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Foreign ministers

Pakistan Signs Trilateral Railway Agreement with Uzbekistan and Afghanistan to Boost Regional Connectivity

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Pakistan has made a significant stride towards enhancing regional connectivity and economic integration by signing a trilateral railway agreement with Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. The agreement aims to build a rail link connecting Uzbekistan with Pakistan via Afghanistan and facilitate access to Pakistani seaports for Central Asian States. This development is expected to promote regional stability, growth, and development by facilitating regional trade and transit.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project seeks to establish a rail link between Uzbekistan and Pakistan through Afghanistan, facilitating access to Pakistani seaports for Central Asian States.
  • The project is expected to promote regional stability, growth, and development by facilitating regional trade and transit.
  • Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, congratulated the people and governments of the three nations on the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study for the Naibabad-Kharlachi rail link.
  • The signing of the agreement is a result of the leadership and commitment of the previous PDM Government (2022-23), when Dar was tasked as Finance Minister to lead the effort.
  • The UAP Railway Corridor will connect Central Asian countries to Pakistani seaports through Afghanistan, marking a significant milestone in advancing regional connectivity and economic integration.
  • Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation in trade, transit, and security, domains beneficial to both peoples.
  • The two countries have recognized terrorism as a serious threat to regional peace and security and agreed to work towards regional economic development through trans-regional connectivity.

Statistics:

  • The UAP Railway Project aims to build a rail link connecting Uzbekistan with Pakistan via Afghanistan.
  • The project is expected to promote regional stability, growth, and development by facilitating regional trade and transit.
  • The UAP Railway Corridor spans across the region, connecting Central Asian countries to Pakistani seaports.
  • Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to strengthen bilateral relations, with the foreign ministers of both countries recognizing the importance of regional economic development.

Sources:

  • Ishaq Dar's statement on X: [link]
  • Foreign Office statement: [statement]
  • Pakistan's Foreign Office: [statement]
  • Previous PDM Government (2022-23) statement: [statement]

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