Kazakhstan is considering the construction of the Trans-Afghan Railway as a strategic project to enhance access to South Asian markets, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced at the 6th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of Central Asian States.
The railway, which would traverse Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, is seen as a promising initiative to strengthen economic ties and trade routes across the region.
During the meeting, President Tokayev emphasized the importance of sustaining high levels of development in Central Asia amid the complex geopolitical and economic challenges facing the region. The proposed Trans-Afghan Railway would pass through Termez in Uzbekistan, Mazar-i-Sharif and Logar in Afghanistan, and extend into Pakistan via the Kharlachi crossing in Kurram.
Tokayev also highlighted the crucial issue of water and energy resource management, urging the development of a new consolidated water policy that ensures equal and fair use of resources, along with strict adherence to mutual obligations. His remarks come as concerns over water resource management have grown in Central Asia, particularly with the ongoing construction of the Qosh Tepa canal in Uzbekistan, a major project drawing from the Amu Darya River.
Kazakhstan’s interest in the railway project underscores the broader regional focus on enhancing connectivity and economic cooperation, while also addressing shared challenges such as water resource management.
