Uzbekistan and Pakistan Accelerate Trans-Afghan Transport Corridor Development

Accelerating Regional Connectivity

Uzbekistan and Pakistan are actively accelerating the development of the Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan (UAP) Transport Corridor, a strategic regional project designed to forge a direct railway link between Central Asia and South Asia via Afghanistan. This ambitious initiative is poised to revolutionize trade and logistics efficiency across the region, offering landlocked Central Asian nations direct access to Pakistan's Arabian Sea ports.

Project Scope and Strategic Importance

The UAP Transport Corridor, often referred to as the Trans-Afghan Railway Project, envisions a railway line spanning approximately 573 kilometers. The proposed route will connect Termez in Uzbekistan with Mazar-i-Sharif, Naibabad, Maidanshahr, and Logar in Afghanistan, before extending to Kharlachi in Pakistan, with an ultimate connection to Peshawar.

The project's estimated cost ranges between US$4.8 billion and US$7 billion. Its strategic importance lies in its potential to:

• Significantly reduce cargo delivery times between Uzbekistan and Pakistan from approximately 35 days to just 3-5 days.
• Cut transport costs by over 40%.
• Handle up to 20 million tonnes of freight annually once operational.
• Position Uzbekistan as a crucial regional logistics hub.
• Provide landlocked Central Asian states with direct access to Pakistani seaports like Karachi and Gwadar.

Recent Developments and Milestones

The concept for the Trans-Afghan railway was first proposed by Uzbekistan in December 2018. Significant progress has been made in recent years:

• A joint action plan, or 'Road Map,' for the Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway project was adopted in February 2021 following Uzbek-Afghan-Pakistani talks in Tashkent.
• The specific route, Termez–Naibabad–Maidan Shar–Logar–Kharlachi, was agreed upon in July 2023 in Islamabad by representatives of the three nations.
• On July 17, 2025, the foreign ministers of Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan convened in Kabul and signed a framework intergovernmental agreement to prepare a feasibility study for the project. This agreement is expected to accelerate project implementation and foster a unified Eurasian transport hub.
• A central trilateral Project Office for the Development Strategy of International Digital Transport Corridors, established under Uzbekistan Railways JSC in May 2023, with branches in Kabul and Islamabad, will oversee the feasibility study.
• Most recently, on October 30, 2025, representatives from Uzbekistan Railways JSC and Temir Yul Cargo JSC held discussions with Pakistan's SLG Trax Group Limited. These talks focused on practical steps to expand freight operations, attract new cargo flows, launch regular container train services, and establish competitive freight rates to ensure the route's commercial viability.

Economic Transformation and Future Outlook

The UAP Transport Corridor is envisioned to begin construction in 2025, with operational readiness targeted between 2027 and 2030. This infrastructure project is expected to foster regional trade, contribute to overall economic growth, and enhance economic integration across Central and South Asia. Uzbekistan has reaffirmed its commitment to an open and mutually beneficial transport policy, emphasizing the expansion of trade routes and improvement of logistics infrastructure.

While the project holds immense promise for economic transformation, potential challenges include security concerns in Afghanistan and Pakistan, financial uncertainties, and political stability. Despite these, the strong political backing and expanding trade links suggest the Trans-Afghan railway has a significant chance of becoming a central artery in the region's future transport infrastructure.