Historic Trilateral Meeting Advances Eurasian Railway Project

A crucial meeting between the foreign ministers of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan has brought about a significant breakthrough in regional cooperation. The trilateral agreement focuses on the development of a feasibility study for the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trans-Afghan Railway project. This ambitious project aims to enhance trade, facilitate Afghanistan's economic recovery, and provide access to global markets through the southern ports. The agreement was signed in February 2021, and the project is estimated to cost approximately $5 billion, with a transit potential of up to 20 million tons of cargo.

Key Takeaways:

• The first trilateral meeting between the foreign ministers of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan has marked a historic step forward in regional cooperation.
• A trilateral framework agreement was signed to develop a feasibility study for the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trans-Afghan Railway project, a project of strategic significance for all of Eurasia.
• The project is expected to enhance trade, support Afghanistan's economic recovery, and open new access to global markets via the southern ports.
• Uzbekistan has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening trade ties, expanding cooperation in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and construction, and increasing the use of the Termez International Trade Center.
• The project has a preliminary cost of about $5 billion and a transit potential of up to 20 million tons of cargo.
• The project aims to connect the countries of Europe, Russia, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and further extend to the states of Southeast Asia.
• A roadmap for the construction of the Termez-Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway was signed in February 2021.

Statistics:

• Estimated cost of the project: $5 billion
• Transit potential of the project: up to 20 million tons of cargo
• Countries to be connected by the project: Europe, Russia, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Southeast Asia
• Date of signing the roadmap for the construction of the Termez-Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway: February 2021

Sources:

• Trend News Agency