MOSCOW — Russia and Uzbekistan are set to begin the practical phase of a long-envisioned infrastructure initiative — the construction of the Trans-Afghan Railway — aimed at boosting regional connectivity by linking Central and South Asia via Afghanistan, according to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Transport.
Following agreements reached in 2024, the two nations have formalized a package of documents involving their transport ministries and national rail operators — Russian Railways and Uzbekistan Railways — to move the project forward. Preparatory work in 2025 will focus on a technical and economic feasibility study, which will evaluate cargo potential, route design, and financial viability.
The railway corridor, intended to connect Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan with access to Arabian Sea ports, includes two proposed routes: one traversing Mazar-i-Sharif, Herat, Delaram, Kandahar, and Chaman; and a second through Termez, Naibabad, Logar, and Kharlachi.
A multilateral session involving Pakistani rail officials and a Taliban delegation is scheduled for May 15-16 in Kazan, Russia, during the “Russia – Islamic World” forum. The event marks a key step toward coordinating next stages of development.
The Trans-Afghan Railway is seen as a strategic undertaking with potential to reshape trade and transit flows across Eurasia, despite significant logistical and political challenges in Afghanistan.
