Central Asian Connectivity: Nations Join Hands For Transport Corridor Projects

He also expressed Astana’s readiness to collaborate with Mammetkhan Chakiyev, the General Director of Turkmenistan’s Transport and Communications Agency, to develop an international north-south highway for the regional connectivity.

The successful materialization of this corridor would facilitate the seamless movement of ideas, people, and goods across regions. Historically, however, initiatives like the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India Pipeline (TAPI) have highlighted the potential for enhanced connectivity, yet they remain unrealized and ineffective, a Former Director Area Study Centre (Russia, China & Central Asia), University of Peshawar told Sputnik India.

"This corridor, notwithstanding, can be a transformative opportunity for regional connectivity, peace, and development, particularly in a region grappling with terrorism that hinders the execution of such large-scale projects,” Dr. Sarfraz Khan expressed.

Overall, this railway line project is recognized as a key route in the nation, linking Afghanistan to Central Asia, China and Russia.

Trans-Afghan-CARs Multimodal Transport Corridor

The Trans-Afghan Railway project, with its completion anticipated by 2027,[last update in May 2024] will serve as a critical artery, linking the CPEC’s ML-1 rail project and facilitating trade routes that extend from Central Asia to Pakistan and beyond, Professor Faisal Javaid, a think tanker, director of ORIC at Federal Urdu University Karachi, and geopolitical analyst, told Sputnik.

"This railway line is more than just an infrastructure project; it is a geopolitical game-changer. By connecting Central Asian region, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, it lays the foundation for deeper economic and political ties between Central Asia and South Asia," the pundit said.

In July 2024, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Afghanistan held discussions on a new railway line during the transport trade and export forum in Aktau. The proposed route from Torghundi to Spin-Buldak aims to enhance connectivity from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India. Turkmenistan is set to begin constructing a logistics center in Torghundi, which would facilitate the transshipment of goods like grain and containers, according to News Central Asia Report.

Coundrum Of This Corridor

Speaking with a founder and director of the analytical group of Central Eurasia Project, advisor of the director at center on the contemporary History of Uzbekistan, he told Sputnik India that the development of any transport infrastructure is a positive factor for the economically and geographically land-locked countries of Central Asia.

“The project you have outlined is part of the North-South transport corridor, which is supported by Russia and is well connected to the Russian transport infrastructure. I believe the projected railway will take a very long time to implement and build,” Vladimir Paramonov, said.

He further said that it would be more effective to simultaneously use the railway section through Uzbekistan's participation in the project more generally. Moreover, Uzbekistan has valuable experience in extending the Termez-Mazar-i-Sharif railway to Herat and is very interested in developing transport links between Central and South Asia.

However, speaking with an Iran-based trade and Transport Corridors policy analyst, he told Sputnik India that he thought, one should also pay attention to the competitors of this route. Iran's railway has done good things in recent years, and is more relevant.

“The Sarkhes border rail route on the Iran-Turkmenistan border has become more active, and last month the rail was connected to the Caspian port in the north of Iran. It seems that the north-south corridor in Iran is being activated in the two central and eastern corridors of the Caspian Sea. While the Trans-Afghan route passes through more countries, it is not very safe,” Hossein N. Fashkhami underlined.

The expert further said that many investments in Central Asia, an area that is not connected to open water. The emerging powers of China and India are also looking to activate new transportation corridors in Asia. Three factors—security, time, and cost—affect the success of these corridors. The strategic alliances among countries can have a significant impact in this case.

Ergo, Professor Faisal Javaid, concerning this, stated that the development of this railway will likely stimulate economic growth in Afghanistan by providing the country with vital transit revenues and improved infrastructure, contributing to regional stability and development.

Business & Economy

Afghanistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan to Accelerate Trans-Afghan Railway Project

2 July, 18:40