Tashkent: Uzbekistan has started working on the USD 5 billion Trans-Afghan Railway Line project, news sources reported on March 28. The project would provide landlocked Central Asian countries (CARs) and Afghanistan access to the open sea and trade routes.
According to reports, the project will include constructing a 600-kilometre-long railway line connecting Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The railway line will link Termez, Mazar-i-Sharif, Kabul, and Peshawar. Speaking to the media in Termez-Uzbekistan, Minister of State and Chairman of the Board of Investment (BOI) Muhammad Azfar Ahsan stated that the project would significantly impact the countries’ growth and will boost commercial relations. This will also be advantageous for face-to-face interactions.
Furthermore, he noted that the Pakistan route is the shortest for landlocked nations to access the Arabian Sea, promoting commerce. He also stated that with the initiative, Central Asian countries and Afghanistan might become members of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Recently, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Afghanistan and spoke with Afghan officials about becoming a partner in the CPEC project.
Iqra holds BS in International Relations and is passionate about writing engaging content on trending real estate topics. When not working, she is either spending time with family, shopping, or discussing shows & movies.
