Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is visiting Kabul for a single day to sign a key railway agreement with Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. The agreement will finalize the Framework for a Joint Feasibility Study of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project. This signing marks an important step forward in linking South and Central Asia. The Foreign Office (FO) called the project a “major move toward regional integration.”
The proposed railway line will begin in Termiz, Uzbekistan, and pass through Afghanistan’s major cities—Mazar-i-Sharif and Logar. It will then enter Pakistan through the Kharlachi border crossing in Kurram district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The 760-kilometre route will connect landlocked Central Asian countries to Pakistan’s Gwadar and Karachi ports. It will carry both freight and passengers and is expected to reduce cargo costs and travel time significantly.
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Curtain Raiser: Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar to Visit Afghanistan for Signing of Framework Agreement on Joint Feasibility Study of UAP Railway Project
⬇️https://t.co/2IHO0Qwyiy pic.twitter.com/lgrfPbZEq1— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 17, 2025
The Foreign Office said the project would promote economic growth and improve trade routes. It is also expected to create jobs and bring long-term investment to underdeveloped areas. Beyond economics, it may also help boost regional peace and trust among the three countries. By improving physical and economic connectivity, the railway can support stronger political ties.
Dar is leading a high-level delegation that includes Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi, the Special Representative for Afghanistan, and the Railways Secretary. He is expected to meet Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister for formal talks. Dar will also call on the acting Afghan prime minister to exchange views on the project and wider regional issues.
Earlier this month, Dar held a phone conversation with Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov to review progress on the project. In June, Pakistan and Uzbekistan agreed to start initial work on the rail corridor. They called it a “milestone” for the region, highlighting its potential to boost trade, improve transport links, and strengthen economic ties across Central and South Asia.