Kazakh President Highlights Trans-Afghan Railway as Key to Regional Connectivity
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced at the Eurasian Economic Council meeting in Saint Petersburg that expanding the Trans-Afghan railway is one of the most important options for connecting Central Asia to the markets of South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. He emphasized that this project could play a decisive role in the development of regional trade and transit.
Tokayev stated that direct access of regional countries to these markets may become possible through the joint development of the Trans-Afghan corridor. According to him, increasing the capacity of railway lines in Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan is essential for realizing this goal, and without regional coordination, this route will not be fully operational.
The Kazakh President also stressed the role of the Eurasian Development Bank in financially supporting this project, adding that backing from regional financial institutions could accelerate the implementation process of the Trans-Afghan corridor and pave the way for larger investments.
However, some experts warn that achieving this vision requires transparent management, ensuring sustainable security, and clear economic frameworks. These matters face significant uncertainties and concerns under Taliban rule—a situation that could weaken regional investors’ confidence and challenge the future of the project.
The Trans-Afghan corridor is considered one of the important regional transit projects aiming to connect Central Asia to South Asia via Afghanistan. This plan is part of broader efforts to reduce transportation costs and strengthen economic cooperation among the regional countries.
