Cross-border railway agreement, marked as revolutionary, finalized between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan.
**UAP Railway Project: A Game-Changer for Regional Connectivity and Economic Integration**
The Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project, a trilateral initiative, is set to revolutionize regional connectivity and economic integration by linking Uzbekistan with Pakistan via Afghanistan.
The railway, spanning approximately 640 kilometres, will connect the Uzbek border town of Termez through key Afghan cities such as Hairatan, Logar, and Kabul, culminating in Pakistan’s border district of Kurram via Kharlachi. This ambitious project aims to provide landlocked Central Asian countries with direct access to Pakistani seaports, thereby facilitating trade routes for Uzbekistan and others to global markets.
The UAP Railway Project is seen as a strategic step to promote stability, growth, and development in the region by facilitating trade, transit, and cooperation between the three countries. Economic integration will be unlocked as the rail link boosts trade flows and enhances transit connectivity. Increased economic interdependence is projected to reinforce peace and cooperation in a historically volatile region.
Trade facilitation will be significantly improved, providing Uzbekistan and other Central Asian nations with efficient access to sea ports in Pakistan, such as Gwadar and Karachi, reducing logistics costs and transit time. Customs and border services will be created to enable smooth and continuous movement of goods and passengers among the three countries.
The project entered the joint feasibility study phase following the signing of a framework agreement on July 18, 2025, in Kabul by the transport ministries of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan. A trilateral Project Office was established in May 2023 under Uzbekistan Railways to coordinate feasibility studies and project development.
The construction timeline for the UAP Railway Project is estimated at five years, with a projected cost of around $4.8 billion. Earlier stages included route finalization in July 2023 and technical preparations such as engineering assessments and customs service arrangements. Despite political changes in Afghanistan, the Afghan government has expressed commitment to the project, with multiple delegations visiting to expedite preparations since 2023. Construction is planned to commence soon, supported by ongoing cooperation and negotiations among the three governments to ensure the project's timely realization.
The UAP Railway Project is a landmark initiative to strengthen economic ties and connectivity between Central and South Asia, creating new trade corridors that promise enhanced regional prosperity and integration by linking Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan through a modern rail network. The project is expected to be a transformational project, as referred to by Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister, Moeed Yusuf.
The signing of the agreement was accompanied by high-level delegations, including Pakistan's Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, special representative for Afghanistan, and secretary for railways. During their meeting, the two sides called for strengthened efforts to maintain the momentum in bilateral relations and to expand cooperation in trade, transit, and security. The project's progress underscores the importance Islamabad attaches to the successful realization of the UAP Railway Project.
- The UAP Railway Project, a crucial initiative in the field of finance and business, aims to revolutionize transportation and trade in Central and South Asia, providing direct access to Pakistani seaports for landlocked countries, such as Uzbekistan.
- The general news about the project highlights its potential impact on public-transit and transportation industries, as it promises to reduce logistics costs and transit time for goods and passengers.
- The political implications of the UAP Railway Project are significant, with the project seen as a strategic step to promote stability and growth in the region, fostering cooperation among Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, as mentioned in business and politics news.
- The progress of the UAP Railway Project is closely linked with the news of the industry, as it involves the establishment of customs and border services and the collaboration among the transport ministries of the three countries, shaping the regional economic integration and news landscape.
