Railway Route Would Cross Afghanistan and Pakistan
The possibility of extending railway connections toward the Indian Ocean is being examined jointly with Central Asian countries. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said the work was being conducted actively.
Khusnullin said Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan were exploring options for extending railways through Afghanistan and Pakistan to the Indian Ocean.
The southern route is expected to connect Central Asian railway networks with Pakistan’s transport system, providing access to seaports on the Arabian Sea.
Eastern Caspian Route Could Become Part of a Wider Network
A railway direction described by Khusnullin as the eastern bypass of the Caspian Sea is also being developed. The route could form part of a wider network connecting northern Eurasia, Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Transport authorities are also examining a road corridor through Uzbekistan and Afghanistan toward the Indian Ocean. This option could complement existing rail and multimodal freight services between Central and South Asia.
No construction schedule, investment estimate or projected freight capacity has yet been announced for the proposed extensions.
Trans-Afghan Railway Remains the Core Project
The planned Termez–Mazar-i-Sharif–Kabul–Peshawar railway could become the backbone of the future connection. The Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan previously said the project was designed to establish direct rail transport between Uzbekistan and Pakistan through Afghanistan.
Before construction begins, the participating countries will need to agree on financing, technical specifications, implementation schedules and transit arrangements. The project will also require the coordination of national railway systems and the development of reliable border infrastructure.
For Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, the corridor could expand access to South Asian markets and maritime transport. For international shippers, it could create an additional overland route between Eurasia and ports in the Indian Ocean basin.
Read also: Trans-Afghan Railway Project Estimated at $7 Billion
