KABUL: Afghanistan has extended an invitation to Russia and Kazakhstan to participate in the construction of the Trans-Afghan railway project. The acting Minister of Commerce and Industry, Nooruddin Azizi, urged both countries to be part of the ambitious project aimed at building a railway connecting various cities in Afghanistan.
The proposal was made during a Kazkhsantan-Afghanistan forum in Astana, where Azizi emphasized that the railway project would not only benefit Afghanistan but also have positive implications for all participating nations. He invited Russia and Kazakhstan to engage in the project’s development and expressed readiness to collaborate with working groups from both countries to consider the initiative jointly.
Significant Interest in Trans-Afghan Railway Project
The Trans-Afghan railway project has garnered significant interest and was the subject of a memorandum of understanding signed in Islamabad in January, involving the Taliban, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan. The proposed railway route is set to link the cities of Termez, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kabul, and Peshawar, covering a distance of 600 km. The completion of the project is estimated to take five years and require an investment of $5 billion.
Once operational, the railway will serve as a vital transit route, connecting Southeast Asian countries, Russia, the European Union, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan. However, after the Taliban’s takeover of power in August 2021, progress on the project stalled due to funding constraints.
In light of the project’s potential economic benefits and regional connectivity, Afghanistan seeks the participation of Russia and Kazakhstan, along with the establishment of a coordination office in Kabul involving Pakistan and Uzbekistan. The invitation comes as a step towards revitalizing the Trans-Afghan railway project and enhancing regional trade and transportation networks.
