Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan sign deal on Trans-Afghan Railway projectThe foreign ministers of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan signed a trilateral agreement Thursday to develop a feasibility study for the proposed Trans-Afghan Railway, a project aimed at enhancing regional trade and economic recovery.Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov announced the signing in Kabul alongside his counterparts, Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar and Afghanistan’s Amir Khan Muttaqi. The rail link, connecting Uzbekistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan, is seen as strategically significant for Eurasia, said Saidov in a Telegram post.The corridor is expected to boost commerce, support Afghanistan’s economic recovery and open new access to global markets through southern ports. Uzbekistan reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening trade ties and expanding cooperation in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles and infrastructure, including the Termez International Trade Center near the Afghan border.The 573-kilometer railway, linking Mazar-i-Sharif to Kabul and Peshawar, was first proposed in 2021, with an estimated annual cargo capacity of 20 million metric tonnes. Several international financial institutions, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and European Investment Bank, have expressed interest in funding the project.In April 2024, Uzbekistan and Russia reached a preliminary agreement on Moscow’s participation in the initiative. Uzbekistan’s Transport Ministry estimates construction could take at least five years, with costs potentially reaching $4.8 billion. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX