani leaders announced Wednesday that they had also agreed to increase annual trade from more than $400 million to $2 billion and signed several agreements to deepen bilateral economic and trade ties. The two sides stated that they had discussed enhancing collaboration in agricultural, pharmaceuticals, machinery, geology, mineral resources, textiles, leather and other industries by exporting finished products to third-country markets. Islamabad and Tashkent also agreed to enhance air links with new flights planned between the largest Pakistani city of Karachi and the historic Uzbek cities of Samarkand and Bukhara.
