{"id":255018,"date":"2025-07-22T17:50:36","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T07:50:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=64379"},"modified":"2025-07-22T17:50:36","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T07:50:36","slug":"afghanistan-pakistan-and-uzbekistan-launch-feasibility-study-for-new-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=255018","title":{"rendered":"Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan launch feasibility study for new line"},"content":{"rendered":"

Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan are preparing a feasibility study to build a railway that would run parallel to the current International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). The countries involved estimate that the line could be ready in five years for an investment of about four billion euros.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>The feasibility study should take six months to complete, the Uzbek ministry of transport said. The line would run from Kharlachi (Pakistan) to Termez (Uzbekistan), crossing the Afghan cities of Logar, Maidanshahr, and Neybobod (Kabul), according to Uzbek Railways. This route was selected as the best one already in 2023.<\/p>\n

This new joint effort between Kabul, Islamabad and Tashkent for a cross-border railway in the Afghan northeast is not the only initiative aimed at creating a better rail network through Afghanistan. For example, there is a plan to create a 737-kilometre rail artery crossing the country from Pakistan to Turkmenistan. These projects are attracting foreign interests as well: Kazakhstan is ready to invest half a billion euros in the line to Turkmenistan, while Russia has shown interest in the one going to Uzbekistan.<\/p>\n

Investing in alternative routes<\/h2>\n

Improving connectivity through Afghanistan became more important after the escalation of geopolitical tensions. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Israeli actions in Palestine drastically changed the supply chain and highlighted the need for valid alternative routes. Hence, countries seem to be more willing to invest in the INSTC and the Middle Corridor to keep a seamless logistics stream.<\/p>\n